UNIT 1: KINGDOMS OF EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: BUGANDA AND KONGO KINGDOMS

UNIT 1: KINGDOMS OF EAST AND
CENTRAL AFRICA: BUGANDA
AND KONGO KINGDOMS

Key unit competence: By the end of this unit, the learner should be able
to describe the factors that led to the rise and
decline of kingdoms in East and Central Africa:
Case study of Buganda and Kongo kingdoms.

five students.
1. Identify and locate those kingdoms on the map of Africa.
2. Discuss on the main reasons for the rise of East and central
African Kingdom
3. Identify the reasons for the gradual breaks up of Eastern and
central African Kingdoms.
There were many kingdoms in the east and central African region
before the colonial era. Among the most established kingdoms
were the Buganda and the Kongo kingdoms. This unit explores the
origin, rise of each of these two kingdoms. It concludes by studying
the reasons for the decline of these two kingdoms.

    Buganda Kingdom

Introduction

This was one of the most developed and highly centralised states in the
interlacustrine region in the middle of 19th Century. It covered the area
between Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria in the north and south respectively.
To the west she was boarded by Bunyoro and extended as far as River Nile
to the east.

There are two theories that explain the origin of the Buganda Kingdom.
The first theory is based on traditions in Buganda. These traditions
suggest that the founder of Buganda was Kintu. Kintu was an immigrant
from Mount Elgon region. He is believed to have organised the Buganda
clans in one centralised organisation with himself on top of administrative
hierarchy. This theory is popular among the Baganda and is believed by
about thirteen clans.

The other theory that explains the origin of Buganda is the Kimera theory.
Traditions in Bunyoro assert that Buganda Kingdom was formed by a sub
dynasty of Babito. They argue that after the Chwezi Empire disintegrated,
different provinces founded their own kingdoms. Traditions say that
the founder of Buganda kingdom was Kato Kirema, a twin brother of
Isingoma Rukidi Mpuga. Isingoma Rukidi was the founder of Babito
Dynasty in Bunyoro Kingdom. What is important is that by the middle of
the 16th Century, a kingdom emerged in the area north of Lake Victoria.

The kingdom later expanded in all directions.

1.1. Factors for the rise and growth of Buganda Kingdom.

1. State any two factors that led to the rise of Buganda Kindom.
2. By the 19th century, Buganda was at the peak of its greatness. Let
us now discuss some of the factors for its rise and growth.

a) Strong and ambitious leaders.

Around the 14th and 15th centuries, the small Buganda Kingdom
experienced rapid growth and expansion. Initially, the kingdom was made
up of smaller kingdoms of Busiro, Kyadondo and Mawokota. This growth
came about as a result of powerful and ambitious kings of Buganda at
that time. Such kings captured new areas towards the end of the 16th
century. They added them to the existing Buganda Kingdom. At the same
time, it can rightly be argued that the kingdom had weaker neighbours
such as Bunyoro Kingdom.

Examples of such strong leaders are Kabaka Kateregga, who raided
Bunyoro and conquered Ggomba, part of Butambala, southern Ssingo
and part of Busunju. This was around the 16th and 17th centuries.
However, Kabaka Kyabaggu made raids into Busoga but was later forced
to withdraw.

Another successful and ambitious leader was Kabaka Jjunju, who
annexed Buddu, Kooki, parts of Kiziba and Karagwe from Bunyoro in the
18th Century. He also made Buhaya pay tribute to the larger Buganda
Kingdom. Kabaka Ssemakokiro, in the last quarter of the 18th Century,
got Buwekula and Bulemezi. He also forced Busoga to pay tribute to
Buganda. Kabaka Mawanda, in the 18th Century, got Karagwe, which lay
to the northeast of Bulemezi and northwest of Singo.

b) Centralised administration.

Buganda was a highly centralised state under a king known as Kabaka.
He ruled with the help of the traditional parliament called Lukiiko. Apart
from the Lukiiko, the king was also assisted by three important officials:
the prime minister (Katikiro), the treasurer (Omuwanika) and chief
justice (Omulamuzi). The king was a source of power from the head of
the administrative unit to the bottom level. Important to note is that
a decision by the Lukiiko as well as Kabaka’s word was final in settling
disputes and initiating development projects.

c) Smooth succession of leaders.

Succession of leadership in the kingdom was well laid out. Before the
kabaka died, he had to name his successor. If he did not, the katikiro and
the clan heads would be responsible for choosing the capable kabaka.
This reduced conflict that could arise out of succession. In general, this
promoted stability and peace in the kingdom.

d) Trade.

Buganda Kingdom participated in trade with its neighbours such as
Ankole, Bunyoro, Karagwe and Rwanda. It traded in bark cloth and iron.
Generally, the trade boosted its economic progress. The kingdom also
participated in Long Distance Trade that was being carried out between
the East African Coast and Central Africa. The Arabs from the coast brought
guns in exchange for slaves and ivory. The kingdom used these guns to
conquer her neighbours and further expand her territory.

e) Strategic location.

Buganda Kingdom was strategically positioned with natural features.
For instance, Lake Victoria on the south, Lake Kyoga on the north and
River Nile on the east. These natural features provided defense against
her neighbours.

f) Fertile soils and favourable climate.

The kingdom supported agriculture. This is because it lay on land that was
fertile. Together with favourable climate that it experienced; it produced
good harvest that supported the population. Matoke was their staple
food. They also kept livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats.

g) Strong army.

The kingdom had an army equipped with iron weapons such as spears,
bowls and iron arrows. There also existed royal bodyguards that maintained
the Kabaka’s court and constantly protected it. The army defended the
kingdom and protected its boundaries. Every able- bodied male adult
had a responsibility to protect it. The army was well organized, trained
and disciplined.

h) Unifying language, religion, ancestry and culture.

The Kingdom of Buganda had several unifying factors. Among these was
their language, others being their traditional religion, a common ancestry
and similar culture. All these factors led to the kingdom’s rise, growth
and expansion. For instance, the Buganda Kingdom was a homogenous
society with the Bantu whose language was Luganda. 

This made communication easy and swift throughout the kingdom.
The Kabaka among the Baganda on the other hand was not only an
administrative leader, but also a spiritual leader. He was believed to be the
overall mediator between his people and their god, Lubaale. Their culture
also emphasised respect for authority and elders. This minimised cases of
disobedience and internal revolts.

i) Began as a small state.

At first, the Kingdom of Buganda was small. This made it possible to be
easily administrated and controlled. Communication throughout the
kingdom was also fast and effective.

1. Discuss the factors that led the rise and growth of Buganda
kingdom.

2. Present the findings. 

1.2. Factors for the decline of Buganda Kingdom

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Contrary to what many think, leadership is about ‘carrying’ other people’s
load. It requires patience, tolerance, wisdom, fairness and dedication.
 In some cases, a leader must be strict, even if other people will oppose him
or her. The most important thing is that the strictness should be based on
fairness and service to all.

A good leader should always be ready to attend to the needs of the people
he or she leads. While doing so, he or she must prioritise the needs. That is
to say that some needs may require urgent attention than others.
If leadership is left to weak, undecided, immoral and corrupt leaders,
a state fails. Many states have collapsed due to leadership wrangles or
incitement. In some cases, tribalism has led to collapse of regimes and
deaths of innocent citizens.
1. According to the passage, explain what leadership entails.
2. Identify some of the factors that can le

a) The coming of Europeans.

The location of the kingdom made it open to foreign interference.
For example, it was located along the trade routes which were used
by Europeans. These Europeans consisted of explorers, missionaries,
chartered companies and, later on, colonialists. They signed treaties with
the Kabaka and chiefs and stopped slave trade and slavery. They also
abolished traditional religion, introduced Christianity and reduced the
powers of the Kabaka. This led to the decline of the kingdom.

b) Big size of the kingdom.

The kingdom expanded to its great height to annex Busoga and
Bukedi and other vassal states. The big size due to expansion came
with administrative loopholes, rebellions and inefficiency in control. For
instance, distant administrative areas like Busoga broke away, weakening
the kingdom as well as reducing its size.

c) Religious conflicts.

The coming of Christian missionaries in Buganda brought some negative
effects. For instance, there were some religious conflicts among Catholics,
Protestants and Muslims. These religious conflicts divided people along
religious lines.

d) Weak military.

The large areas that the kingdom occupied made it difficult for it to
maintain a large enough army to protect it. With further expansion,
the kingdom’s military system weakened. It also had no standing army
to defend the kingdom on a daily basis except the royal guards that
maintained the king’s security. This led to its decline. With the coming of
the Europeans, the Buganda army was unable to protect the kingdom.
This was because they had less powerful guns from Arabs as compared to
those of the colonialists.

e) Succession disputes.

In the early 19th century, a man called Mutebi tried to become the kabaka
of Buganda. He had the backing of a number of chiefs for the throne. This
was disputed by his brother, Kamanya, who had similar interests. What
followed was a bitter succession war between these two brothers. The
dispute caused the death of Mutebi in the hands of his brother, Kamanya.
Kamanya was so paranoid he even killed his own sons.
Another succession dispute was witnessed between Apolo Kaggwa,
supporting Daudi Chwa and Daudi Mwanga. The dispute started shortly
after Mwanga’s father had been forced out of his kingdom and into exile 

in the Seychelles Islands. The dispute lasted between 1888 and 1892,
culminating in the Battle of Mengo. Apollo Kaggwa defeated a Muslim
supported Daudi Mwanga and saw the installation of a Christian backed
one-year-old Daudi Chwa. Kaggwa ended up being one of the three of
kabaka’s regents.

f) Decline of trade.

Trade in Buganda kingdom declined or collapsed especially with the
coming of Europeans. The Europeans stopped long distance trade with
its main item, slaves. This led to a reduction of the kingdom’s revenue,
consequently leading to its downfall.

g) Death of strong leaders.

The kingdom of Buganda lost capable, brave and strong leaders such
as Kabaka Mwanga and Kabaka Mutesa. These leaders had special and
natural skills of administration. This brought a gap in the kingdom in
terms of re-organisation hence leading its decline

h) External attacks.

Buganda Kingdom kept on declining and became less feared by its
neighbours. This caused the neighbouring kingdoms that were assumed
to be weak, before to attack it. Such an attack was mounted by the
Bunyoro Kingdom. From such attacks, Buganda experienced damages
and losses.

i) Disunity.

The kingdom became disunited because of religious conflicts and
divisions. The subjects started hating and fighting themselves. This led to
the kingdom’s decline.

j) Political instabilities.

The coming of the British caused political instability in the Buganda
Kingdom. This is because their interests in the kingdom were mainly
economic. To effectively benefit from this new-found economic entity,
they had to devise a way of disturbing the unity that had kept the kingdom
together. They therefore opted for ‘divide-and-rule’ policy, as a way of
hindering the people’s relations in order to prevent potential political
alliances and uprisings. The people of this former prosperous kingdom
found themselves clustered in regions and tribal communities.
 The divide-and-rule policy was so effective that it prevented Africans from
taking part in the national political arena. This in turn suppressed any

form of unity in coming up with political movements that could oppose
their selfish maneuvers.

The British also introduced Christian religion in the kingdom, which
caused serious divisions amongst the people. For instance, when Mutesa
died in 1884, his son Mwanga succeeded him. Mwanga was a young
man when he took the throne. Unfortunately, he lacked the leadership
qualities of his late father. Soon, the kingdom became unstable as a result
of the rivalries between the various religious camps. With the kingdom in
turmoil, the religious groupings effectively became political affiliations.
Each of these affiliations confronted the king militarily. Mwanga was
deposed by the armed converts, forcing him to flee the kingdom in 1888.

In the civil war that ensued, Muslims emerged successful. They proclaimed
an Islamic state and installed Kiwewa, a prince who had converted to Islam,
as king. However, the Christian converts ganged to fight the Muslims
and defeated them. The Christians installed Kalema, a prince who was in
support of their efforts.

Assess factors which led to the decline of Buganda kingdom. Present
them to the class.

    Kongo Kingdom.

Introduction

The Kingdom of Kongo was located in west central Africa. It covered the
present-day northern Angola, Cabinda and the Democratic Republic
of Congo. It stretched to the southern part of Gabon. The kingdom
extended to reach the Atlantic Ocean in the west and to the Cuango
River in the east. Further, it stretched from the Congo River in the north
to the Kwanza River in the south. The kingdom consisted of several core
provinces ruled by the ‘Manikongo’, meaning lord or ruler of the Kongo
Kingdom. However, the Kingdom extended to neighbouring kingdoms
such as Ngoyo, Kakongo, Nsoyo and Matamba.