KYABAZINGA CORONATION, Gabula iv joins line of glorious Kyabazingas

The institution of Kyabazingaship started in the 20th century with the formation of Busoga Lukiiko (parliament) in 1894-with its headquarters in Bukaleba in Mayuge (bunya) before they were moved to Iganga in Kigulu and later Bugenbe in Jinja (Butembe).

All the 11 hereditary chiefs of Bukono, Busiki, Bulamogi, Kigulu, Bukooli, Bugweri, Bunya, Butembe, Luuka, Bugabula, Bunhole, were all members of the Lukiiko and were expected to move to Bukaleba. The first head of Busoga Lukiiko used the tittle ‘’president’’ and he was Governor Sir William Grant. But because of language barrier, grant had issues communicating wth the chiefs, which forced the colonialists to hire their Muganda cadre, Semei Lwakirenzi Kakungulu in 1906 to become the new president.

However, he was not a Musoga wrangles amongst the different chiefs and clans continued and the most basoga still retained affiliation to their chief. Kakungulu was removed in 1913, ushering in a rotational leadership, which required every chief to leave his palace and move to Bugembe and rule for three months. This system lasted until 1919 when fatigue set in and the chiefs opted to elect one of them to rule.

Since then Busoga has had only three Kyabazinga’s with William Gabula iv becoming the fourth Kyabazinga. Ezekeri Tenywa Wako, became the first Kyabazinga in 1939 as he had served as the president of the Busoga lukiiko since 1919. He was succeeded by sir William Wilberforce Nadiope Kadhumbula (ii) and Henry Wako Muloki.

Below is a quick glance at Busoga’s Kyabazingas as depicted at the cultural research centre museum in Jinja.

1. Ezekeri Tenywa Wako (1919-1949)

He was born to prince Wambuzi one of the sons of Kisira, who was the Zibondo of Bulamogi at the advent of British rule in Uganda in 1894. 

After completing his studies at Kings College Budo in 1914 Wako became the Zibondo since his grandfather had died at Bukaleba and his father (Wambuzi) had died in exile at Kakoro in todays (Budaka) district in 1907.

In 1919, Wako became the first Musoga president of Busoga after the first president Semei Lwakirenzi Kakungulu, a Muganda, who had administered the area from 1906 to 1913, had been dismissed by the colonial government.

In 1925, Wako became a member of the council of Ugandas kings who included the Kabaka of Buganda, the Omukama of Bunyoro kitara, Omukama of Tooro and Omugabe of Ankole. 

During his twenty years as president (1919-1939), wako actively promoted education including maintaining of balangira high school, which had been established by the church missionary society and Yosia Nadiope at Kamuli in 1911, and transformed it into Busoga College Mwiri in 1933.

He also supported the construction of Busoga government headquarters at Bugembe, construction of a number of churches, county and sub county, administration centres, opening of several Criss crossing roads, establishment of health centre’s and promotion of community development programs.

Also during the inter war period of 1919-1939, Wako and his chiefs helped to promote agriculture and commerce. They encouraged Busoga farmers to grow cotton, coffee and some food crops for sell. In turn the agriculture and commerce led to the expansion of Jinja town and creation of small towns like Iganga, Kaliro, Kamuli and Bugiri, the following establishment of Kakira sugarcane plantation in 1927 and cotton ginneries in various parts in Busoga.

In addition, wako used his position as the chairman of Busoga Council and chief judge in Busoga district to initiate some reforms in administration and judicial matters and to strengthen the powers of Busoga council.

2. Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope kadhumbula (Gabula ii) (1949-1956 and 1962-1967) 

He was born in 1911 to prince Yosia Nadiope and Suzana Nasikombi who was the sister to sir Apollo Kagwa. At the age of 8, Nadiope was taken to the only outstanding school in Busoga known as balangira high school in Kamuli which had been started by his father together with Rev T,R,Buckerly of the church of missionary society. But after a few years he was taken to Mengo by his uncle Apollo where he stayed for short time before he went to Trent College in Nottingham, England, were he studied with other prince. 

The young Nadiope returned to Uganda in 1929 with intensions of going for further studies at the famous Achimota College in Accra Ghana. However, he changed his mind after he was requested to take over leadership from Daudi Kintu Mutekanga as county chief of Bugabula in 1930. 

Following with William Nadiope’s flashes with the British administrators in 1933 1nd 1938, he was exiled to Bunyoro in 1939. He was later returned to mobilize basoga to go for the second world war which he did successfully earning the title of ‘’sir’’ from her majesty the queen of England. 

He survived the war in far East (India, Burma, and Malaysia) and returned to Uganda in 1945.

In 1949, he was elected by Busoga council as the second Kyabazinga. In 1952, Nadiope was re-elected, and in 1954, he was one of the dignitaries that receive Queen Elizabeth ii at the official opening of the falls dam in Jinja.

During his reign, Busoga government created bursary scheme to support poor and deserving learners’ especially in secondary schools and encouraged the establishment of Busoga Growers Cooperative Union (BGCU) in 1953 under Marthius Mbalule Ngobi. When nNdiope lost the Kyabazingaship in 1955 to Henry wako muloki, he turned his eyes to national politics. He was elected to legislative council (LEGCO) in 1958, having won a sit Busoga north, Busoga south was won by Martius Ngobi.

3. Henry wako Muloki (1962 and 1991 to 2008)

He was born in 1921 to Ezekeri Tenywa Wako and Yunia Nakibande.A few years later he went to Budo junior school before Joining King’s College Budo where he was head prefect in 1941-42.

Between 1943 and 1948, he was a student at Makerere College (now university) where he obtained a diploma in agriculture. After, he worked as a researcher at serere Agricultural Research station in teso before he become an assistance agricultural officer in Busoga.In 1955, he was elected the 3rd Kyabazinga of Busoga and married Alice Kintu of Abaisekisu clan from Bulopa in 1956.

Muloki assumed the Kyabazinga with a new team of people who included Yeseri Kazungu Mulondo ( Secretary General) and Zedekia Wambi ( chief judge) together with JB Lubandi who had become treasurer in 1953. Since four of them (with the exception Wambi) were ex-Makerereans, it was easy for them to chart a new socio-economic and political program for Busoga. 

In addition, Mulondo was already a backbencher in the legislative council from 1945 while Walukamba was elected by Busoga council to the legislative council in 1955 to 1953, with David Livingstone and Kaira Lubogo, who was the first Ugandan to qualify as a barrister in 1954.

During Moloki’s seven years and four months as Kyabazinga from May 1955 to September 1962, Busoga government achieved many things which included:

• Establishing Iganga junior school (1955), Kiira College Butiki (1959), and Wanyange girls secondary school (1960).

• Persuading the Madvani group to establish Wairaka College, PMM girls secondary school Jinja and Wairaka farm school.

• Establishing a number of leprosy camps and planting a number of forests in different parts of Busoga.

• Establishing cattle dips in different areas.

• Creating a bursary/scholarship scheme for advanced studies overseas.

• And starting a Busoga government newspaper called Kodeyo. 

4. William Nadiope Gabula iv

He was born on November 1,1988 to professor Anold Wilson Nadiope (Gabula iii), who spent much of his time abroad before he returned in 1987, and he was appointed state minister for tourism. Professor Anold Nadiope who is a son to sir William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope (Gabula ii) married a daughter of engineer Mpaata, who gavebirth to prince William Nadiope iv who became chief of Bugabula, following his father’s death in 1991. 

Gabula IV went to Rohanna Academy before joining Busoga College Mwiri for his O’level 2002-2005 and Kyambongo College school for his A’level 2006-2007, he then joined Kyambongo University where he pursued a Bachelors Degree in Economics. The king who has been working as a development analyst with the ministry of Energy and mineral development, flew out this month to UK for his masters degree

ARTICLE PICKED FROM THE OBSERVER OF SEPTEMBER 26-28, 2014 WRITTEN BY SIMON MUSASIZI