Semakookiro of Buganda


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 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 of his father's twenty wives. He ascended the throne after the death of his brother, Kabaka Jjunju Sendegeya, whom he defeated and killed in battle; the Battle of Kiwawu, in 1797. He established his capital at Kasangati.

Married life

He is recorded to have married fifteen wives:
  1. Naabakyaala Nansikombi Ndwadd'ewazibwa, the Kaddulubaale, daughter of Luyombo, of the Nsenene clan
  2. Balambi, daughter of Sembuzi, of the Ndiga clan
  3. Bawedde, daughter of Nakato, of the Mbogo clan
  4. Bwaayita, daughter of Jjumba, of the Nkima clan
  5. Guluma, daughter of Lusinga, of the Ntalaganya clan
  6. Gwowoleza, daughter of Luzige, of the Ndiga clan
  7. Jajjaw'abaana, daughter of Serusa, of the Ndiga clan
  8. Naabakyaala Kikubula, Nassaza, daughter of Luzige, of the Ndiga clan
  9. Nabisunsa, daughter of Mukusu, of the Mpindi clan
  10. Namatama, daughter of Malunda, of the Ndiga clan
  11. Seb'andabawa, daughter of Nkali, of the Ngeye clan
  12. Naabakyaala Sirisa, Kabejja, daughter of Sekiwedde, of the Mamba clan
  13. Sikyayinza, daughter of Jjumba, of the Nkima clan
  14. Naabakyaala Namisango, Naabagereka, daughter of Luyombo, of the Nsenene clan
  15. Naabakyaala Nasuzewabi, daughter of Bunnya, of the Nsenene clan

    Issue

The children of Kabaka Semakookiro included the following:
  1. Prince Kanaakulya Mukasa, who succeeded his father as Kabaka Kamaanya Kadduwamala, Kabaka of Buganda, whose mother was Ndwadd'ewazibwa
  2. Princess Ndagire, whose mother was Ndwadd'ewazibwa
  3. Prince Luyenje, whose mother was Bawedde
  4. Prince Tebattagwaabwe, whose mother was Bwaayita
  5. Prince Nyiningabo. He was killed by being burned alive at Benga, for rebellion against his father.
  6. Prince Kafunende. He was killed by being burned alive at Benga, for rebellion against his father.
  7. Prince Kiyimba, whose mother was Seb'andabawa
  8. Prince Kakirebwe, whose mother was Sirisa
  9. Prince Kakungulu, whose mother was Sikyayinza. Prince Kakungulu became the father of twins, born before 1814
  10. Prince Mutebi I, whose mother was Gwowoleza. He was killed by drowning in Busoga for rebellion against his father
  11. Prince. He contested the succession of his brother in 1814, but was defeated and fled to Bukoba, in Kyaggwe.
  12. Prince Zzimbe, whose mother was Namatama
  13. Princess Nakuyita, whose mother was Balambi
  14. Princess Nabisalo, whose mother was Guluma
  15. Princess Nagaddya, whose mother was Nabisunsa
  16. Princess Nabinaka

    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.

Succession table