Ethnic groups were rules through two political organisation. The centralised system of administration where the King was the supreme ruler like in Buganda, Bunyoro, Toro and Ankole.

 

The decentralised system of administration where the chiefs or clan heads gathered to administer leadership in their communities. These included groups like Nilo Hamites, Nilotics and Basoga from Bantu speaking group.

 

Centralised administration

The centralised system of administration was practiced in central, western and southern Uganda. It covered Buganda, Bunyoro, Toro, and Ankole. They had supreme leaders known as "Kings". They were the rulers of kingdoms.

 

Buganda

Buganda was governed by a "King" known as "Kabaka". The Kabaka owned all the land in Buganda. The Kabaka appointed advisors and the most powerful one was the "Katikkiro" who was the prime minister, chief justice, and treasurer.

Others included Saza and Gombolola chiefs. Buganda started as a very small kingdom. It expanded later and reasons for its expansion were:

• Their powerful Kings worked hard to ensure that their kingdom was very strong.
  
• Their leadership influenced the total support of their people.
  
• Early contacts with foreigners. Europeans and Indians who came to Uganda since the early days first met people of Buganda. That contact gave them an opportunity to acquire knowledge which helped them to expand their kingdoms.
  
• Plenty of food crops which were grown on its fertile land. Buganda generally has fertile soil which supports farming activities.
  
• A good system of centralised administration which helped leaders to organise their people well.
  
• A strong army. The kingdom had an organised army which used to defend and protect their area against external attacks.

 

 

 

Bunyoro Kitara Empire

Bunyoro was founded by the Abatembuzi who were referred to semi-gods led by Ruhanga. Bunyoro - Kitara kingdom was the first kingdom in Uganda. It was also referred to as Bunyoro- Kitara Empire. It was a large territory which stretched from Western across central to Busoga. It covered areas of Victoria Nile, Masindi, Hoima,Toro, some parts of present Buganda and Busoga. Later it was conquered by Ndahura, leader of the Bachwezi. However, the empire was too large to be ruled by one King.

Therefore, it collapsed because of the attacks from Luo Babito led by Rukidi Isingoma Mpuga, constant outbreak of diseases which attacked their animals,and shortage of food. The kingdom broke into small states which later became independent kingdoms and chiefdoms, for example Toro became a kingdom and Busoga became a chiefdom as a result of the fall of the Bunyoro - Kitara empire.

 

Bunyoro Kingdom

When the Babito, a Luo dynastytook over the Bachwezi in the fifteenth century, the empire of Bunyoro - Kitara started gradually breaking into small states. The last King of the Bachwezi was Wamala. During his period it was hard for him to control such a large empire. The Kingdom of Bunyoro Kitara broke into separate small states. The Luo-Bito clan led by Rukidi Mpuga Isingoma became the rulers of Bunyoro kingdom.

Their method of rule was not different from that of the Bachwezi.They also had regalia such as the drum, the crown, royal palaces and special clothes for the King. They built a strong army of men in their Kingdom. They fought the neighbouring communities such as Taro and expanded their Kingdom.

However, when the British came, they helped Omukama Kasagama of Toro to regainhis territory. Omukama Kabalega was the King of Bunyoro at that time. When the British attacked Bunyoro, it collapsed and Omukama Kabalega escaped. He was later captured in Lango in 1899 and sent to Seychelles Island in the Indian ocean. Omukama Kasagama was restored on his throne as the King of Toro.

The title of Kyabazinga was created during the colonial British rule in Uganda. This is when all kingdoms came together to form a united. Busoga chiefdom under the leadership of a Kyabazinga which position is maintained even today.

Alur
The Alur political system was a series of chiefdoms which were never united in a single system of governance during the pre- colonial times. Related lineages from different chiefdoms performed some religious ceremonies together and intermarriages among people in those chiefdoms were also common.

People also recognised other Alur speakers as neighbours. The Alur also accepted some Sudanic - speaking groups into their society as they expanded to the west.

 

A MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING KINGDOMS

 

 

 

 

 

Cultural leaders recognised by government

 

  

Name Of Cultural Institution	Title and name Of Cultural leader
Buganda	Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi ii.
Toro	Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru ii
Bunyoro	Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru ii
Acholi	Rwot David Onen Acana ii.
Alur	Rwot UbiRnu Philip Olarker Rauni iii.
Kamuswaga Of Kooki	Kamuswaga Apollo Sansa Kabumbuli ii.
Tieng Adhola Chiefdom	Kwa Adhola Moses Owor.
Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu	Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere iremangoma
Busoga	Kyabazinga
Luzu Masaba	Omukuuka wilsonWeasa Wamimbi.
Buruuli chiefdom	Isabaruli Constantine Butamanya Mwogezi mwatyansozi
Iteso	E morimor Papa Augustine Osuban

         

Other areas such as Karamoja had warriors as leaders. They were responsible for making political and social decisions which guided their communities.