By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
MASAKA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: One of my friends wondered how l could call my self Munnabuddu (hailing from Buddu County) when my home district is Ssembabule and County (Saza) is Mawogola.
But my answer is that Buddu and Greater Masaka are synonymous and the rest is artificial creation. That is why the Roman Catholic Masaka Diocese (Saza) covers the entire Greater Masaka.
But ethnically, l am a Munnabuddu from Lineage of (Omutuba gwa) Kateregga Luguma at Bukakkata landing site on the shores of Lake Victoria. Kateregga was the first son of Omukama Winyi l of Bunyoro, whose capital was at Kibulala in North Singo or present day Kiboga District. But he also had a palace at Mukoko, along Kampala-Masaka High Way.
Omukama Wunyi l, according to Baganda oral traditions, was a step father and paternal grand uncle of Kabaka Kimera whom he groomed at Kibulala, before he ascended onto the Buganda throne, after the demise of his grandfather Kabaka Chwa l who was Kabaka Kintu’s successor. Kimera’s father, Prince Kalemeera, had died on way from Bunyoro back to Buganda.
Wunyi l, had many children one of whom was called Pookino, still one of the lineages, but which later became the title of the Saza Chief of Buddu. At Bukakkata, Kateregga was succeeded by Kakunule, who was also succeeded by Kitaluzi, who was also succeeded by Luguma, who lived at the time Kabaka Jjunju conquered Buddu in the late 17th century. Luguma died at Bumanji in Sese. Hence the lineage is called Kateregga-Luguma.
l am also the leader of (Omukulu w’Olunyiriri lwa) Makaato at Kisawo in Bukulula Sub County now Kalungu District. That is where our ancestors lived before the advent of Islam and Christianity. My greater grandfather Asumani Mawanda Gunsiriiza Tabula Banaanyizza embraced Islam and after religious wars, settled at Bukesa in Ngando, Butambala.
His brother Nyansi Bulenzi Kasajja embraced Roman Catholicism and was appointed a Muluka Chief Miyenje now Nsoga in Mawogola and was given a private Mailo estate at Nnambiriizi. He died in 1939 and was succeeded by his son Matiya Makaato who died in 1954 without a son, and was succeeded by my grandfather, Zulirabi Idi Dungu Mukasa Kimera.
On my mother’s side of Emmamba clan headed by Gabunga, Miiro e Zinga(island in Lake Victoria) sub clan (Siga), Golola lineage in Gomba, the first ancestor to embrace Islam was Saad Kifampa Kinywakyamaggwa who was converted by his mother at Kanywa in present day Bukoto County East, and was succeeded by Musa Nsubuga who settled at Kyanjovu near Kitengeesa. He was succeded by Haji Salim Busuuli who settled at Muguluka- Mateete Mawogola. Hece l am both Munnabuddu and Munnamawogola and more importantly, Munnamasaka.
Back to Masaka, which is now a city, there are various attributions to its origins. There is no doubt that before Kabaka Junju conquered Buddu, Masaka was in Bunyoro and in Runyakitara, “okushaka” means “to want.” However, others attribute it to Runyarwanda where it means sorghum. Former President of Rwanda Bizimungu claimed that Rwanda, at one time, extended as far as Lwera on the banks of River Katonga. But in all oral traditions, Buganda had never shared a common boarder with Rwanda and there is no oral tradition in Buddu that supports the former President’s claim.
However, at present Masaka City and the hinterland is a “United nations” proper of not only Ugandans but also immigrants and or descendants of immigrants from neighboring countries like Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo and before 1979 war, was the stop center for businessmen from not only Southern and Western Uganda but also neighboring towns like Bukoba and Mwanza in Tanzania, Kigali, Bujumbura, and Goma. With the will of God, determination of the people and good policies of NRM government, it will reclaim its role.
While Masaka was one of the cities to be created but not immediately, just like Entebbe, Wakiso and Nakasongola, among others, when the Kabaka requested for it to be given the first priority, that is what Government did.
More so, it is the Kabaka’s city, since Mengo Municipality was not operationalized and has missed a city status yet the regional capital towns that were created in 2005, like Hoima, have now become cities, the same with Jinja, Lira and Gulu.
Credit goes to President Museveni and NRM who not only gave people power to elect their own leaders, among other sound plans and policies, that have enabled Masaka to recover from 1979 and 1985/66 wars and the scourge of HIV-AIDS and let us pray that we are not so much affected by Covid 19 pandemic. Let us observe SOPs.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and a Communications Assistant with Ministry of ICT and National Guidance Digital Team.
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