NICHOLAS A
Hundreds of Abahinda Clan members today thronged St. John’s School of Nursing and Midwifery playground in Rwashamaire Town Council, Ntungamo District, to witness the enthronement of His Royal Highness Prince Tugume Salim K’Igumira Kitoboobo III as the King of the Abahinda ba Nkole Clan.
Eliasaph Byakurama, an elder in the clan, said that as a clan they have for a long time been in disunity, but hailed God Almighty for enabling them to reunite and enthrone the clan king. He noted that this milestone is not only important to the Abahinda Clan but also to other clans, as it is a step towards restoring and strengthening African tradition.
According to history, the first king of the clan was Ruhinda rwa Njunaki. According to Kakongi Ali Simba, the brother of the apparent king Tugume, following the death of their father, they decided to entrust Tugume with all the powers to replace their late father.
Stephen Sunday, the chairperson of the Abahinda Clan, said they have for a long time yearned to achieve this, noting that the enthronement of their king is a great achievement for the clan and that it will strengthen them and Africanism at large.
He said they are now looking forward to making a constitution for the clan to ensure discipline is maintained among both old and young clan members, and to ensure that their clan is strong.
He said that as a clan, their totem is a monkey, which is derived from their grandmother Njunaki, whose father, known as Katuku ka Rubabo, was from the Abajuumiira clan whose totem was a monkey.
According to Turyazayo David Kapiira, another elder of the clan, they are reactivating the Abahinda Clan to preserve cultural identity, promote indigenous knowledge, strengthen unity and belonging, restore traditional leadership, educate the youth, revive ceremonies, and promote peace and mediation.
He said that owing to the fact that their clan originated from the Bachwezi, who were cattle keepers as well as coffee and banana growers, members of the clan should work hard to get rid of poverty by embracing hard work.
His Royal Highness Tugume vowed to do all it takes to strengthen the Abahinda Clan by ensuring that cultural identity is preserved, indigenous knowledge is promoted, unity and belonging are strengthened, traditional leadership is restored, youth are educated, ceremonies and rituals are revived, and peace and mediation are promoted, among others.
He also presided over the launch of the clan logo, which he said is a strong pillar of the clan.
The Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner, Tashobya Jimmy Omugogoozi, hailed Abahinda Clan members for uniting, noting that this unity will move them forward.
He urged clan members to support President Museveni, noting that he has brought peace to Uganda, and encouraged them to choose leaders who will work towards protecting this peace.
The Abahinda Clan has many sub-clans, including: Abajuumiira, Abayangwe, Abaitira, Abakimbiri, Abaigara, Abagunga, Abashonga, Abareega, Abeerera, Abataraka, Abamiigwa, Abarama, Abakondo, Abaishanzya, Abahira, and Abaikiza.
