Nakibinge of Buganda


Nakibinge Kagali was the 8th Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda, between 1524 and 1554 AD.

Claim to the throne

He was the son of Kabaka Kayima Sendikaddiwa, the seventh Kabaka of Buganda, who reigned from 1494 until 1524. Kabaka Nakibinge ascended the throne upon the death of his father in 1524. He established his capital at Bumbu Hill.
During his reign, Nakibinge launched attacks on Bulemezi, which roused the attention of the Omukama of Bunyoro. In the ensuing years, the war raged on, and the heavy attacks of the Banyoro forced Nakibinge to seek military aid from the Islands of Ssesse. However, this boost in military force only guaranteed victory for a brief moment for Nakibinge.
Despite penetrating further into Bunyoro territory, the Banyoro regrouped and drove Nakibinge's army from Bunyoro. The Banyoro chased his troops through Bulemezi, Kyaddondo and Mawokota.

Married life

He married eight wives:
  • Nabitaba, daughter of Ndugwa, of the Lugave clan
  • Najjemba, daughter of Semwanga, of the Ngonge clan
  • Nalunga, daughter of Lusundo, of the Nvuma clan
  • Nabakyaala Namulondo, the Naabagareka, sister of Gunju, of the Butiko clan
  • Nasuuna, daughter of Nankere, of the Mamba clan
  • Bukirwa, the Nanzigu, daughter of Sekayiba, of the Mbogo clan
  • Nannono, daughter of Seggirinya, of the Ngo clan. Nannono acted as regent after the death of her husband for a period of eighteen months
  • Kabejja

    Issue

He fathered four sons and two daughters:
  1. Kabaka Mulondo Sekajja, Kabaka of Buganda, whose mother was Namulondo
  2. Kabaka Jemba Busungwe, Kabaka of Buganda, whose mother was Najjemba
  3. Kabaka Suuna I Kisolo, Kabaka of Buganda, whose mother was Nassuuna
  4. Prince Nzigu, whose mother was Bukirwa
  5. Princess Batenga, whose mother was Namulondo
  6. Princess Nnono, whose mother was Nannono. Born posthumously in 1555. She died young.

    The final years

Kabaka Nakibinge was killed in battle against the Banyoro, at Busajja, in 1554. He is buried at Kongojje, Busiro.
According to Buganda historian Semakula Kiwanuka, Nakibinge's death signals the end of the "Babito" dynasty in Buganda, and heralded a new era.

Succession table