Buganda Kingdom : Uganda as country consists of many different people all from different tribes and different ethnic groups. Uganda has over 50 tribes from three major groups namely Nilotics ,Bantu and Sundanic groups with about 40 languages. As it is said ,Uganda has a very strong and diverse cultural heritage made up with a very wide range of eithnic groups and over 50 of them. But, we mainly have four main ethnic groups and of different origins and these are namely the Bantu ,Nilotics, Nilo hamites and the Hamites. As am speaking right now the Bantu is the largest ethnic group which consist of the Baganda taking up the high percentage of the Bantu ethnic group. But this does not mean that its the only Tribe in this ethnic group of the Bantu . there are other tribes like the Bakonjo, Batooro, Banyankole, Banyakrwanda and so many other more . But the Baganda take up the highest percentage of the Bantu ethnic group. To go into details of The Baganda have a kingdom just like the wau all the over ttribes do have and this Kingdom is known as the Buganda kingdom. This Kingdom as historians say came from the greater Bunyoro Kitara Empire that spanned the entire interlacustrine region. Buganda is located on the northern and western shores of Lake Victoria and the people are called Baganda. This just like the it sounds has heads and leaders of its own just like the Uganda as a country has a President and Members of Parliment as the chiefs leaders of the country in charge of the social ,political and economic welfare of the country. Same applies to the the Buganda Kingdom ,it has a king that rules and guides its people on their noams and cultures. Kingship is hereditary in the Kingdom as the throne is ruled by one family. It gets more interesting as the king is also the spiritual elder and representative of the gods on earth. In this Case The late Kato Kintu Kakulukuku as his full name was the first king also known as Kabaka of Buganda who reigned from the 13th century to the mid 14th century. From this king did all the baganda come according to Buganda folklore. History of Kings after Kintu is rather insignificant till the reign of Kabaka Mutesa 1 who invited the first Christain missionaries to Uganda. At this moment in time in the mid 19th century, Buganda was a regional juggernaut in terms of military might, population, economics, as well as land mass occupied by the kingdom. . But in present situation the current King of Buganda is Kabaka Ronald Mwenda Mutebi II along with his spouse Lydia Nagginda the Naabagereka. This Kingdom too includes of different 52 clans which include;- Bugeme, Butiko (Mushrooms), Kasimba (Genet), Kayozi (Jerboa), Kibe(Fox), Mbogo (Buffalo), Musu/Omusu (Edible rat), Ngabi (Bush), to mention but a few all to thrill while on Uganda Tours.
But first and foremost a clan is a group of people united by the same common interest and are related therefore making the people with in a clan bothers and sisters.
The people of Buganda have great attachment to Noams and values that shape up their culture. These noams and values are nurtured from different aspects of their culture through their way of dressing(clothing) speaking, Foods for examples a totem is an animal that is believed by a particular society to have a spiritual significance and is adopted by the people as an emblem. Therefore the people the people of Buganda are not allowed to eat the animal that represents their clan. For the area of Dress code the women are meant to wear long silk dresses known as Gomesi and men are to wear Kanzu and also are supposed to kneel down while talking or greeting people as a sign of respect.
The people of Buganda have for a long time been known as great administrators and governors especially during the time of Kabaka Mutesa I so they took on big leadership roles that were given to them by the Kabaka and the European explorers who recruited them as collaborators among others.
They are also very hospitable people as evidenced during the times of Kabaka Mutesa I when he invited the Christian Missionaries to Buganda who introduced Christianity into Buganda. They too have continuously contributed to the economic development of Buganda and Uganda . They have mainly participated in economic activities such as fishing along the shores of lake Victoria, farming of both food and cash crops, mining and many other more . Intermarriages among people of the various tribes of Uganda and this has reduced tribalism and created unity among the people of Uganda. The Baganda are the largest Bantu ethnic group. they occupy the central part of Uganda which was formally known the Buganda province. The Baganda can therefore be found in the present districts of Kampala , Impigi , Mukono, Masaka ,Kalangala, Kiboga, Rakai and Mubende.
