By Isaac Kalembe Akiiki:
Buganda was originally called Muhwahwa, meaning a place of "wild dogs.
This was because small as it was, it was almost devoid of men (who'd perished in battle and decimated by disease).
When Isingoma Mpuuga Rukidi advised his twin brother Kato to leave the palace in Bunyoro and move to a distant area of the Kingdom (because it was awkward for the Omukama/king to stay with his brothers who'd come of age but were idle), he sent him away as a Mubaka (emissary) - the title Kabaka originates here (refer to p.27 of Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II 's autograph entitled Desecration of My Kingdom).
Isongoma entrusted his brother to the mascular men of the Bafumambogo clan (Mongo in Luganda) to carry Kato and his provisions, including biltong (roast meat), salt from Kibiro and millet.
Hitherto the Mbogo clan have remained faithful to the Kabaka, performing this function, and being his security detail (bodyguard).
Isongoma had warned Kato against secession, which the latter didn't heed.
Upon reaching Muhwahwa (some believe it's the present Gganda in Nansana, while others believe it's the present-day Namungoona on the edge of Lubigi swamp), he declared independence.
Hence he sent a message to his elder brother that he's declared himself king of Muhwahwa, with this duo stern warning:
1) This is my portion of the Kingdom. "Gunu nugwo omuganda gwange (Runyoro version of the statement) - hence the change of name from Muhwahwa to Buganda.
2) Take me serious, for I mean business. "Nyowe mezere, mezere (Runyoro for "I have sprouted like a cassava stem", hence the name Kato Kimera.
Kiiza founds Busoga
On the other hand, Kiiza (named so because he was born after the barongo (twins), became Omukama Nyamutukura I (like the Baganda, the Basoga spell his name with an l.).
NB: It's important not to confuse Nyamutukura I of Busoga with Omukama Kyebambe Nyamutukura III (Kabaleega's great grandfather), who was the longest reigning Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom (66?) years.
He died in the 1835, having become senile and fallen ill.
Regents (information about them is scanty) were put in place as he was treated and cared for by Nsinga-Kanyabugoma, the Omutikya (head of Babyasi Clan) at Bugoma. In fact, he died in 1835.
It was during Kyebambe Nyamutukura III's reign that Tooro seceded from Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in 1830.
His darling son, Kaboyo, who he had appointed as Okwir (head of Babiito clan) as well as Saza chief of Tooro, rebelled and established a rival kingdom.
However, Nyamutukura reigned on his army not to kill or harm his son. With this warning, and Kaboyo's reliance on the Busongora bowmen (including Bamba and Bakonjo), the Bunyoro army could do little to get hold of him.
When they reported back to Kyebambe, he told them, "Let him be!"
Forty-years later, Kabaleega reconquered Tooro and annexed it to Bunyoro.
With the help of Kibooga, a Mubiitokati married to the king of Ankole, Kabaleega rounded up all the members of the Tooro royal family and killed all of them.
It's only Prince Kasagama who survived by a hair's breadtg and took refuge in Buganda.
Kabaka Muteesa I gave him refuge in Sembabule, where Captain Frederick Lugard found him in January 1891, and reinstated him on the Tooro throne.
The rest, as they say, is history.
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