Mmamba Gabunga Clan

The Mmamba Clan headed by Omutaka Gabunga is one of the original (indigenous) clans in Buganda or Central Uganda. The members of this clan are called Ab'emmamba ya Gabunga (Singular: Ow'emmamba ya Gabunga). The members of this clan are Baganda people and speak Luganda language.

Titles

Gabunga or Ggabunga is the title of the head of the Mmamba Gabunga clan. Omutaka is a general title for each head of a clan. The current head of the clan is called Omutaka Gabunga Mubiru Zziikwa.[1] [2][3]

Clan Totems

Primary Totem (Omuziro)

The primary totem (Omuziro) is Lungfish (Mmamba).[4] It is taboo for a member of the Mmamba clan to eat or harm a Lungfish. This taboo does not apply to people who do not belong to this clan.

Secondary Totem (Akabbiro)

The secondary totem (akabbiro) is a young Lungfish (Omuguya).[4]

Structure

The Kabaka (Ssaabataka)

The Kabaka of Buganda is at the peak of the clan structure.[5] So all the heads of the clans, the Bataka (plural form of Omutaka) [6]) are under him. Hence his title, Ssaabataka.

Clan Head (Ow'Akasolya)

The head of the Kasolya (roof) is Omutaka Gabunga[4] or sometimes written as Ggabunga.

Clan Seat (Obutaka)

The location of the clan seat (Obutaka) is in Ssagala-Buwaya, Busiro, Wakiso District, Uganda.[1] .[2]

Clan Motto (Omubala)

The clan's motto (omubala) or slogans (emibala) are:[1] [2]

  1. Sirya mmamba, amazzi nnywa.
  2. Bandaba kulya mpola ne bampita omukodo.
  3. Sirya mmamba, amazzi nnywa.

("I don't eat Lungfish, I drink water. They see me eat slowly and call me selfish. I don't eat Lungfish, I drink water.", in English)

Other:

  1. Sirya mmamba, amazzi nnywa.
  2. Sirya mmamba amazzi nnywa.
  3. Eno ssi mmamba nnamakaka.
  4. Gwe ndisanga mu menvu n’ebikuta alibirya.
  5. Akalya kokka ke keetenda obulyampola.

Duties and Responsibility at Palace

The members of the Mmamba clan are responsible for the Kabaka's boats, ships, etc. In ancient times, the Gabunga headed Buganda Kingdom's Navy and was therefore equivalent to a Navy Admiral[7]

Clan Names

The surnames or lastnames of people belonging to this clan vary depending on one's biological gender (Male or Female). Some of the names are common to all members of the clan but some are more commonly used in specific units (Essiga) of the clan.[8][9] In fact, some of the names that a particular Ssiga uses may have come from a different clan, for instance due to Okubbula (i.e naming someone after a favorite or a deceased person who was dear to them).[8]

Male names

Some boys' names belonging to this clan are:[8][10]

  1. Buwule
  2. Kayiwa
  3. Kayizzi
  4. Kifamba
  5. Kizito
  6. Luutu
  7. Mayanja
  8. Miiro
  9. Mubiru
  10. Mutebi
  11. Nsubuga
  12. Ssebalu
  13. Ssemafumu (or Semafumu)
  14. Ssembuya (or Sembuya)

Female names

Some girls' names belonging to this clan are:[8][10]

  1. Ndagire
  2. Nnakifamba (or Nakifamba)
  3. Nnalwoga (or Nalwoga)
  4. Nnamayanja (or Namayanja)
  5. Nnamiiro (or Namiiro)
  6. Nnamubiru (or Namubiru)
  7. Nnamutebi (or Namutebi)
  8. Nnankya (or Nankya)
  9. Nnansubuga (or Nansubuga)
  10. Nnawoova (or Nawoova)

Amasiga Names

These are some of the names of the pillars (Amasiga) of the Mmamba Gabunga clan: [11]

  1. Essiga lya Balukake e Mpondwe, Mawokota
  2. Essiga lya Bukulubwawadda e Kamunye, Busiro
  3. Essiga lya Kagenda e Luwunga, Mawokota
  4. Essiga lya Kasenke e Ntolomwe, Butambala
  5. Essiga lya Kasiga e Bendegere, Busiro
  6. Essiga lya Katenda e Zziba, Kyaggwe
  7. Essiga lya Kibeevu e Ssi – Bukunja, Kyaggwe
  8. Essiga lya Kirulu e Bwerenga, Busiro
  9. Essiga lya Kisanje e Maggyo, Buvuma
  10. Essiga lya Kisuze e Katwe Nakawuka, Busiro
  11. Essiga lya Kivuba e Ndwasi, Bugaya, Buvuma District
  12. Essiga lya Kiyaga e Ssanda, Busiro
  13. Essiga lya Lugunju e Bbira, Ssingo
  14. Essiga lya Lutimba e Kibulala, Ssingo
  15. Essiga lya Luvule e Sserinya, Ssese
  16. Essiga lya Mbajja e Namayamba, Bulemeezi
  17. Essiga lya Miiro e Luubu, Mawokota
  18. Essiga lya Miiro e Zzinga, Busiro
  19. Essiga lya Minyanya e Mpatta, Buvuma
  20. Essiga lya Mpumbu Mikalazi e Zziba - Buwaya, Busiro
  21. Essiga lya Mugula e Buyiira, Ntebe, Busiro, Wakiso District
  22. Essiga lya Mulinde e Mulajje, Kyaggwe
  23. Essiga lya Mulinde e Namaliri, Kyaggwe
  24. Essiga lya Munoga e Ntolomwe, Butambala
  25. Essiga lya Namaabo e Kojja - Kagulu, Kyaggwe
  26. Essiga lya Nyenje e Kkome, Kyaggwe
  27. Essiga lya Sekibo e Kibanga, Ssese
  28. Essiga lya Sempagama – Ssegwanga e Manyago, Busiro
  29. Essiga lya Ssebawutu e Nsaamu, Mawokota
  30. Essiga lya Ssenfuma e Kanyike, Mawokota
  31. Essiga lya Ssennaku Katenda e Mayirikiti, Kyaggwe
  32. Essiga lya Wabbuzi - Muzito e Bugaya, Buvuma
  33. Essiga lya Wampona Mubiru Kirimungo e Busami, Busiro

Famous members of the clan

  1. The current Kabaka of Buganda, Mwenda Mutebi II is belongs to the Mmamba Gabunga Clan.
  2. The Late industrialists, Christopher Sembuya and his younger brother, Henry Buwule who together founded the Sembule Group of Companies.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Buganda Clans". Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Mmamba Gabunga clan". Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Omutaka Gabunga Omubbulukuse, the new chief of the Emmamba clan, has been introduced to the Katikkiro of Buganda". www.bugandauk.com. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  4. ^ a b c Kiingi, K (2009). Enkuluze ya Oluganda eya e Makerere [Makerere Luganda Dictionary] (in Ganda) (2nd ed.). Kampala: Fountain Publishers. p. 92. ISBN 978-9970-02-613-5.
  5. ^ Roscoe, John (2022). The Baganda: an account of their native customs and beliefs. Legare Street Press. ISBN 9781015918757.
  6. ^ Chesswas, J.D. (2014). The Essentials of Luganda (4th ed.). Nairobi: Oxford University Press. p. 14.
  7. ^ Buliggwanga, Eriya (2006). Ekitabo ky'ekika ky'emmamba [The Mmamba Clan book] (in Ganda). Kampala: New Era Printers and Stationers.
  8. ^ a b c d Nsimbi, M.B. (April 1980). "Luganda Names, Clans, and Totems". Munger Africana Library Notes (52–53). California Institute of Technology.
  9. ^ Kiingi, K.B. (2009). Enkuluze ya Oluganda eya e Makerere [Makerere Luganda Dictionary] (in Ganda) (2nd ed.). Kampala: Fountain Publishers. pp. 93–102. ISBN 978-9970-02-613-5.
  10. ^ a b "Mmamba Gabunga clan names". Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Amasiga Names". Retrieved 26 July 2025.
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