Omukama of Bunyoro

Omukama wa Bunyoro (translates to the King of Bunyoro) is the title given to rulers of the East African kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara. The kingdom lasted as an independent state from the 16th to the 19th century. The Omukama of Bunyoro remains an important figure in Ugandan politics, especially among the Banyoro people of whom he is the titular head. He is closely related to the Omukama of Tooro Kingdom.

The Royal Palace, called Ekikaali Karuziika (Karuziika Palace), is located in Hoima. The current Omukama is Rukirabasaija Solomon Iguru I Gafabusa Amooti and his wife is Omugo (the Queen) Margaret Karunga Adyeri. As a cultural head, the King is assisted by his Principal Private Secretary, a Cabinet of 21 Ministers and Orukurato (a Parliament).

Constitutional recognition

In 1962, the United Kingdom granted independence to Uganda. In February 1966, Prime Minister Milton Obote suspended the constitution and seized power, abolishing all of the traditional kingdoms including Bunyoro in 1967. The Omukama (King) of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom was reinstated by Statute No. 8 of 1993, enacted by the Parliament of Uganda after the monarchy had been abolished for many years. Unlike the pre-1967 Omukama, who was both titular head and a political figure of the government of Bunyoro, the Omukama today is a cultural leader above partisan politics, although the king remains the titular head of the Bunyoro regional government.

Article 246 of the 1995 Ugandan constitution provides:

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Etymology of Omukama

Omukama means ‘the milker’, as the leader of the kingdom provides his citizens with food and wealth. The word comes from Runyoro-Rutooro omu- (singular human-being class prefix) and -kama ‘to milk’, which ultimately comes from Proto-Bantu ‘squeeze, wring’.

In modern Runyoro-Rutooro, however, dropping the initial vowel of this word (mukama ‘boss, sir’) changes its meaning considerably.

History of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara dynasties

Babiito dynasty

The Bachwezi dynasty was followed by the Babiito dynasty of the current Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara. Any attempt to pinpoint the dates of this, or any other dynasty before it, is pure conjecture; as there were no written records at the time. Modern day historians place the beginning of the Babiito dynasty at around the time of the invasion of Bunyoro by the Luo from the North. The first mubiito (singular) king was Isingoma Mpuga Rukidi I, whose reign is placed around the 14th century. To date, there have been a total of 27 Babiito kings of Bunyoro-Kitara.

List of Omukamas of the Babiito dynasty

• Rukidi, late fifteenth century
• Ocaki, late fifteenth/early sixteenth century
• Oyo Nyiba, early sixteenth century
• Winyi I, early sixteenth century
• Olimi I, mid sixteenth century
• Nyabongo, mid sixteenth century
• Winyi II, late sixteenth century/early seventeenth century
• Olimi II, mid seventeenth century
• Nyarwa, mid seventeenth century
• Cwamali, mid seventeenth century
• Masamba, late seventeenth century
• Anabwani I, late seventeenth century
• Kyebambe I, late seventeenth century
• Winyi III, early eighteenth century
• Nyaika, early eighteenth century
• Kyebambe II, early eighteenth century
• Olimi III, 1710–1731
• Duhaga, 1731– 1782
• Olimi IV, 1782–1786
• Nyamutukura Kyebambe III, 1786–1835
• Nyabongo II, 1835–1848
• Olimi V, 1848–1852
• Kyebambe IV, 1852–1869
• Kabalega, 1869–1898
• Kitahimbwa, 1898–1902
• Duhaga II, 1902–1924
• Winyi IV, 1925–1967
• Monarchy discontinued by the Ugandan government, 1967–1994
• Solomon Iguru I, 1994–present

References