Mwanga I of Buganda


Mwanga I was Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1740 until 1741. He was the twenty third Kabaka of Buganda.

Claim to the throne

He was the eldest son of Prince Musanje Golooba. His mother was Nabulya Naluggwa of the Ndiga clan, the second wife of his father. He ascended to the throne after the death of his uncle, Kabaka Mawanda Sebanakitta, in 1740.

Reign

Mwanga I and his brothers were the first Buganda Monarchs to go to Nnagalabi for their coronation ceremonies. Previous Kabakas had gone to Nankere for the final and most important confirmation ceremony.
Some of the great officers of state during his reign included;
NameClanPositionTranslation
SsebanaakittaMamba KatikiroChief Minister
LubingaLugave KasujjuGovernor of Busujju
MatumpaggwaNkima KangaawoGovernor of Bulemezi
MugwanyaNkima MugemaGovernor of Busiro
KibaateNtalaganya KitunziGovernor of Gomba
ManganyiNdiga KatambalaGovernor of Butambala

Married life

He is recorded to have married five wives:
  • Najjuma, daughter of Natiigo, of the Lugave clan
  • Nakabugo, daughter of Mugema, of the Nkima clan
  • Naabakyaala Nakiwala, Omubikka, daughter of Semwanga, of the Ngonge clan
  • Nalubowa, daughter of Segiriinya, of the Ngo clan
  • Namakula, daughter of Mpinga, of the Lugave clan

Issue

He is recorded to have fathered three sons:
  • Prince Mulage, whose mother was Najjuma. He became Sabaddu to the princesses.
  • Prince Kiwanuka, whose mother was Nakabugo
  • Prince Nkondoggo, whose mother was Namakula

The final years

Kabaka Mwanga I Sebanakitta was killed by Nkunnumbi, in revenge for the murder of his son, around 1741. He was initially buried at Meerera. In 1860, his remains were exhumed and re-buried at Kavumba, Busiro. He was succeeded by his brother, Prince Namuggala Kagali.