According into the oral traditions in the areas of Bunyoro, Toro, Ankole and Mubende  which is dominated by Baganda and Banyoro, the Bachwezi were the seventh group of people to dominate and rule the interlacustrine region.

The Bachwezi were semi-gods and great nomadic pastoralists.  The Bachwezi founded Bunyoro- Kitara.

The origin is not clearly known but some historians believe that the Chwezi must have been Greeks or Portuguese or Egyptians. 

There is a strong correlation with the Portuguese because the word cheuz in Portuguese means visitor and there were similar rock paintings between those areas in Portugal and the Chwezi areas.

Then the famous "Hamitic myth" suggests that they were of the Galla or Cushitic immigrants from Ethiopia.  This however has a lot in common with other Hamitic immigrants of East Africa.

Mythology of the interlacutrine region states that the Bachwezi were descendants of the Tembuzi.

The Bachwezi dynasty was founded by Ndahura or Karumbi (a grand son to Isaza).  Wamara, the last ruler of the Bachwezi, succeeded him.

Recent historical findings indicate the Chwezi were Bantu speakers. The natives called them Bashezi or Basezi (for Buganda) because they used to move at night and they performed miracles.

What is certain is that the Bachwezi who were known by different names such as the Hima, Ntusi or Bahinda were a pastoral group of people who succeeded the Tembuzi as rulers of Bunyoro Kitara.

It's generally agreed that the Bachwezi must have entered Uganda from the direction of the North or east, they conquered and ruled Bunyoro Kitara between 1350-1500 AD.

 

That they made their settlements without resistance from the local Bantu people.

 

They are said to have been light skinned super human beings or demi-gods who could perform various of magic. They were great sportsmen who wore cow hide sandals. They were great pastoralists who kept long horned cattle. The were great hunters, skilled fishermen and artisans who practised iron working smelting. Their kingdom was a vast empire and their influence covered the whole of Southern Uganda, parts of Eastern Zaire, Rwanda and Karagwe.

Their political influence collapsed during the 16^th century with the Luo invaders who established a Babito dynasty in Bunyoro Kitara.  Their descendants are still found in Bunyoro, Ankole, Toro, Rwanda, Burundi, Wanga and Bukoba.

Size of Bunyoro Kitara

The borders of the empire are not precise but there is evidence to prove that it was bigger than modern Bunyoro, Toro, Buganda  Karagwe and part of present day Ankole

It is important to note that this large stretch of territories was under the influence and dominion of the Bachwezi but the territories were never under one central authority.  There was decentralised system of administration  for example controlled through several sister states bound together by the ritual and family ties

Origin

The kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara, according to the Batooro, Banyoro and Banyankole traditions is believed to have been founded by the Abatembuzi. The Abatembuzi were believed to be gods and possessed supernatural powers.

The kingdom is believed to have been founded by Ruhanga and his brother, Nkya had four sons: Kintu, Kahima, Kairu and Kakama.  He was succeeded by his son, Kakama who in turn was succeeded by his son Isaza.

The Abatembuzi were succeeded by the Bachwezi; who came as strangers and imposed themselves upon the local Bantu as a ruling aristocracy.  They are believed to have suffered no serious resistance from the local Bantu.

The Chwezi dynasty was founded by Ndahura or Karubumbi, the grandson of Isaza. The last Tembuzi ruler.

The Chwezi rule was spread over a large area which included Bunyoro, Ankole, Toro, Rwanda, part of Buganda, Burundi, Bukoba and Wanga.

Culturally, the Chwezi were pastoralists and kept long-horned cattle.

They wore cow hide sandals, built grass-thatched huts and were famous sportsmen.

They introduced the manufacture of bark cloth, coffee growing, earthwork fortifications and reed palaces.

In addition to the above, the Chwezi introduced new techniques of iron working and the regalia of kingship, the royal crown drums, spears, bows and arrows, stools among others

They built reed palaces where they kept large numbers of cattle and women.

Organisation of the Kingdom

In terms of administration, the Bachwezi had a centralised monarchy whereby the clan system of administration existed. The monarchy had a strong hierarchy of officials both in the royal palace and in the provinces, all appointed by the Omukama.

The kingdom had a standing army and large earthworks were constructed for defensive purposes.  These royal enclosures consisted of a system of ditches, large and sufficient enough to protect large herds of cattle. Bigo, the largest enclosure is believed to have been the capital of the kingdom.

Such enclosures still exist at Mubende, Kibengo, and Ntusi among others, and are believed to have been built between 1350 and 1500 A.D.

The kingdom was a confederation of sub states or provinces.

The ruling monarchy had a hierarchy of officials both in palace and provinces.

The Kingdom had a standing army for both offense and defence, supported by peasants who provided food.

The King ruled as an absolute monarch that is his wish was law and could not be opposed or challenged.

The Kingship and chieftaincy was hereditary that is inherited from father to son in case of death.

Economic organisation.

They were great pastoralists who kept long horned cattle

Were skilled iron-workers who made various iron implements.

Practiced cultivation on a small scale. In most cases they grew yams and cereals.

Were great hunters and skilled fishermen.

Developed backcloth manufacturing.

Promoted craft industries- wood curving and pottery that is made spherical bowls and shallow basins.

Social organisation

They were light skinned super human beings or demi gods who could perform various kinds of magic.

Built beautiful grass thatched houses with reed enclosures.

Were great sportsmen who wore cowhide sandals.

They had ancient drums, crowns, sandals and stools as their royal regalia.

Played a complicated mathematical game -Omweso.

Their customs permitted slavery that is they had slave artisans.

Their marriage was mainly polygamous

They believed in a religion regulated by the phase of the moon.

 Establishment of the Luo Bito dynasty

The Luo Bito dynasty was founded by Isingoma Mpuga Rukidi.  The Babito were part of the Luo migration of the river lake Nilotes who travelled up the Nile from Sudan.

They arrived in Bunyoro, the Northern part of the Bunyoro Kitara Empire during the beginning of the 16^th century.  They established a new Babito ruling dynasty which lasted until 1966.

The Babito entered Bunyoro Kitara in peace.  This is evidenced by the fact that they gave up most of their cultures and language in favour of those they found in Bunyoro. The Babito found the Chwezi cultures, superior to their own in a number of ways:

 Impact of the Luo Bito Invasion

There were several political, social and economic impacts on Bunyoro.

It speeded up the break up of the Bunyoro Kitara Empire.

It led to the rise of new independent states/kingdoms namely Bunyoro, Ankole, Buganda, Toro, Rwanda, and Busoga.

Isingoma Rukidi was trained in the Bachwezi rituals of kingship.  He copied the styles of the Bachwezi in building palaces and took over some of the royal drums.

The Babito also introduced certain cultural elements themselves for instance " empako" or pet names such as Amooti, Alali and Atwoki.  The latter was used when referring to the Omukama.

New items of regalia were introduced example the royal drums, spears, shield, sandals the royal five and the bag of millet.

They initiated a system of granting land to clans.  This was the origin of "Bataka" system.  Each clan became landowner of a specific area of the empire.

The practice of royal burial, involving separate burial sites for the jaw bones and bodies of the Abakama led to the development of these palaces as shrines, many of which can still be located up to this day.

Fleeing Bahima immigrants from western Uganda formed the kingdom of Wanga in western Kenya.

 The changes introduced by the Bachwezi.

 Social changes

The Bachwezi introduced new and several items of the royal regalia.  These include the royal round stools, drums, spears, arrows and ancient crowns.  These benefited the royal palaces.

The Bachwezi came with the idea of putting on cowhide sandals and also building hole round grass thatched huts.  These were well designed and decorated especially in the royal palaces.

The Bachwezi were great sportsmen.  They introduced a board game called "Omweso", which has remained an important sport for passing leisure time in the region to day. There a rock where King Wamala to rest during leisure time by playing the game

As semi gods, they used to perform many miracles related with major events in daily lives or some strange things.

In fact later, they introduced their Chwezi cult religion which remains evident today in Bunyoro.

They are remembered for practising slavery i.e. they kept slave artisans and women.

They had decent drums, crowns, sandals, spears and stools as their royal regalia.

Economic changes.

As great pastoralists, they introduced long horned cattle distinct from the indigenous short horned cattle and humpless ones.  Their love for cattle and cattle products almost anointed to cattle mania.

The Bachwezi introduced distinct pottery.  They were good at making well decorated pots, spherical bowls, jars, shallow basins and footed dishes.

They came with the knowledge of iron smelting and black smithing.  They made several iron equipment like hoes, pangas, knives, spear and arrowheads.  These were important items for both defence and hunting purposes.

They introduced the cultivation of coffee and bananas in the interlacustrine region.  These must have been carried along from Ethiopia.

They are remembered for the introduction of bark cloth manufacture.

They are remembered for the sinking of well shafts from rocks and the creation of Hot Springs and crater lakes of Western Uganda. This information is based on oral traditions however scientifically, lakes are formed by volcanic process and earth movements.

They are remembered as great hunters and skilled fishermen.

They are remembered for their beautiful architecture. They built nice grass thatched houses with decorative signs and work of art.

Political Changes.

The Bachwezi introduced the idea of centralised monarchies throughout the interlacustrine region.  This replaced the Bantu political system of administration based on the clan unit with a hierarchy of officials in the palaces and provinces.  This stood a test of time and later gave rise to highly organised centralised kingdoms like Buganda, Bunyoro, Toro and Nkore.

They introduced royal enclosures for defence purposes.  The most famous in Uganda are found in Biggo, Mubende, Kibengo, Kagogo, Kasaka and Ntusi.  Similar enclosures could be found in Karagwe and Rwanda.  They were also used for guarding cattle from raiders and wild animals.

They found a powerful Bunyoro Kitara Empire with a decentralised system of administration for example it was divided into provinces and districts which were governed by a chair of representatives.  They also came with institutions of palace women and slave artists.

Bigo was the capital or administration centre of the Bunyoro Kitara Empire.  It had a deep ditch system for protecting the large herds of cattle from external danger for example the archaeological evidence about Bigo reveals that they found plenty of bones of cattle, spears, drums, arrows, jars, shallow basins among others

Introduced a kingdom as a confederation of sub states or provinces.

The ruling monarchy had a hierarchy of officials both in palace and provinces.

The Kingdom had a standing army for both offense and defence, supported by peasants who provided food.

They introduced the absolute monarch that is his wish was law and could not be opposed or challenged.

The Kingship and chieftaincy was hereditary that is inherited from father to son in case of death.

Reasons for the disintegration of Bunyoro Kitara empire

Various reasons have been suggested for the collapse of Bachwezi State (Bunyoro Kitara Empire) these include.

The kingdom was attacked by diseases especially small pox and rinder pest which killed many people and animals, undermining the power and prosperity of the kingdom.

Civil wars especially in the distant provinces contributed to the decline of the kingdom.

The kingdom still declined as a result of resistance and rebellions from their subjects especially the Bantu cultivators.

The kingdom was also faced with a severe famine which weakened the population and killed the rest.

The process of decline and disintegration was accelerated by the Luo invasion. It is believed that the Bachwezi voluntarily withdrew before the Luo invasion because they were tired of the misfortunes

The empire was too large in size to be effectively controlled.  It's believed that it stretched to the Wanga in Western Kenya,  Busoga in the east, south wards to Karagwe and North wards to lake Kyoga as can seen on the map.

Local and internal revolts weakened and speeded the break up of the empire.  This was common among the vassal states and outlying areas.  The constant instability forced some people to migrate in search of peaceful areas of settlement.

Lack of strong centralised administration further weakened the empire. Bunyoro Kitara was never under single centralised control.  The administration and control was left to sister states bound together by family and ritual ties which with time was not very strong to keep people together.

Local quarrels and civil wars probably over succession gradually weakened the empire for example Bantu cultivators often rivalled and fought Chwezi leadership.

Natural calamities also facilitated the break up of the empire for example epidemics like small pox and cattle disease struck the very foundation of the pastoral Chwezi communities by causing severe famine.  This killed many people and led to instability.

According to S. R Karugire who based his research on Nyakatura, Katate and Nyamuguguni, the earliest and most copious recorders of the area history at that period,

the  Bachwezi simply left their empire and "disappeared" in disgust because their subjects had become disobedient and openly contemptuous of their authority and also the stream of fortune tellers which was consulted by in rapid succession foretold misfortunes that were about to be fall the dynasty14 

Increasing misfortunes led to the fall of the Bachwezi empire.  The last being the death of "Bihogo" the darling cow of one of the princes partly caused voluntary exodus.  The unfavourable interpretation of this incident by a soothsayer from Northern Bukedi caused a lot of fear and panic.

Bantu tribes gradually lost confidence in the Bachwezi leadership especially when they discovered that they were not really semi-gods. They also had internal civil wars especially during the reign of Wamara.

Military weakness can also be used to explain the break up of the empire.  It lacked a strong and well organised army to defeat internal rebellions and to keep vassal states together.

Dissatisfied tribes may have wanted to start their own empires far away from the original Chwezi influence for example the Bahima who founded the kingdom of Wanga in western Kenya.

Probably the Luo invasion towards the end of fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries was simply the final event that speeded the break up of the already disintegrating empire.  The Bachwezi voluntarily withdrew on hearing about the Luo advance from the North.

As a result, most of the Bachwezi rulers moved southwards and established new dynasties in South western Uganda and North west Tanzania.

After the disintegration of the vast Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom, there emerged several independent states of Bunyoro, Ankole, Buganda and Karagwe.

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14 Karugure SR. (1980), A political history of Uganda P 5