Kabalega of Bunyoro
Chwa II Kabalega (18 June 1853 – 6 April 1923), was the ruler or Omukama of Bunyoro in Uganda from 1870 to 1899.
When he was crowned king, he set out to develop his new kingdom via trade and especially the Kibiro Saltworks.
He resisted the British attempts to colonize his kingdom.[1] On 1 January 1894, the British declared war on Bunyoro. For five years, Kabalega was able to fend off the British, who had enlisted help from other countries including Somalia and Nubia. On 9 April 1899, Kabalega was shot by the British, who captured him and Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda. Kabalega was exiled to the Seychelles for 24 years. His son Kitahimbwa was appointed chief but had little power as the kingdom was administered nearly directly by the colonial authority.[1]
In 1923, Kabalega was given permission to return to Bunyoro but died in Jinja on 6 April 1923, shortly before reaching the borders of the kingdom.[2]
Kabalega was the last king of Bunyoro. After his fall, the kingdom was run by the British Empire until Uganda's independence in 1962.
Legacy
In 1972, President Idi Amin renamed Murchison Falls, located within Murchison Falls National Park, Kabalega Falls after the Omukama.
On 8 June 2009, Kabalega was declared a national hero of Uganda by President Museveni.[3]
References
- 1 2 "Unyoro", Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
- ↑ Press Release from the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, "Commemoration of the 100th year since the capture of Omukama Cwa II Kabalega".
- ↑ Royal Order "The Most Honourable Order of Omukama Chwa II. Kabalega".
Further reading
- A. R Dunbar, Omukama Chwa II Kabarega, East African Literature Bureau, 1965.
| Preceded by Kyebambe IV |
Omukama of Bunyoro 1869–1898 |
Succeeded by Kitahimbwa |