Semakookiro, also spelled as Ssemakookiro, whose full name is Semakookiro Wasajja Nabbunga, was Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda, from 1797 until 1814. He was the twenty-seventh (27th) Kabaka of Buganda.
Claim to the throne He was the son of Kabaka Kyabaggu Kabinuli, Kabaka of Buganda, who reigned between 1750 and 1780. His mother was Nanteza, the seventeenth (17th) of his father's twenty (20) wives. He ascended the throne after the death of his brother, Kabaka Jjunju Sendegeya, whom Semakookiro defeated and killed in the Battle of Kiwawu in 1797. He established his capital at Kasangati.
Married life He is recorded to have married fifteen (15) wives:
Naabakyaala Nansikombi Ndwadd'ewazibwa, the Kaddulubaale, daughter of Luyombo, of the Nsenene (Grasshopper) clan Balambi, daughter of Sembuzi, of the Ndiga clan Bawedde, daughter of Nakato, of the Mbogo clan Bwaayita, daughter of Jjumba, of the Nkima clan Guluma, daughter of Lusinga, of the Ntalaganya clan Gwowoleza, daughter of Luzige, of the Ndiga clan Jajjaw'abaana, daughter of Serusa, of the Ndiga clan Naabakyaala Kikubula, Nassaza, daughter of Luzige, of the Ndiga clan Nabisunsa, daughter of Mukusu, of the Mpindi clan Namatama, daughter of Malunda, of the Ndiga clan Seb'andabawa, daughter of Nkali, of the Ngeye clan Naabakyaala Sirisa, Kabejja, daughter of Sekiwedde, of the Mamba clan Sikyayinza, daughter of Jjumba, of the Nkima clan Naabakyaala Namisango, Naabagereka, daughter of Luyombo, of the Nsenene (Grasshopper) clan Naabakyaala Nasuzewabi, daughter of Bunnya, of the Nsenene clan
Issue The children of Kabaka Semakookiro included the following:
Prince (Omulangira) Kanaakulya Mukasa, who succeeded his father as Kabaka Kamaanya Kadduwamala, Kabaka of Buganda, whose mother was Ndwadd'ewazibwa Princess (Omumbejja) Ndagire, whose mother was Ndwadd'ewazibwa Prince (Omulangira) Luyenje, whose mother was Bawedde Prince (Omulangira) Tebattagwaabwe, whose mother was Bwaayita Prince (Omulangira) Nyiningabo. He was killed by being burned alive at Benga, for rebellion against his father. Prince (Omulangira) Kafunende. He was killed by being burned alive at Benga, for rebellion against his father. Prince (Omulangira) Kiyimba, whose mother was Seb'andabawa Prince (Omulangira) Kakirebwe, whose mother was Sirisa Prince (Omulangira) Kakungulu, whose mother was Sikyayinza. Prince Kakungulu became the father of twins, born before 1814 Prince (Omulangira) Mutebi I, whose mother was Gwowoleza. He was killed by drowning in Busoga for rebellion against his father Prince (Omulangira) Mutebi II, whose mother was Jajjaw'abaana). He contested the succession of his brother in 1814, but was defeated and fled to Bukoba, in Kyaggwe. Prince (Omulangira) Zzimbe, whose mother was Namatama Princess (Omumbejja) Nakuyita, whose mother was Balambi Princess (Omumbejja) Nabisalo, whose mother was Guluma Princess (Omumbejja) Nagaddya, whose mother was Nabisunsa Princess (Omumbejja) Nabinaka
He increased the growth of Mituba (Ficus natalensis) trees and production of Barkcloth in Buganda.
The final years Kabaka Semakookiro died from an affliction, in old age at the Jjunju Palace at Kasangati, in Kyaddondo County. He was initially buried at Kasangati. In 1869, his remains were exhumed and re-buried at Kisimbiri in Busiro County.
Quotes "But he understood his own gross and cruel age. He also understood men. They were treacherous. The precautionary measures he had taken to preserve his throne enabled him to be the first king in more than a century to die a natural death. If nineteenth-century kings of Buganda wielded enormous despotic powers as indeed they did, part of the credit must be given to Semakokiro." MM Semakula Kiwanuka, A History of Buganda, 1971Kiwanuka, MM Semakula, A History of Buganda: From the foundation of the Kingdom to 1900. London: Longman, 1971
See also Kabaka of Buganda
References
External links List of the Kings of Buganda