STYLES & TITLES:
The ruler: Kabaka, with the style of Ssaabasajja, Ccuucu, Magulunnyondo, Ssemanda, Musota, Seggwanga, Ssabalongo, Nantazibirwa kkubo, Maaso moogi, etc.
The spiritual, or supernatural, king is represented by the Royal Drums. These are regalia called Mujaguzo and, as they always exist, the Buganda at any time will always have a king. Mujaguzo, like any other king, has his own palace, officials, servants, and palace guards. The material, human prince has to perform special cultural rites on the Royal Drums before he can be declared king of the Kingdom of Buganda. Upon the birth of a royal prince or princess, the Royal Drums are sounded by drummers specially selected from a specified clan as a means of informing the subjects of the kingdom of the birth of new member of the royal family. The same Royal Drums are sounded upon the death of a reigning king to officially announce the death of the material king. According to Buganda culture, a king does not die but gets lost in the forest and he is henceforth referred to as Sekabaka . Inside the royal tomb, for example the Kasubi Tombs and the Wamala Tombs, one is shown the entrance of the forest where the sekabaka’s live. It is taboo to look beyond the entrance of the forest..
The principals consorts of the Kabaka: styled Abakyala (Lady) and holding the following titles in descending rank Naabagareka, Kaddulubaale, Kabejja, Nassaza, Nanzigu, Kikome, Luyiga, Nakaddu, Muwunda, mwaziza, Naakasala, Nakiboja, musuuna, Nabanaku, Kavebukasa, Mulawula, Nakimera, Omubunge, Nankole, Omuweeweesi, Musenero,
i) The wife of Kabaka who becomes mother of the next Kabaka: Namasole.
ii) The convener of the Royal Council: Ssabalangira.
iii) A favourate son of the Kabaka, who does’nt become King but he is marked: Ow’omutuba
iv) The sister of the Kabaka in charge of royal tomb: Naalinya, i.e. the Princess Royal.
v) The eldest son of the Kabaka: Kiweewa.
vi)The eldest daughter of the Kabaka: Nassolo.
vii) The Second Daughter of the Kabaka: Kagere.
viii)The third daughter of the Kabaka: Nabaloga.
ix)The younger sons, grandsons, and male descendants of the x) Kabaka in the male line: Omulangira, i.e. Prince.
x) The daughters, grand-daughters and female descendants of the Kabaka in the male line: Omumbejja, i.e. Princess.
RULES OF SUCCESSION: ‘Okulya Nnamulondo’
Male primogeniture, legitimate sons and/ grandsons taking precedence over those born of secondary wives.
i) The sons and Daughters of the Kabaka: Mujaguzo Royals
ii) The grand sons and grand daughters of the Kabaka: Kanabba Royals
Buganda has no concept equivalent to the Crown Prince. All the princes are equally treated prior to the coronation of a new king following the death of a reigning monarch. However, during the period of a reigning king, a special council has the mandate to study the behavior and characteristics of the young princes. The reigning king, informed by the recommendation of the special council, selects one prince to be his successor. In a secret ceremony, the selected prince is given a special piece of bark cloth by the head of the special verification council. The name of the “king-to-be” is kept secret by the special council until the death of the reigning king. When all the princes and princesses are called to view the body of the late king lying in state, the selected prince lays the special piece of bark cloth over the body of the late king, revealing himself as the successor to the throne.
By tradition, Baganda children take on the clan of their biological fathers. However, princes take on the clan of their biological mothers on becoming a king (Kabaka) This is to ensure that each of the 56 clans of Baganda gets a chance of producing a future king of Buganda, since a reigning king can marry from any of the 56 clans except that of his biological mother.
The first born prince, by tradition called Kiweewa, is not allowed to become king. This was carefully planned to protect him against any attempted assassinations in a bid to fight for the crown. Instead he is given special roles to play in the matters of the royal family and kingdom. Thus, the name of the possible successor to the throne remains secret.
- Buganda Kingdom Releases Program for Prince Wasajja’s Wedding (kanyikekevinsanderson.wordpress.com)
- Words of Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga – Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister (Katikkiro) (shawnmubiru.wordpress.com)