By: Isaac Kalembe Akiiki.
Kooki was never part of Buganda before British colonialism. It was a suzerainty of Bunyoro, which was established by Omukama Olimi III Isansa (the 16th Mubiito king of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom) on his return journey from his military expedition to Rwanda.
Isansa was keen to ensure the continuity of the long-distance trade between Bunyoro-Kitara and the East African coast, especially the lucrative bead trade (remember his capital was called Kyenkwanzi).
Aware that there was another Bunyoro vassal state in Kiziba (northern Tanzania), Isansa left Kooki in the hands of his son Bwohe before returning to Kyenkwanzi.
Bwohe (1720-1750) is regarded as the founding Omukama of Kooki, and assumed the title of Kamuswaga.
On his enthronement, they sent for a drum and fire from Bunyoro - a practice that has continued to-date.
(Same thing with Bugabda. The fire used for the enthronement of the Kabaka is got from the Kaaruziika.
Except that in 1993, they reportedly used underhand methods to get it.
A certain Muganda called Ssenabulya, who was working in a bank in Hoima, stole it from the palace).
In 1897, after realising how the 1891 Agreement he'd signed with Captain Frederick Lugard of IBEAC (which was subsequently passed on to the British when Uganda became their "Protectorate", Kabaka Mwanga attacked the British.
The British, with the help of the Protestant Baganda, who had just been bribed with power and wealth in the new political dispensation, teamed up and defeated Mwanga.
He fled to Bukoba across Lake Victoria. He was arrested by the Germans but, exchanging his royal gown for a dress with one of the prisoners, he escaped and fled back to Kooki.
He mobilised an army and fought the Ganda-British army there. He was again defeated.
It was then that the British threatened to invade Kooki if the Kamuswaga did not sign an agreement, accepting to be part of Buganda Kingdom.
With his back on the wall, the Kamuswaga and Buganda signed the 1898 Kooki-Buganda Agreement, where Kooki became a special county of Buganda
Special in that the Kamuswaga would retain his title and have a special seat in the Lukiko (his throne was transferred to the Lukiko at Bulange). In effect, he was a county chief above his peers.
Two important development to note:
1) The British deposed Kabaka Mwanga and installed his three-year-old son, Daudi Chwa (he'd been named after Kabaleega - the Cwa name, though with a Kiganda spelling - the *h*. That's a story for another day).
2) Kabaka Mwanga fled to Bunyoro through Mityana, Mubende and Bugangaizi.
Kabaleega, who had already fled to Lango, sent commander Rwabudongo to receive Mwanga at Bugoma Forest.
He spirited him to Kabaleega's new headquarters at Rukungu in Bukidi (Lango) through Buseruka, Kitana (Kigoroobya), Budongo Forest and Cope (Kiryandongo).
By then the British had conquered most of Bunyoro territory.
In short, that's the history of Kooki. The Kooki Agreement is readily available.
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