Clans of Buganda : The Buganda Kingdom is among the prominent kingdoms of Uganda and it is located in the central part of the country. Buganda has a rich cultural heritage that is shown through music, dance, art, and different ceremonies. The Baganda also express their culture through their way of dressing and have a unique social structure based on clans, each with its own totems and customs.
The clans in Buganda are referred to as Ebika and have been in existence for many years and there are five original clans of Buganda which include Ffumbe clan, Lugave clan, Ngonge clan, Njaza clan and Nyonyi clan.
Marriage is prohibited among clan members in the Buganda who are considered as brothers and sisters. An individual among the Baganda can trace his lineage through the clan system until their ancestors.
The Baganda introduce themselves by starting with their own names, the names of their parents, the paternal grandfathers name and the clan.
Another way that the Baganda are identified is through their language which is widely spoken in Uganda and also through their unique names which vary for every clan and the clans of Buganda include the following;
- Abalangira
The Abalangira are the ruling clan of the Buganda kingdom and is considered to follow the maternal lineage.
People from other clans in Buganda could marry the Abalangira clan which means that all other clans had the possibility to be the ruling clan in the Buganda kingdom.
The totem of the Abalangira clan is Abalangira N’abambejja and some of the names given to men and women in this clan include Jjuko, Baleke, Kimbugwe, Kimera, Nakibinge, Ssuuna, Walugembe, Wassajja, Zalwango, Zzawedde, Nkinzi, Nabweteme, Lulaba, Nakimbugwe, Nassolo, Nakayenga, Batenga, Wakayima, Tebandeke, Ttembo, Ssemakookiro, Kiribata,Lukanga, Kikulwe, Kikanja, Naccwa, Namaalwa, Namikka, Nattu among others.
- Fumbe
The Fumbe clan is considered one of the oldest clans of the Baganda and it is the clan of the African Civet.
The title given to the head of the Ffumbe clan is Walusimbi and this clans men were medicine men of the Kabaka.
Names of males and females in the Ffumbe clan include Kigozi, Nsobya, Nakku, Ndugga, Luzinda, Ssaabwe, Ssubi, Kasolo, Nakaweesa, Nanteza, Sempala, Zzawedde, Kisitu, Mpanga, Ssekadde among others.
- Kibe
The Kibe clan is among the clans that existed in the time of Kintu one of the Baganda talked about in folklore.
The people of the Kibe clan are given the role of chief brewers in the Buganda kingdom.
- Kinyomo
The Kinyomo clan among the people of Buganda is the clan of the “people of the black ant” and the clan head is Jjaja Nakigoye.
- Kkobe
The Kkobe clan is another clan in the Buganda kingdom and their totem is a creeping plant which is gown as a food crop.
Names of the people in the Kkobe clan include Bakiranze, Kiki, Kikaawa, Mirundi, Misango, Ntembo, Ssebabi, Mpaka, Kimanje, Balasa, Bitalo, Bampigga, Jjuuzi, Kaddu, Kawuma, Lule, Nabbwaga, Mutumba, Ssekkonge, Ssejjongo, Ssemagulu, Kizito, Kinaalwa, Kirabira, Kyewalabye among others.
- Musu
Another clan of the Baganda people is the Musu clan which is gel can of the cane rat or edible rat and the clan head is Jajja Muyingo.
- Mutima
The Mutima clan among the Baganda is the heart clan and the head of the clan is Namugera Kakeeto and the clan seat is in Bbaale, Buddu.
The secondary totem of the Mutima clan is the lung.
- Mbogo
The Mbogo clan is the buffalo clan among the Baganda people and their clan head is Kayiira Gajule.
- Ngabi Ennyunga
The Ngabi Ennyunga clan is the clan of the Bushbuck antelope among the people of Buganda.
Names of the males and females in this clan include Bwende, Talaga, Mujunza, Nnakabanja, Kiwana, Ssekkadde, Lubandi, Nnamirembe, Mirembe, Basubwa, Musanje, Kitasse, Mwero, Kisuule, Ssemuddu, Sssebayanja, Nsibambi, Ssemugenyi, Matovu, Kyaluzzi, Muwemba, Migga, Ssekanwagi, Tebasubwa among others.
- Ngabi Ensamba
Another antelope clan in the Buganda kingdom is the Ngabi Ensamba clan
- Ngeye
The Ngeye clan is the clan of the colobus monkey and the clan head is Kasujja.
- Mmamba
The Mmamba clan is the clan whose totem is lungfish and their clan head is Gbunga.
- Lugave
The Lugave clan is the clan among the Baganda whose totem is the pangolin and their clan head is Ndugwa.
- Ngo
The Ngo clan is the clan of the leopard and the clan head is Muteesasira.
- Njovu
The Njovu clan is the elephant clan among the people of Buganda and the clan head is Kikwata.
- Nte
Nte clan is the clan of the cow among the Baganda and the clan head is Katongole.
- Mbwa
The Mbwa clan is the dog clan among the Baganda and their clan head is Mutasingwa.
- Mazzi ga kisasi
The Mazzi ga Kisasi clan head is Wooyo and their secondary totem is Ggongolo.
Other clans among the Baganda include the Mpeewo clan which is the Oribi clan, the Mpologoma clan which is the lion clan, the Ndiga clan which is the sheep clan, the Ngaali clan which is the clan of the crested crane, the Ngonge clan which is the clan of the otter, the Njaza clan which is the clan of the reedbuck, the Nkejje clan which is the clan of the sprat, the Njobe clan which is the clan of the marsh antelope, Nkerebwe clan which is the clan of the squirrel, Nkima clan which is the monkey clan, Nkula clan which is the clan of the rhino, Nnamugoona clan which is the clan of the crow, the Nseenene clan which is the grasshopper clan, the Nyonyi Nyange clan which is the egret clan, the Nsuma clan which is the fish clan, the Nswaswa clan which is the clan of the monitor lizard, Ntalaganya clan which is the clan of the duiker, Nvubu clan which is the clan of the hippo, Nvuma clan which is the underwater plant clan, the Kasanke clan, Kibuba clan, Lukato clan, Mbuzi clan, Nkebuka clan and Nsunu clan.
