Kyabazingaship succession conflicts in busoga, 1906 – 2014

Abstract

This research focused on the succession conflicts that plagued Obwakyabazinga bwa Busoga (hereafter referred to as the Kyabazingaship of Busoga) from 1906 to 2014. Despite the existence of various cultural institutions in Uganda, such as Obwakabaka bwa Buganda (Kingdom of Buganda), Obukama bwa Toro (Kingdom of Toro), Obukama bwa Bunyoro (Kingdom of Bunyoro), and Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu (Kingdom of Rwenzururu), none has experienced the enduring and relentless succession conflicts like those of the Kyabazingaship in Busoga. Employing a historical research design and a qualitative approach, with three data collection methods—documentary, archival, and oral research—this study examined the origins, underlying factors contributing to these conflicts and their effects on the Basoga (the people of Busoga), the institution itself, and the broader Busoga region. The study argues that the succession conflicts in Busoga’s Kyabazingaship originated from the British colonial era and their deliberate efforts to “Gandanise” (to make it similar to Buganda) and reshape the political structure of Busoga. As a result, conflicting roles emerged for chiefs and the central government, establishing a precedent that continued until 2014. The study found that these conflicts are not merely a repetition of history but stem from the failure of dominant royal lineages (Gabula and Zibondo), the Basoga (the people of Busoga), the central government, and political elites in the Busoga sub-region to address the inherent challenges of succession in Busoga. In conclusion, the study sheds light on how the British protectorate government strategically engineered the establishment of the Kyabazingaship to serve their imperialist interests—a trend replicated by ambitious Basoga and subsequent independent Ugandan governments. This compromised the institution’s authenticity and legitimacy, transforming it into a political battleground that overshadowed its intended cultural significance.