Buganda Kingdom, Facts, the Rise and Attractions

Visit the Buganda Kingdom in central Uganda – the Kabaka’s of Buganda, Buganda Palace – Buganda History.

A safari to Buganda is fantastic with it offering a wide range of activities for tourists. The subnational Kingdom is located in the central region of the country, extending in 26 districts. Its people are known as the Baganda who occupy the whole central region of the country harboring the capital city of Uganda, Kampala. The Baganda speak a language known as Luganda that is widely used in the country.

History of Buganda Kingdom and British Intrusion Explained in 10 Minutes

History of Buganda

Buganda, the largest of the medieval kingdoms in present-day Uganda, became an important and powerful state during the 19th century. Established in the late 14th century along the shore of Lake Victoria, it evolved around its founding Kabaka (king) Kintu, who came to the region from northeast Africa. Kintu, who arrived as the leader of multiple clans, conquered the area, defeating the last indigenous ruler, Bemba Musota, to establish his new state. Kintu, however, ordered the new clans to intermarry with the indigenous people creating the Buganda ethnic group.

The Baganda People: Africa’s Last Surviving Kingdom

Thirty-six kabakas or kings followed Kintu, who mysteriously disappeared after laying Buganda’s foundation.  While in the early centuries the kings ruled at the mercy of the clan heads, by 1700 they gained more centralized authority over the kingdom. During the 16th century, Buganda began 300 years of territorial expansion, annexing or conquering a number of chiefdoms and expanding from three provinces to twelve by 1890. Buganda’s expansion came as a result of its military superiority over its neighbors.

The earliest inhabitant of this place is believed to have been the Bantu that migrated from the Congo basin, who live in the present-day Busiro, Kyadondo, and Mawokota. The origin of this great kingdom is not clear to historians however a number of theories have been put up.

Attractions in Buganda Kingdom – where to visit while in Buganda

The Kabaka’s Palace ( Twekobe) – The Kabaka’s Palace was established by Kabaka Mwanga II and up to now, the Palace serves as the official residence of all the last 6 Kings of Buganda Kingdom. The word Twekobe – means come together in oneness for a cause, therefore the people of Buganda came together to construct a palace for the Kabaka on the Mengo Hill and it is in this Palace that the Buganda agreement was signed in 1900.

The Buganda Parliament (Bulange) – The Bulange was constructed during the colonial regime under the leadership of Kabaka Muteesa II with the purpose of acting as the parliament/Lukiiko of the Buganda Kingdom.

The Royal Mile – This is one of the places that will give a glimpse sight experience of the ancient architectural designs. The royal mile is a road that was constructed perfectly in a straight line to connect the Buganda parliament (Bulange) to the Twekobe the Kabaka’s Palace.

Nantaweta Monument – The monument is located in the center of the Royal Mile and is found on a wide roundabout that runs through the middle in a single, the road is only used by the Kabaka and the gate that is in the center is kept closed so as to limit and restrict it from the commoners.

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