A contribution by Ali Balunywa to the ongoing Busoga Constitutional review process
Introduction
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| Busoga Region |
Busoga is not one of the traditional kingdoms
in present-day Uganda. However, it was created to as a cultural institution that
promotes popular participation and unity among the people of Busoga, through
cultural and developmental programs for the improved livelihood of the people
of Busoga. It was supposed to strive for a united people of Busoga, who enjoy
economic, social and cultural prosperity. It also continues to enhance, revamp
and pave the way for an efficient institutional and management system for the
Kyabazinga kingship.
Busoga,
literally translated to Land of the Soga, is the territory of the 11 principalities
(chiefdoms) of the Basoga people. The kingdom's capital is located in Bugembe, near
Jinja, the second largest city in Uganda. As of today, Busoga Kingdom is
composed of 10 politically organized districts:
Iganga, Kamuli, Jinja, Bugiri, Mayuge, Kaliro, Luuka, Buyende, Luuka,
Namayingo and Namutumba. Each district is headed by a democratically elected while
municipalities are headed by elected Mayors.
History
Early
demographics
Early
explorers in Uganda (John Speke and James Grant, Sir Gerald Portal, F.D Lugard,
J.R. Macdonald, and Bishop Tucker) all noted that Busoga was plentifully
supplied with food and was densely settled as a result. Written history for
Busoga began in the year 1862 when on 28 July 1862, John Hanning Speke, an
explorer for the Royal Geographical Society, became the first European to
discover the source of the Nile.
Early
economic status
People
migrated into Busoga in large numbers in this century, carrying with them the
traditions and cultures of other lands. Busoga experienced massive movement of
people right from the early period that led to its construction as a nation.
Several factors contributed to the trend of events. They included mainly
factors ranging from famine and security.
By
independence in 1962, Busoga was one of the most powerful regions in Uganda.
Its power lay in the regional capital, Jinja which is Uganda’s second largest
city. Jinja was the home to 70% of Uganda's industries and also hosted the Nalubaale
Power Station (Owen Falls Dam) that supplies electricity to Uganda and parts of
Kenya and Tanzania. Jinja was also the home of the majority of Uganda's Asian
population. The Ugandan Asians, who helped to establish Jinja as one of East
Africa’s most vibrant commercial centres.
Early
political status
In the 16th
century, Prince Mukama from Bunyoro’s royal family (babiito) as part of Bunyoro’s
expansionist policy trekked eastwards across Lake Kyoga with his wife Nawudo, a
handful of servants, arms and a dog, and landed at Iyingo located at the
northern point of Busoga in the present day Kamuli District. Prince Mukama and
wife Nawudo bore several children of whom only five boys survived. Mukama
returned to Bunyoro, but left his sons territories to rule over. The first-born
Wakoli was given to oversee the area called Bukooli, Zibondo was to administer Bulamogi,
Ngobi was given Kigulu, Tabingwa was to oversee Luuka, while the youngest son Kitimbo
was to settle in Bugabula. These were later to become major administrative and
centers cultural authority in Busoga. The sons regarded themselves as the
legitimate rulers of these chiefdoms and continued to preside over their
respective dominions; employing governing methods and cultural rituals like
those from Bunyoro-Kitara. This state of affairs in Busoga's political and cultural
arrangement continued till the late 19th century when the colonialists
persuaded the rulers of Busoga into some form of federation. This federation
resulted into a regional Busoga council called Busoga Lukiiko. The British
appointed a Muganda from Buganda, Semei Kakungulu as the President of the
Lukiiko and he became Busoga’s first leader. The colonialists later groomed
Chief Yosia Nadiope, the Gabula of Bugabula to become the first permanent
resident ruler of the formed Busoga federation but he unfortunately died from
malaria in 1913. The following year 1914, Chief Ezekeriel Tenywa Wako, the Zibondo
of Bulamogi with his good educational background, was a suitable candidate for
the top post. In 1919, the hereditary saza chiefs of Busoga resolved in the
Lukiiko to elect Ezekerial Tenywa Wako as president of Busoga. Eventually, in
1918-9, the title of Isebantu Kyabazinga was created and Wako took the throne. In
1925, Ezekiel Tenywa Wako, the Kyabazinga of Busoga became a member of Uganda
Kings Council, consisting of the Kyabazinga of Busoga, Kabaka of Buganda, the Omukama
of Bunyoro, Omukama of Toro/Omukama of Tooro and Omugabe of Ankole.
In 1949 Wako
retired due to old age at that time, the Busoga Lukiiko had expanded to include
elected representatives – two from each of the then 55 Sub-counties in Busoga.It
was then that the Busoga Lukiiko resolved then that the Isebantu Kyabazinga wa
Busoga shall always be elected among the five lineages of Baise Ngobi (Ababiito)
hereditary rulers namely:
•
Zibondo
of Bulamogi
•
Gabula
of Bugabula
•
Ngobi
of Kigulu
•
Tabingwa
of Luuka
•
Nkono
of Bukono
In 1949 Owekitibwa
Chief William Wilberforce Nadiope Kadhumbula of Bugabula was elected Isebantu
Kyabazinga wa Busoga for two terms of three years each, followed by Owekitibwa Henry
Wako Muloki who also served two terms.
The Kyabazinga
In 1995, the
government restored monarchies in Uganda with the promulgation of the new
constitution of the Republic of Uganda an on February 11, 1996; His Royal
Highness Henry Wako Muloki was reinstated as Kyabazinga Isebantu of Busoga to
serve as their cultural leader Since his re-installation Muloki had been a
unifying factor in Busoga. Unlike most monarchies, the Kyabazinga has no heir
or Crown Prince. Instead, a reigning chief elected by the Lukiiko and the Royal
Council succeeds the Kyabazinga.
Kyabazingas
before indepedence mobilised for the construction of infrastructures like
roads, hospitals, government centres like county and sub-county headquarters
and most of all mobilising the Basoga to productive farming of both food and
crops. They also managed to push for several development projects in Busoga
that include construction of schools like the Balangira High School, which
later became Busoga College Mwiri.
Today Busoga
Kingdom Royal Council is composed of the 11 traditional leaders of the 11
traditional chiefdoms of Busoga. They include the five princes and heads of the
five royal families of Busoga and the six chiefs of the traditional chiefdoms.
They are: Zibondo of Bulamogi, Gabula of Bugabula, Ngobi of Kigulu, Tabingwa of
Luuka, Nkono of Bukono, Wakhooli of Bukhooli, Ntembe of Butembe, Menya of
Bugweri, Kisiki of Busiki, Luba of Bunyaand Nanhumba of Bunyole.
Today
The
Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act 2011 was adopted in April
2011 by the Ugandan Parliament, passing into law the Bill which was published
on 07
December 2010 as Bill No. 24 in the "Uganda Gazette", No. 72,
vol. CIII.
The provision for emblems of Cultural Leaders is outlined in Article
19:
Symbols and seals of institution of traditional or cultural leaders.
(1)
Institutions of traditional or cultural leaders may have flags, anthems, seals
and logos.
(2) Flags, anthems, seals and logos of traditional or cultural
leaders existing before the coming into force of this Act shall continue to be
in use.
Symbols:
 |
| The Busoga Flag |
Busoga flag is
represented by three colours:
Blue -
Water is a source of life.
Yellow - the
warm and sunny weather experienced in Busoga throughout the year and
Brown -
the fertile brown alluvial soils found in this Victoria Crescent zone. (Source:
John
D McMeekin, 27 Jan 2005)
 |
| The Busoga Emblem |
The Busoga
Emblem consists of the royal coat of arms and the tri-coloured flag consisting
of the: -
The Kob ( Empongo also the totem of the Balangira (Royal
family))
It represents the rich wild life of Busoga. The two drums; instruments
used in communication and also a symbol of culture.
Two Spears are war
weapons. They are a symbol of power and here they used to connate the leaders
role of defending the people.
The shield is used to represent the states role
to protect property and life of the people.
Motto
" Busoga
okwisania na Maani" the motto is written in Lusoga language meaning;
"Unity is Strength or Strength is derived from Unity" connoting the
togetherness of the Basoga people at all times of crisis and happiness.
Attractions
and historical sites
Kagulu Hill;
has a breathtaking
scenery that gives a clear view of almost the entire Busoga. It was the first
settlement area for Basoga of Bunyoro origin led by Prince Mukama
Budhumbula
shrine/palace; Located
2 km from Kamuli town along the Kamuli-Jinja main road, the site comprises
a shrine and the residence of the former Kyabazinga of Busoga, Sir William
Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope, who died in 1976. The shrine, covered by
beautiful marbles consist of graves of other various members of the royal
family, such his parents Yosia Nadiope and Nansikombi, son and his mother Yuliya
Babirye.
The source
of the Nile: the longest
river in the world is an internationally unique attraction. The tranquility and
splendour of both Lake Victoria and River Nile embody great memories of any
visitor.
Bujjagali
Falls: before their destruction
was among others, the ancestral site for the Basoga ancestral spirits at Bujagali
falls, includes the numerous rapids along the Nile, virgin nature across the
region, and the culture of the people.
Lake
Victoria; Southern
Busoga is lined with the waters of Lake Victoria. The coastline starts from Jinja
and goes eastwards, to the border with Kenya.
So why is Busoga is falling apart?
Intrigue, political
differences and misrule are causing Busoga to fall apart.
Without being
insulting, in today’s Uganda being a Musoga is
usually related to stupidity. When a person mentions he/ she is a Musoga, the
first thing that comes into mind is that person is stupid. This is because the
Basoga out of their own making are the poorest in the whole of Uganda (Kayaga,
2009) with the highest rate of illiteracy in the country.
Arrogance and
disobedience (Empwiitu) is also another
trait of the Basoga. When someone is stubborn for no good reason, they are
usually abused saying you are as stubborn as the Basoga. How can you be stupid,
stubborn and arrogant at the same time?
Kyabazinga dies
and 5 years later, a replacement is yet to be found!
Sex
maniacs: This is another characteristic that Basoga are known for. Mbu you can
joke with anything, but not one’s woman!
Chapatti
makers and sellers; is it true all commercial chapatti makers are Basoga?
A survey
conducted by the Ministry of Health, Uganda Bureau of Statistics with the
support of several American and European development organisations as well as
the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2011, found the Basoga people the most promiscuous
in the whole country. (http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=629742&CatID=396)
The enfuunza
phenomenon; one of the easiest to treat and cure, but it has now become a
characteristic associated with Busoga because of lack of leadership to guide
the peasants to do away with it. Basic hygiene!
Way Forward
When you consider
the resources - human and natural that Busoga has, you wonder what could have
gone wrong! Other ethnic groups are united even as they don’t share the same
political beliefs. Monarchies in other areas are united under their rulers. The
politicians rally around issues of development prior to elections and demand
from the ruling government to solve outstanding programs or fund new projects
before pledging support. In Busoga, we vote as a block without any
preconditions, and it is true we always vote for the ruling government.
I have done
some research on Busoga, but there is nowhere I read that the Kyabazinga should
come from 2 families; Wako Muloki’s or Kadhumbula Nadiope’s. Instead the Kyabazingaship
is supposed to democratically rotate among the 5 clans that descended from
Bunyoro. All this infighting has led to the demise of the institution and most
of the infrastructures that belong collectively to the Basoga people.
My humble
suggestion is that since the Kyabazinga institution, which was imposed on us to
simplify colonial administration, should be redefined. The world is a dynamic therefore
changing the way Busoga is governed might be a new opportunity to re event
ourselves. New clans have sprung up and they all need representation. I suggest
that all these clans are gazetted, and each elects its own clan leaders and 2
representatives to the NEW LUKIIKO (a man and a woman). Then we take advantage
of tier system, where all districts that want to work together organize
themselves, elect a prime minister by universal suffrage and form a regional
local government. The LC 5 chairmen, youth and women leaders should
automatically become members of the lukiiko.
By so doing,
we shall have a universally accepted government that is accountable to the
Basoga people. The traditional chiefs can elect amongst themselves a Kyabazinga
with trimmed down powers, who can later become the speaker.
By so doing we
shall have a modern all embracing system where every Musoga has an opportunity to
serve the people in any capacity he/she feels capable.
My 2 cents.
Ali Balunywa
Independent
media Consultant and Development Worker
WM Dudokstraat
43, 1333 Almere, The Netherlands
5B Neptune
Avenue, P.O. Box 3725, Kampala, Uganda
Tel.
+256754601118, +31641468125
Social Media: http://facebook.com/ali.balunywa
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