The Royal Lineage Of Menhya
The Menhya Lineage is one of the five lineages among which the Kyabazinga(KING) of Busoga can be elected. Just like the other four royal lineages of Busoga our totem(Omuziiro) isEngabi at times called Empongo, a medium sized animal belonging to the bushbuck family, it is shown below. Click here to view the skeletal chart of the Menha Lineage.
The Settlement of Kakaire Menhya, in Bugweri.
At the time of establishing the Babiito Dynasty in Bunyoro Kitara kingdom alot of changes were triggered within the Bunyoro royal family. These led to the migration of Prince Menhya into current day Bugweri. When Kakaire Menhya arrived in Bugweri, with his sister, Kitimbo he became very popular with the natives because of his genouristy and good manners. He used to share what he had hunted with the locals. They therefore dethroned their reigning Chief Musuubo and established Kakaire Menhya as their "Mwami" Paramount Chief. Musuubo, had been notorious for asking his servants to place him on a swing and swing him all day. The name Musuubo comes from the word Kyensuubo (which means swing). Kakaire Menhya, then established the dynasity of Menhya(Menhya comes from the word Break, i.e. Somebody who broke away from Bunyoro).
Turmoil in the Menhya Chieftainship 
The generations that followed were marked with both glory and dispute Kakaire Menhya was inherited by his son Kibedi-Menhya, who had twins both called Kirunda. When their father died, they each struggled to inherit him. Because, according to tradition, the oldest son was the one entitled to inherit the Chieftainship. At the time, it was hard to determine who was older than the other. A conflict therefore arose, resulting into two camps. One of Kirunda-Kireri and the other of Kirunda-Kiyuuba. Kirunda(Kirunda comes from the word Sheperd, i.e. Shepard of his subjects). Kirunda Kiyuuba, called himself the SUN (hence the name Kiyuuba-Lusooga for sun), that would burn his brother's supporters to death. Kirunda-Kireeri, called himself the the CLOUD(hence the name Kireeri-Lusooga for CLOUD). He claimed that as a cloud he would protect his supporters from the stinging rays of the sun. This therefore, led to a minor split within the lineage which mildly exists upto the current date. Kirunda-Kiyuba, remained to establish his headquaters in Nakibembe, while Kirunda-Kireri fled to establish his headquaters in Namalemba. Thats why some names like Nkutu are named by the Nakimbembe group, yet they don't exist in the Namaleemba group.
The Kabaka of Buganda
and the Menhya clan.
Kirunda - Kiyuuba was suceeded by his son Nkutu Nkutu was a reputable military campaigner. Kabaka (King Suuna) of Buganda took counsel from him on military issues (refer to BaSseKabaka ba Buganda by Sir Apollo Kaggwa). Nkutu took a Muganda lady for his wife. His name, Nkutu came from a mole like animal called Nkweto that lives in the ground and is hard to hunt. He was named so because of his ability to escape miltary assault from both his rivals at home and from Buganda. His name, was later modified to Nkutu. However,one time, his palace was surrounded by his enemies backed by Buganda and he was killed.
British Colonialism and the onslaught of Islam.
Mukhama suceeded his father: When then Arabs came to Bugweri, they converted the sons of Mukhama: (a)Dhakaba (b)Muwaabe (c)Swaliki Kiswiriri (d) Ausi Kirunda into Islam. Dhakaba established his chieftainship headquaters in Buwooya and Buyanga, while some of his brothers remained in Nakibembe (refer to the book "Islamisation of Uganda" in Makerere University Library). Dhakaba had 19 wives and 81 children and died in 1947. The British Colonialists, convinced the principalities of Busoga to combine and elect among the four royal clans one leader. The name of this leader was coined to be Kyabazinga meaning the one who combines. Nkutu I's grandson Zirabamuzaale Menhya was elected Secretary General of the Busooga Lukiiko. He became very instrumental in the coining of the first Uganda Consititution and was Member of Ugandan Legislative Council that flew to London in the pre-independence days to do so. He was the only non-Muganda to own Milo Land(located next to Lubiri i.e. Buganda Palace) in Buganda, given to him by Kabaka Daudi Chwa. A college, Zirabamuzaale Memorial College in Iganga Town exists in his memory..
Contribution Of The Menha clan to post independence Uganda
In 1962, Uganda gained independence Mukhama's grandson, Shaban Nkutu served effeciently as Government Minister. He championed, the cause of Islam.He was also a determined and commited
Member Of Parliament. He was at one time, Chairman of the Uganda People's Congress (which was the ruling party at the time).
When Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada overthrew Obote in 1971, the Late Hon. Shaban Kirunda-Nkutu, unfortunately, tragically lost his life at the hands of Amin's soldiers about two years later and his remains were never returned to his people for proper burial. Before his death many Baisemenha
were terrorised by Amin's soldiers, whole villages of relatives e.g. in Buwooya were rounded up. Children and other Baisemenha who were also named Nkutu were locked up in cells and tortured. Many of these were stopped and removed from vehicles at nationwide roadblocks.
Though he knew of his impending death, he opted to remain in Uganda and be killed alone than flee and let many of his relatives to be killed on his behalf. His courage and braverliness is much respected.
It is said that prior to his death he held a Dua (Islamic Thanksgiving prayer) to prepare him for his death. Ironically, Idi Amin game him a personal, freindly visit, at his home in Busesa, about a week before he was captured and murdered. At a public gathering, later that day he(Amin) praised him for being a very good citizen whose examples every one should try to emulate
. He also praised him for being his(Amin's) good Uncle-In-Law. According to the Ugandan Newspaper, The Monitor of Saturday, March 15, 1997, he was taken in Amin's private study trussed up like a chicken. Amin allegedly prayed by his side then slit his throat, dipped his finger into the blood and tasted it. Family sources claim that fishermen later recovered his body at Owen Falls dam, on the River Nile. It was taken to Jinja Hospital Mortury where relatives viewed it. When one of them Hajati Sawiya screemed it was picked up by soldiers and might have been dumped at Masese near Jinja. Up to today he remains much
respected by the clan and all those who knew or heard about him from all walks of life he is so far the brightest light to come from the clan. To many he remains a role model. And a school Nkuutu Memorial Secondary School, in Busesa exists in his memory.
His paternal nephew Wanume Kibedi who served as Amin's Government Minister fled a few years later to London.
Mr. Wanume Kibedi's sister,Sarah Kibedi, Idi Amin's senior wife later fled the country as well after surviving an accident in which she was fatally injured. The accident was apparently plotted by Idi Amin. She now lives in England.
After the overthrowal of Idi Amin in April 11 1979, John Luwuliza Kirunda and Ali Kirunda Kivejinja were instrumental in the Y.K. Lule and Godfrey Lukungwa Binaisa's government that followed successively.
John Luwuliza Kirunda who comes from Kirunda-Kireri branch of the Menha clan, became the Secretary General of the UPC.
And after the General Elections held in Uganda in 1980, Dr. Apollo Milton Obote appointed him Government Minister of Internal Affairs. He was well known for being a close confidant to Obote and his right hand man.
He was widely feared nationally and in the Cabinet he was boisterous, shrewd, intelligent, charismatic,dynamic, hardworking, a man many would love to hate, he escaped an assisnation bid when a bomb thrown on the roof of his Ministerial car failed to explode.
It is claimed that this was a plot of his arch rival then Vice President, late Mzee Paulo Muwanga.
When Gen Tito Okello Lutwa, overthrew Obote, Luwuliza fled and is currently resident in Zimbabwe.He is well remembered for claiming that he didn't care wether the electorate voted him is as MP and that he only needed the votes of his wife, himself and that of Mr. (i.e. Obote) to make him a parliamentarian.
Indeed, he lost the elections and was nominated by Obote as MP. He always introduced himself as follows: "I'm Luwuliza Kirunda Minister of the Police, Special Force, Prisons, Secratary General of the UPC, Chairman JIK, those of you who want to commit suicide go on and those who want to cut off your heads go on" . This always sounded more funny when said in Lusooga.
His said not to have respected anyone else in the Cabinet apart from President Obote. He one time went into a hotel room, that had been ealier booked by the Chief Of Staff the Late Maj Gen. David Oyite Ojok and claimed it for himself. He alleged that Oyite Ojok as an army man should go and sleep in the bush. On his arrival, Oyite Ojok who was politically and militarily a mightier man, ordered Luwuliza
at gun point to return to Kampala and leave (Gulu Town).
Challenges facing the Menhya Lineage.
The Menhya lineage is rapidly growing new children are born daily. Many from lands far away from their homeland. I've been inspired to set up this web page
not to intrude on any one's privacy.
To those who prefer to keep in touch with others. This web page will be a useful source of information to know your relatives close or distant.
To those who are busy with their personal affairs, this Web Page will be a useful source of information to know their origins.
I wish to add that the information on this Web Page will be constantly updated. To reflect new acquired information.
Efforts are in plan to rebuild all the historical sights our forefathers left.
Since tranditional and cultural values are being returned in Uganda(e.g. regaining Kabakaship e.t.c). The time is therefore ripe for descendants of Menha to take a leaf at their origins and impart that knowledge into their offsprings.
So that the offsprings may also know their roots. For some of us who have lived abroad for quite a while knowing and appreciating oneself's roots is an invaluable aspect of one's life.
It saves one from being prodigal or outcast or even a social misfit. The Menhya lineage, is based on the legacy left by its founding father KAKAIRE MENHA.
His qualities mainly stemmed around good manners and good neihghbourliness.
Much as many lineage members are very successful, there is still room for improvement. Some are high ranking Military Officers in the Ugandan Army like
Major Mubarak Nkutu, Brigade Commander of Nakasongola Battalion and son of Haji Aswin Menha, currently clan leader/elder, Ssabataka. Others are very prominent businessmen and women. Two of the most prominent ones include: -
Mr. Kakaire and Haji Khalid Nyende but the list is endless. The cost of maintaining this web page solely falls on to its publisher. It is merely an information site and may be later
on a cultural site.
As a Software Consultant born on 26/Jun/'69 and currently based in Canada.
Who lived in exile in Nairobi, Kenya in the '70's with my father Mr. Nassor Nkutu a grandson of Dhakaba and in England, UK in the '90s.
I've felt the niche for members of the Menhya lineage to know their roots just as I had to know mine. I've mixed fully with people of all calibre, as a Member of the student leadership in Makerere University, I was at a semi national scene.
I've met all levels of politicians, business people, ordinary citizens e.t.c. I've been incessantly asked about my roots by thousands of people. I hope non-Menha people who access this website will have a birdseye view of the framework in which
by which the Menhya Lineage exists. I do believe that the list of powerful and famous people will forever expand.
Those people who will read this information in years and centuries to come will always know the foundation upon which the Baisemenha stem.
This website will neither encourage gossip nor personal vandetta. It will encourage harmony, tranquility and progress. Any one from any
walk of life is welcome to submit any positive idea, comment or piece of information. Please feel free to pass on this information to anybody whom you feel will benefit from it.
Most of this information has been passed on to me by my father, Nassor Nkutu.
Mukhama was well liked by his subjects and the colonialists because of his ability to mix well with all levels of his subjects and lead them by example.
The famous song always sung for him was: Kirangadha Mukhama omunyoro dhaka muleeta. Meaning here comes the elegant Mukhama the Munyoro.
The author is still trying to clarify on the following areas (a) It is claimed that the Menhya lineage is fairly small (b)The author is aware that the (i)The Baisengobi (ii) The BaLamoji (iii) The BaiseMenha are the three of the four royal clans in Busoga, which is the fourth? (b)The author is aware that Kakaire Menhya and his sister migrated to Busoga, but he vaguely remembers that they came with a brother, who was he and what became of him and his descendants? (c)The author is aware that King Nyamutukura of Bunyoro who is said to have reigned for a short time was the father of Kakaire Menhya, what is the authenticity of this? (d)There is lineage in Bunyoro closely related to the Bunyoro royal family called the Bagweri, was the name of the County (Bugweri) in which Kakaire Menha settled derived from the Bagweri clan? (e)There is another lineage in Bugwere (N.B. not Bugweri) which has a few names similar to ours. This clan is the royal clan of formerly Bukedi district and is said to originate from Bunyoro. The author would wish to know alot more about its history (f)The author is still putting together a bigger lineage chart of the BaiseMenhya. (g)All the royal lineage in Busoga are said to have started in Bunyoro. (h)The author encourages other peoples of Uganda to know their roots and welcomes the idea of adding his findings into a book that embraces all the clans of Busoga and Uganda at large. (i)The author notes that apart from Kintu, Kato Kimera the first King of Buganda is said to have been the brother of Lukidi Mpuuga, the first King of Bunyoro. Therefore, many royal clans of different tribes in Uganda seem to share a common ancestry, many of them with Bunyoro. (j)The author has deliberately avoided writing much about those that are currently participating in politics. I'm sure it is in there best interest. (i) The author will in future include the anthem of the Menhya lineage on this web page. N.B. Our tortem which is the tortem of almost all royal lineages in Busoga is in included in the Court Of Arms of Uganda. This is because the Court of Arms was designed at the times when Kingdoms were still in full force.
If you have any Questions call 001-613-224-6532 or e-mail me on Faisal_Nkutu@Hotmail.com or Faisal.Nkutu@Hotmail.com
*The Royal Lineage Of The BaiseMenhya was founded in the 15th Century. The founder of the Clan was Kakaire Menha. It is believed that Kakaire Menhya was a Prince, a son of the King Of Bunyoro. This Web site is devoid of any religious or political biases. It also does not entertain any political or religious canvassing. This web page will also display information regarding the tradition and values of the Menha clan. It will also show related interesting events and information. This web page will not serve to solicit funds of any sort.
Copyright © 1998 Faisal Kirunda Nkutu International. All rights reserved. The Royal Lineage Of Menha is an upto date research of FNK International.