ISEBANTU KYABAZINGA
Isebantu Kyabazinga or Kyabazinga of Busoga is the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. Isebantu means "father of the people."[1] This name was a symbol of unity derived from the expression and recognition by the people of Busoga that their leader was the "father of all people who brings all of them together", and who also serves as their cultural leader. The current Kyabazinga of Busoga is William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV,[2] born on 1st November 1988 and was coronated on 13 September 2014. The queen consort to the Kyabazinga is known as Inhebantu.
Contents
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1Origins
2The eleven Busoga chiefdoms
3Abolition and restoration
4Election
5List of Kyabazingas of Busoga
6References
7External links
Origins
Before Europeans came to Busoga, the Basoga organized themselves into 11 hereditary chiefdoms; with five of the leaders tracing their ancestry directly from Bunyoro, and the other six tracing their origins from Buganda. There was no king, although the chiefs often met and discussed issues of common interest. When they met, the chiefs would select a chairperson from among themselves to chair the session. They often met in Bukaleeba in Bunya (modern-day Mayuge District). In 1894, the Colonial administrator, one William Grant, picked and formed a native chief’s council under his chairmanship. Later, Semei Kakungulu, a Muganda, was brought in to make the chief's council conform to colonial rule. In 1905, with his efforts frustrated by internal bickering, he was dismissed. The 11 chiefs were asked to select from among themselves someone to represent their interests at the seat of the colonial government which was based in Bugembe, in modern-day Jinja District. At first the title of the leader of the group was referred to as "Chairman", which later changed to "President". Then the chiefs coined the title to Kyabazinga in 1939.[3]
The eleven Busoga chiefdoms
As of March 2015, the following is the list of the names of the eleven Busoga Chiefs.[4][3]
List of Busoga Chieftaincies and Current officeholders
RankChieftaincyTitle of ChieftainName of Current Chief
1BugabulaThe Gabula of BugabulaWilliam Gabula Nadiope IV - Current Kyabazinga
2BugweriThe Menha of BugweriSamuel Nkuutu Menha
3BukholiThe Wakholi of BukholiDavid Kaunhe Wakholi
4BukonoThe Nkono of BukonoSamuel Kamaga Nkono
5BulamogiThe Zibondo of BulamogiEdward Colombus Wambuzi
6BunholeThe Nanhumba of BunholeJohn Ntale Nanhumba
7BunyaThe Luba of BunyaHaji Juma Luba Munuulo
8BusikiThe Kisiki of BusikiYekoniya Isiko Kisiki
9ButembeThe Ntembe of ButembeYasin Ntembe Waguma
10KiguluThe Ngobi of KiguluPatrick Izimba Gologolo Ngobi
11LuukaThe Tabingwa of LuukaWellington Nabwana Tabingwa
Abolition and restoration
The Kyabazinga of Busoga was abolished in 1967 when Milton Obote, the self-declared President of Uganda at that time, disbanded all traditional institutions within the country. The Kyabazinga was restored with the restoration of traditional institutions in 1993 and Busoga re-coroneted Henry Wako Muloki on 11 February 1995."[1]
Election
The Kyabazingaship in Busoga is an elected post. The Kyabazinga was initially chosen from among the five hereditary chiefs who trace their ancestry directly from Bunyoro-Kitara. Busoga's constitution has been modified to allow all 11 hereditary chiefs to stand for election as Kyabazinga. The post of Kyabazinga is not a lifetime appointment. Each Kyabazinga is elected to serve a specified term and may be recalled anytime if the chiefs who elected him are unhappy with the way he might be conducting business. [5] The criteria of selecting or appointing the Kyabazinga of Busoga Basing on the recent appointment of the current Kyabazinga to the position of ambassador special duties in the president's office, a position under public service, there is a need for the busoga royal council and basoga at lager to call for amendments in the constitution especially on this clause. The criteria that should be looked at before appointing any person to the seat of isebantu may include but not limited to the following:
Education back ground a minimum of a degree
The person must be financially sound to avert situations of taking up presidential appotintments to earn a living
Must have reached retirement age from civil service and do not participate in elective polics.
List of Kyabazingas of Busoga
List of the Kyabazingas of Busoga
RankName of KyabazingaReign
1Ezekiel Tenywa Wako[3]1939 until 1949
2William Wilberforce Nadiope II1949 until 1955
3Henry Wako Muloki[1]1955 until 1967
0Interregnum1967 until 1995
3Henry Wako Muloki1995 until 2008
0Interregnum2008 until 2014
4William Gabula Nadiope IV.[6]2014 until present
References
^ Jump up to:a b c Bita, George (14 September 2008). "Life And Times of Wako Muloki". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 2 September 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
Jump up^ Ssentamu, Saleh (23 August 2014). "William Gabula IV Elected Kyabazinga". Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 23 March2015.
^ Jump up to:a b c Imaka, Isaac (2 June 2014). "Busoga’s Search for A Kyabazinga". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
Jump up^ Tom Gwebayanga, and Donald Kiirya (26 August 2014). "Gabula: Kyabazinga Ayise Mu Ttanuulu Y’anaagatta Obusoga (Gabula: The Kyabazinga Who Has Gone Through Fire Will Be The One To Unite Busoga)". Bukedde.co.ug (Luganda). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
Jump up^ Banalya, John (18 September 2014). "On Kyabazinga of Busoga Election". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 24 March 2015.
Jump up^ Kizza, Joseph (13 September 2014). "Museveni Vows To Work With New Kyabazinga". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 24 March 2015.
External links
Kyabazingaship Always Been Contentious - Monday, 15 September 2014
Categories:
Busoga
Ugandan monarchies
Titles of national or ethnic leadership