Kalangala: Unique venue for Kabaka’s coronation festival

Kabaka Mutebi drums at his coronation anniversary in Bulange, Mengo, recently. File photo

KALANGALA- The choice of Ssese Islands or Kalangala District as the venue for this year’s Kabaka’s coronation anniversary today was not a mere coincidence.

It was a well-thought out idea.
The islands are significant to Buganda Kingdom for many reasons. One is intertwined in the traditions of Buganda on which the monarch’s authority hinges.

Kalangala hosts Luggo forest where a tree called Ddamula is found. It is from this tree that the Buganda royal mace, also known as Ddamula, which the Kabaka hands to the newly-appointed Katikkiro (prime minister) as a symbol of authority.

The Katikkiro helps the king to administer the kingdom on his behalf, outside the palaces.

The unique heritage
Luggo is a five-acre privately-owned forest located in Buswa village on Mulabana Road and surrounded by oil palm plantations. It has few and unique tree species in it.
Mr Samuel Nsagalanyi, the caretaker of the forest, says he has jealously conserved the forest due to his love for the kingdom.

“Given the rate at which forests are being depleted here, this forest couldn’t have been in existence by now, but I care for it like I do for my children,” Mr Nsagalanyi says.

“What is interesting is that this tree (Ddamula) species is only found here and nowhere else in Buganda,” he adds.

The forest is also a source of revenue since many tourists flock the place to know about Buganda’s heritage.

However, the money collected goes to the owner’s pocket and the district takes 15 per cent of it.
Buganda Kingdom doesn’t have any share .

“At least 90 tourists visit the forest asking questions on whether they could take a tree seedling or branch for replanting in their compounds back home. What is funny is that many of them cannot believe that Ddamula tree is only found in Luggo,” Mr Nsagalanyi says.

The magic forest
Residents in the nearby Buswa and Kamwanyi villages rely on the forest as a source of firewood since many forests around were cut down to create space for palm oil growing.
Mr Nsagalanyi, however, vows to punish any person found cutting down trees or encroaching on the forest since there aren’t any security personnel to guard the forest.

The area chairperson, Mr Meddie Kayondo, believes that even those who currently fetch firewood from the forest must also be stopped, fearing they would one time cut down the remaining part of the forest.

The forest (Luggo) and the tree (Ddamula) in particular are symbols of Ssese County’s uniqueness.

According to Ssese Ssaza chief Christopher Walusimbi, the Islands also house Bukasa, Wanema and Bubembe shrines which were used by past cultural leaders in Ssese who negotiated to annex the islands to Buganda.

Culturally, Kabaka Mutebi is not allowed to access some of these sites, especially Bukasa shrines.

Buganda Kingdom education minister Abbas Kawaase says although the event is conducted on a rotational basis in different counties every year, it was imperative to conduct it in Kalangala this time round.

“Although these celebrations rotate in various counties of Buganda every year, this time we chose Ssese. In fact, Ssese is believed to be the origin of Buganda’s heritage and we are happy that the past cultural leaders of Ssese saw it imperative to become part of Buganda,” says Hajj Kawaase, who is also the chairperson of Kabaka’s coronation anniversary committee.

Initially, Ssese islands were referred to as the islands of the gods; all the origins of different clans, as well as those that came with Kintu (believed to be the first Muganda) have important shrines on the islands, according to Mr Walusimbi.

“That is why many historians suggest that Kintu must have come through Ssese at some point before he settled in Buganda. This makes our area special in Buganda and we are indeed proud of that,” he says.

Before the signing of the famous 1900 Buganda Agreement, Ssese was not recognised as a county in Buganda and kings then never established their rule over people there.