Baganda

Baganda are the largest ethnic group in Uganda, concentrated in the central region around Lake Victoria and forming the core of the historic Buganda Kingdom. They speak Luganda, a widely used Bantu language in central Uganda. Culturally, the Baganda are organized into clans, with traditional institutions that continue to influence life alongside modern Ugandan structures.

The Buganda Kingdom is a traditional monarchy led by the Kabaka. The seat of cultural authority is at Mengo, near Kampala. The current Kabaka is Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, who ascended the throne in 1993. In practice, Buganda holds ceremonial authority over cultural matters while political power is held by the national government. The kingdom's modern status stems from colonial-era arrangements, including the 1900 Buganda Agreement, and its later abolition and restoration in the late 20th century.

History and society: Buganda emerged as a centralized polity in the central Great Lakes region by the 18th and 19th centuries, expanding under strong chiefs and the Kabaka. In the late 19th century, British rule established a protectorate and formalized relations through the 1900 Buganda Agreement, which defined land tenure and certain privileges while limiting royal authority. Uganda gained independence in 1962; kingdoms were banned in 1967 and later revived as cultural institutions in the 1990s.

Economy and culture: Agriculture is central, with bananas (matooke) as a staple; coffee and other crops are important. Traditional music, dance, and storytelling accompany Christian and Muslim religious life. Baganda contribute significantly to Uganda’s language and public life, and the Buganda Kingdom remains a key cultural institution within the country.