SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN SOCIETIES

IN THE 19TH CENTURY

Objectives
Discuss the social, economic and political organisation of the
i. Baganda
ii. Asante
iii. Shona
The Baganda
Are Bantu speakers who live in present-day Uganda.

Factors for the growth of Buganda Kingdom

1. Decline of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom
This Kingdom collapsed and Buganda took advantage of this to emerge as the most powerful
Kingdom in the region.
2. Good leadership
They had good leaders who expanded the boundaries and maintained unity in the Kingdom e.g
Kabaka Mutesa 1.
3. Unity
It was a small united kingdom making administration easy.
4. Centralisation
The kingdom was centralized under the Kabaka to ensure effective control.
5. Food
The kingdom received plenty of rainfall and it was very fertile.
6. Trade
The kingdom was trading with the Swahili-Arab Traders where they acquired a lot of goods
especially guns that helped to strengthen the army.
7. Conquest
Baganda attacked and conquered neighbouring areas where they acquired slaves, livestock,
grains, iron and Ivory
8. Strong army
They had a strong standing army and navy that helped maintain security.

Economic organization
 They practiced agriculture
 They practiced trade
 They practiced hunting
 Iron working
 Fishing
 Craft
 Salt mining
  They kept animals

Social organization

i. Basic social unit- it was the clan and each clan had its own traditions
ii. Marriage- they practice polygamy and Kabaka married from all the clans so as to
maintain unity.
iii. Religion- they believed in a god called Katonda. They practiced ancestral worship. They
worship their god in shrines. With the coming of the Swahili Arab traders they converted
to Islam but later converted to Christianity with the coming of the Missionaries.
iv. Rites of passage- they practice circumcision
v. Gender roles- women did house chores and tilled the land while men build houses and
engaged in war.
vi. Social classes- they had four social classes namely; the royal family, people appointed
by the Kabaka, peasants and slaves.
vii. Specialists- they included the Kabaka, prophets, medicinemen and mediums.

Political organization
i. They had a centralized system of government led by a king known as Kabaka whose
position was hereditary.
Functions of the Kabaka
 head of state
 commander in chief of the Armed Forces
 final court of Appeal
 trustee of all the land
 appointed members of Parliament
 appointed chiefs
 he had the final say on matters concerning War
ii. The capital of the kingdom was at Mengo and this is where the Palace was built on a hill.
iii. Inside the palace they were symbols of royalty; throne, drums and spears.
iv. In the palace they were boys called bagalagalas. They had been sent to work in the
palace as a show of loyalty to the Kabaka with the hope that they'll be noticed for
appointment later in life.
v. After the Kabaka the most powerful person was the Prime Minister known as Katikiro.
His functions were;
 Organized War
 Protected the Kabaka during War
 In charge of tax collection
 Presided over simple cases
 Give permission to anyone wishing to see the Kabaka
  Informed the Kabaka on the happenings in the Kingdom
vi. Below the Katikiro other officials who helped in administration were;
Chief justice-omulamuzi
Treasurer-omuwanika
Senior chief-mugema
vii. The kingdom was divided into counties called Ssazas headed by Ssaza chiefs who are
directly appointed by the Kabaka and their functions were;
 maintain Law and Order
 try simple cases
 collect taxes
 Supply to the military
viii. Ssaza chiefs together with the Prime Minister formed the Parliament called Lukiiko.
Functions of Lukiiko
 formulate laws
 advise the Kabaka
 plan the expenditure
 acted as the final court of Appeal
 brought people's concerns to the Kabaka
 directed tax collection
 help to the Kabaka in general administration
ix. The counties were further divided into sub counties called Gombolola headed by
Gombolola chiefs/bataka. They were appointed by the ssaza chiefs and their functions
were;
 in-charge of sub counties
 maintain Law and Order
 settled disputes
 supplied men for the military
 send their sons to service bagalagalas
Factors that led to the decline of Buganda Kingdom
a) Bad leadership
Kabaka Mwanga who succeeded Kabaka Mutesa was incompetent therefore unable to control
the Kingdom.
b) Religious conflicts
There were conflicts between Muslims, Christians and traditionalists who are competing to
influence the Kabaka.
The Christian officials replaced Kabaka Mwanga with an infant Daudi Chwa who was unable to
control the Kingdom.
c) Coming of the British led to the signing of the Anglo-Buganda agreement putting the
kingdom under the control of the British.