STRUCTURE OF BUGANDA KINGDOM

Political organisation

• Buganda had a highly centralized system of administration.
• The Kabaka was the head of the Kingdom with absolute powers e.g. Kabaka could appoint, promote, demote and dismiss his chiefs.
• The Kabaka’s powers were hereditary and leadership was passed on to his elder son.
• The Kabaka was assisted by 3 prominent chiefs i.e. Chief Justice (Omulamuzi), Treasurer (Omuwanika) and the Prime minister (Katikiro).
• The Kingdom was subdivided into counties (Ssazas), sub-counties (Gombolola), parish (Muluka), sub-parish (Ekitongole) and village (Kyalo).
• Each of these was led by a chief for effective administration.
• The Chiefs were supposed to mobilize people for public works e.g. construction of roads.
• Buganda had a legislative council called Lukiiko (parliament) which was to formulate laws and advise the Kabaka.
• The Kabaka had royal body guards called Abambowa and these were charged with protecting the Kabaka at his palace and on journeys and functions.
• The Kabaka received gifts from his subjects and chiefs as a sign of loyalty and in return they would be rewarded with large chunks of land.

Social Organization

• Socially, Buganda was organized on clan basis.
• Every Muganda belonged to a particular clan e.g. Lion (Mpologoma) Monkey (Enkima) Buffalo (Mbogo).
• Marriage in Buganda was Polygamous.
• Members of the same clan were not allowed to get married.
• Each of the clans had a clan head (Omukulu we Kiika) and a special area of origin (Obutaka).
• Kabaka was the head of all clans (Ssabataka) and belonged to the clan of his mother.
• The Baganda were divided into classes i.e. royal class for men (Abalangira) Women (Abambejja), Nobles (Abakungu), Peasants/ Commoners (Abakopi) and slaves (Abaddu).
• The Kabaka was the spiritual leader of Buganda and was considered semi-divine.
• The Baganda believed in small gods (Lubaale) whom they consulted on various occasions e.g. Ddungu (hunting), Musoke (rain), Mukasa (fishing), and  Walumbe (death) e.t.c
• The Baganda also believed in witchcraft and sorcerers (Abalogo) who were consulted by those who wanted to harm others.
• The Baganda had a royal regalia which included, drums, backcloth, spears which were highly respected.
• Virginity was highly respected in Buganda because it was a sign of good upbringing and respect.

Economic organisation

• The Baganda carried out agriculture as the major activity and grew crops like Matooke, Cassava, Yams and beans.
• They also domesticated / kept animals like, cows, sheep, goats, chicken, and rabbits e.t.c
• Fishing was also carried out on the shores of Lake Victoria.
• Iron working was also practiced and they made implements such as knives, pangas and spears.
• The back cloth making industry was also developed in Buganda.
• The Buganda also participated in the long distance trade with the coastal Arabs mainly acquiring guns in exchange for slaves and Ivory.
• Buganda also received tributes from her vessel states to supplement on her revenue e.g. from Busoga and Toro.
• Taxation was another source of revenue and it was the duty of chiefs to collect taxes.

Raids were also important in Buganda’s economy e.g. she raided Bunyoro, Busoga for cattle, slaves, Ivory e.t.c