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Busoga Kingdom

Busoga Kingdom is comprised of 11 principalities with its capital at Bugembe, near Jinja  City centre.  The Kingdom is ruled by a selected king called Isebantu Kyabazinga. His wife is called Inebatu.   The current ruler is Kyabazinga William Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV who is a grandson to former Kyabazinga Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope.

Unlike most monarchs, the Kyabazinga has no heir. He is succeeded by a chief from one of the 11 principalities of the Kingdom who is elected by the Lukiiko (Parliament) and the Royal Council. The Busoga Royal Council is composed of the 11 traditional leaders of Busoga: the heads of the five royal families and the six tribal chiefs.

Busoga kingdom was founded around the turn of the 16th century by the sons of Mukama Namutukula, a skilled blacksmith from of the royal Babiito family of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. Namutukula with his wife  settled  at Lyingo now  in Kamuli District after crossing Lake Kyoga.

He gave his sons land to oversee and returned to Bunyoro. His first son Wakoli, received Bukooli; Zibondo received Bulamogi, Ngobi got Kigulu, Tabingwa was given Luuka, and the youngest son, Kitimbo,  was left with Bugabula.

Namutukula’s sons presided over their semi – autonomous chiefdoms using methods and rituals similar to those in Bunyoro.

In the 19th century, the  colonialists persuaded  Busoga’s  rulers to form a federation.

Busoga’s first native King was the chief of BugabulaYosia Nadiope.

Nadiope was succeeded by the chief of Bulamogi, Ezekiel Tenywa Wako. Wako was the

first ruler to be called Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga until his retirement in 1949.

When Wako retired the Busoga Lukiiko resolved that the Kyabazinga should be elected from the five lineages of the Ababiito, hereditary rulers traditionally believed to have been the five sons of Namutukula.

In 1949, Chief William Wilberforce Nadiope Kadhumbula of Bugabula was elected. He served for two terms of three years each, followed by Henry Wako Muloki.

When monarchies were abolished in 1966, the Kyabazinga was dethroned but was again enthroned in 1995 when the government restored monarchies in Uganda. On 11 February, Henry Wako Muloki was reinstated as the Kyabazinga.

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