MEET THE OLDEST LIVING ANIMALS: THE TORTOISES OF MMENGO, BUGANDA I am sure you have heard of a Luganda saying that goes “Tuwangaale ng’enfuddu z’e Mmengo.” Alright, let’s look at how it started ✍🏽️ In 1945, Kisingiri Kitaka, a member of the Buganda royal family, returned from political exile in the Seychelles. His friends there gave him three giant tortoises as farewell gifts. At the time, the tortoises were already estimated to be over 300 years old. They were brought to his home in Mmengo, where they have lived ever since. One tortoise named Brian died around 2005. Brian had suffered injuries to its shell after it was cut by a flying iron sheet. It took about 100 men to bury the bulky reptile that was estimated to weigh about one ton. The two remaining tortoises (Cissy and Ronnie) living at Kisingiri house are said to be over 300 years old today, which would make them the oldest living land animals in the world but international wildlife experts and @GWR treat this extreme estimate with skepticism. Anyways, this is where the Baganda got the saying, “Tuwangaale ng’enfuddu z’e Mmengo.” It's said that during the turbulent political eras of Uganda’s past, soldiers under Idi Amin famously left them alone, mistakenly believing the ancient creatures were powerful symbols of witchcraft, and offered them beef and biscuits to appease them. 😂 The Kisingiri House along Kabakanjagala road, built in 1896 was recognised by UNESCO on account of the two 300-year-old tortoises living there.

BUTIKKIRO: THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE KATIKKIRO, THE PRIME MINISTER OF BUGANDA KINGDOM. Interesting things you need to know about this house. ✍🏽️ Butikkiro is the official residence of the Katikkiro. It is where he hosts official guests when he is not at his office in the Bulange building. Butikkiro is located in Mmengo, opposite the Twekobe (Lubiri). Butikkiro also serves as the final confirmation site for anyone appointed to the office of Katikkiro. 😮 But how…? After the Kabaka of Buganda hands over the Ddamula (the royal mace) to the newly appointed Katikkiro, the Katikkiro must hold it until he reaches Butikkiro. He is protected by members of his clan so that no one from another clan can seize it from him before he arrives. 🏋️‍♀️ Upon reaching Butikkiro, the Katikkiro thanks his clan members by organising a feast for them. Those of you who were present in May 2013 saw how Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga was escorted and protected by guards from his Mutima clan. If the appointed Katikkiro fails to reach the Butikkiro with the royal mace (Ddamula), he cannot assume office and loses his position as the Katikkiro. The seat goes to the grabber's clan But you people, isn’t Buganda’s culture fascinating and unique? 😅 By the way, the Kabaka does not stay in his Twekobe (Lubiri) if the Katikkiro is not in residence at Butikkiro. In 1966, like other key royal sites in Buganda, Butikkiro was among the kingdom’s properties seized by the government of Milton Obote when he abolished the traditional institutions. Many of the kingdom’s belongings were destroyed during that period. 😒

THE TITLE NAMASOLE: ITS ORIGIN AND WHY THE THIRD QUEEN MOTHER WANNYANA WAS THE FIRST TO HOLD IT. 👑 It's said that during the long journey from Bunyoro to Buganda to bring Prince Kimera to claim his grandfather’s throne, the entourage sought shelter beneath a tree known as “Masole”. Temporary camps were established under its canopy for Queen Mother Wannyana, while her protectors slept among the surrounding shrubs to guard her. 🌲 The journey lasted years, as there were no clear roads. Guards would often leave Wannyana and the young prince safely under a Masole tree while they went ahead to clear a path, returning later to collect them and continue the journey. This practice was not confined to a single masole tree. Whenever they needed to rest, they sought out a Masole tree, believing its broad canopy offered ideal protection for the Queen Mother as they moved. Over time, camping beneath these trees became a defining tradition of the journey and gave rise to the title Namasole. 😮 Namasole does not share a palace with the prevailing king, because both have the same powers, she has her own palace. A Namasole is addressed as 'Ssebo' (sir) and its her who marries. Wannyana, the 3rd Queen Mother to Buganda’s 3rd king, Kabaka Kimera, became the first to hold the title Namasole. 👑 Over to you readers, who can guess the name of the current Namasole, the mother and caretaker of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II? 👀 Of course this picture is AI generated, no camera was there in the 1300s @IamNamasole

𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 Ssekabaka Kiggala took the throne as the fifth king of the Buganda Kingdom in 1360. His early reign was marked by vitality, wisdom, and military triumph. Under his leadership, the kingdom expanded its borders, and the royal court blossomed. As the years drifted on, Kiggala grew old. Seeing that his sight was dimming and the weight of the crown was growing too heavy for his shoulders, he made a decision unprecedented in the history of Buganda: he voluntarily abdicated the throne in 1380. He stepped down to pass the royal drums—the symbol of supreme authority—to his beloved son, Prince Kiyimba. Kabaka Kiyimba assumed power with great energy, eager to build upon his father's formidable legacy. He ruled with a firm hand and earned the respect of his chiefs. Yet, destiny proved cruel. Kiyimba’s reign was tragically cut short when he died suddenly, leaving the kingdom in shock and the royal court in disarray. 𝐓𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐊𝐢𝐲𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞. Desperate to preserve peace, the people of Buganda then turned once more to the old king. Kiggala, who had outlived his own son, returned from retirement and resumed the kingship in 1400. He began his second reign as an elderly man. Shortly afterwards he lost his sight and became blind. Despite this, he continued to rule with the help of his prime minister and clan leaders, who acted as regents and guided the affairs of the kingdom under his authority. Kiggala lived to an extreme old age. He finally died in 1415 and was succeeded by his grandson, Kayima Ssendikaddiwa. Kabaka Kayima Ssendikaddiwa was the son of Prince Wampamba. Prince Wampamba was Kiggala’s son but had been excluded from the succession because of the sensitive reasons....some of you know them.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄 (𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒) 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀 𝐌𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐁𝐈 𝐈𝐈 1. Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole (frame 1): The biological mother of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. She died in 1974. 2. Rebecca Zirimbuga Musoke (frame 2): The heir/successor to Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole. She held the title until her death in June 2013. 3. Margaret Nagawa Siwoza (frame 3): She succeeded Rebecca Zirimbuga Musoke in 2013. She served as the caretaker Namasole until her death in December 2021. 4. Damali Nantongo Muganzi (frame 4): 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 succeeded Margaret Nagawa Siwoza in 2021 In Buganda tradition, the title of Namasole is hereditary. When one holder dies, a sister or designated heir from the lineage takes over the role and privileges as the official Queen Mother of the reigning Kabaka. The current Namasole lineage belongs to the Nkima clan.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 Please note that the correct spelling is 𝐌𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐨, not Mengo. Alright, let’s see below ✍🏽️ Originally, the hill was occupied by members of the Nvubu clan under their leader, Omutaka Kayita. Kayita was a herbalist who ground his medicinal herbs and food using traditional grinding stones known as emmengo in the plural (olubengo in the singular). When Ssekabaka Mwanga II chose this location to construct his palace in 1885, the hill was named Mmengo Hill after these large grinding stones, emmengo. Over to you, readers: does anyone know how Lubaga Hill got its name? 👀 Remember, it’s Lubaga, not Rubaga.

𝐊𝐄𝐅𝐀 𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐈: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 Many of you have heard Maddox Ssematimba mention Kefa Ssempangi in his song “Abato.” But who is this man? Let's see him below ✍🏽️ In 1971, as Idi Amin’s regime began crushing opponents—especially among the Acholi and other targeted groups—Kampala’s streets filled with orphans. Many children slept on verandas, scavenged for food, or wandered alone after their parents were taken and never returned. Ssempangi saw them. He opened the first home for these destitute children, which was later formalised as the Africa Foundation. What began with a handful of orphans whose parents had been murdered grew into a network of care. He took in children from the streets and from families shattered by the regime’s violence, giving them food, shelter, schooling, and a chance at a future. Even after he was forced into exile, the work continued. When he returned in 1979, he expanded it. Over the years the Foundation rescued and raised more than 6,000 orphans and abandoned children—many of them direct victims of Amin’s henchmen killings. Some of those once-hungry boys and girls became doctors, lawyers, teachers, and leaders who later assisted him in reviving the foundation in 2024. The 86-year-old Ssempangi is also the founder of the First Presbyterian Church in Uganda. In retirement he lives in Mukono, where he has invested in poultry farming and recreation at Summer Gardens 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐛𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐨. Rev. Dr. Kefa Ssempangi’s quiet determination turned the regime’s cruelty into a legacy of restored lives. Give him his flowers!

This is Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, and President IdI Amin in a Kanzu. How many presidents have you ever seen wearing a kanzu?