Kooki

The Kingdom of Kooki, also known as the Kooki kingdom, was a pre-colonial African kingdom located within the present-day Rakai District of Uganda that existed from approximately 1740 until 1896. The kingdom ceased to exist as an independent state in 1896 when it merged into the British Protectorate of Buganda. Its royal line continues to this day as a non-sovereign monarchy, and is currently led by The Kamuswaga Apollo Sansa Kabumbuli II a hereditary ruler of the Cultural Institution under the Laws of Uganda ^[1][2] Obwa Kamuswaga bwa Kooki was gazetted as a cultural institution in the Uganda Goverment gazette Vol. CVII No.25 of 6th May, 2014.

Kooki Kingdom
c. 1740–1896
Flag
Buganda, Kooki, and other African Great Lakes Kingdoms, c.1880
Status	Tributary kingdom
Capital	Rakai
Common languages	Luganda
Demonym(s)	Kooki
Government	Monarchy
Kamuswaga
• 1740–1750	Bwohe (first)
• 1884–1907	Edward Kezekia Ndahura II (last)
• 1954–1966	Yoweri Kayemba (official last)
History
• Break away from Bunyoro-Kitara	c. 1740
• Incorporated into Buganda	18 November 1896
• Kingdom officially abolished by Uganda	24 May 1966
Preceded by Succeeded by Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of Buganda Uganda
Today part of	Uganda
Lukooki can be considered a dialect of Luganda or a distinct language.

History

Formation

Kooki was never part of Buganda before British colonialism. It was a suzerainty of Bunyoro, which was established by Omukama Olimi III Isansa ( the 16th Mubiito King of Bunyoro-Kitara on his return journey from his military expedition in Rwanda. Isansa was keen to ensure the continuity of the long-distance trade between Bunyoro-Kitara and the East African coast, especially the lucrative bead trade (his capital was called Kyankwanzi or Kyenkwanzi), which means " the one of the glass beads”. The Kooki Kingdom was established sometime between the years 1696 to 1740 by the Mubito prince of Bwohe. Bwohe was a part of the Bunyoro-Kitara dynasty who, with the following clans including Babiito/Babiitokati (ruling clan), Basaga, Balangi, Bayonga, Bagahi, Bashambo Basimba people, Baranga, Basiita, Bazigaaba, Baboobi, Babamooli, Batundu, Obugguya, Ngo Leopard, Bakonga, and three more, broke away from the larger Bunyoro- Empire of Kitara and created his own. Bwohe died in either 1740 or 1750.^[1][3]

General Semei kakungulu

Semei Kakungulu was a mukooki from the Babiito/Babiitokati clan, who established Mbale town and is buried at Gangama Hill, Kasanvu Cell, Nabweya Word, Northern City Division, Mbale City. Semei Kakungulu museum was established by the cross-cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) in partnership with the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) and the Semei Kakungulu family, with financial support from the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund. The museum stands as a testament to a remarkable mukooki General and to the contributions Semei Kakungulu, the only African who established Mbale Town, now Mbale City.

Wars and Protection

After annexing the province of Buddu in the late 1700s from Bunyoro-Kitara, King Jjunju Ssendegeya of Buganda established a tributary relationship with the Kooki Kingdom in order to gain access to the large market in Karagwe.^[4][5]

In September 1888, Christian and Muslim rebels forced the king of Buganda, Mwanga II, into exile in German East Africa. A few month later in 1889, he asked the king of Kooki, Edward Kezekia Nadahura II, for military support against the rebels, but he was denied.^[6][3]

During the Mohammadan war between June and August 1893, rebel forces fled into the independent kingdom of Kooki after being pushed out of Gomba by British forces. Sir John Gray thought the rebels might settle down in Kooki due to its reputation for aiding slave dealers and the arms traffic. An expedition into Kooki were ordered and lieutenants Hobart and C.S Reddie were told to attack the capital of Rakai if Kooki gave the rebels sanctuary. The rebels quickly surrendered to British forces after they were attacked. Ndahura welcomed the British soldiers and had a mutual understanding with the British to not support rebels.^[3]

In 1894, Ndahura II, went to the city of Kampala and asked the British government if his kingdom could become a British protectorate but his request was denied. The following year in 1895, Ndahura II went back to Kampala and asked if his "territories maybe included in Buganda Kingdom under the protection of Her Majesty’s government.” Again he was denied.^[3]

Incorporation into Buganda

In 1896, the embattled Kooki was seeking protection against external invasion and signed an allegiance agreement at Mengo with the Kingdom of Buganda. This was done before the British commissioner to Uganda, Ernest James Lennox Berkeley, on behalf of the Queen of England. The treaty wouldn't be officially recognised and ratified until May 4, 1903, by commissioner Berkeley on behalf of the British Foreign Office.^[3][7]

Under this agreement the Kamuswaga (king) was given a special seat in Buganda's parliament (Lukiiko), cultural privileges, and a right to preserve cultural autonomy.^[7] The Kooki would also be made into a first class county (Saza) with a special status.^[3] The Kooki remained semi-independent until 1966 when Uganda's first Prime Minister Milton Obote abolished the Kingdom of Buganda.^[1][8]

See also

• Kingdom of Buganda
• Uganda Protectorate
• Luganda language
• Mwanga II of Buganda