Jjunju of Buganda

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 to the throne upon the death of his father. He established his capital at Magonga.

He is recorded to have married four wives:

• Katagya, daughter of Gabunga, of the Mamba clan
• Nakamu I, daughter of Lwoomwa, of the Ndiga clan
• Nakamu II, daughter of Katambala, of the Ndiga clan
• Tebwaaza, daughter of Kasamba, of the Mbogo (Water Buffalo) clan

He is recorded to have fathered three children; one son and two daughters:

• Prince (Omulangira) Semalume, whose mother was Nakamu I
• Princess (Omumbejja) Nakabiri, whose mother is not mentioned
• Princess (Omumbejja) Kyomubi, whose mother was Katagya

During his reign, Buganda conquered Buddu (in present-day Masaka District) from Bunyoro. His reign was interrupted by the struggle between him and his brother Prince Semakookiro, who rebelled against him. During the rebellion, Semakookiro ordered his men to go and capture Kabaka Jjunju and bring him to the rebel prince. The expedition went badly. Kabaka Jjunju was killed during the attempted capture.

When the regiment sent to capture the Kabaka came back to report that they had killed him, Semakookiro was so upset that he expelled all the regiment members together with their families and friends from Buganda, or else they would suffer the same fate as his brother. The expelled people fled Buganda and went westwards to present day Kitagwenda in Kamwenge District and Bunyaruguru in Rubirizi District, Western Uganda.

This group of descendants were the reason why Kitagwenda and Bunyaruguru are called thus today. Kitagwenda seems to mean those who cannot go further and Bunyaruguru means those with strong-legs. Indeed, Kitagwenda is east of Bunyaruguru and is a plain area while Bunyaruguru is a hilly area west of Kitagwenda. Those without strong legs stayed in Kitagwenda and those who moved on and climbed the hills became the Banyaruguru.

He was killed in the Battle of Kiwawu, against his brother Semakookiro, in 1797. He was buried at Luwunga, Busiro.[2]

Another version of the death of Junju is that he was killed by the then Baganda of Ssese Islands, following a disagreement that erupted as a result of mistreatment. The aggreaved group fled to the east escaping from the attacks that were being planned by the mainland Baganda. When they reached the area of present-day Busoga and Samia region, they identified themselves as "bagenyi" which means "visitors" to the people of those areas. They settled in the area and took on new names such as "Musana", "Wegulo", "Wacha" in order to hide from the Kabaka's agents who were looking for them.

They adopted new culture and their language was amalgamated with Samia and Lusoga. Today these migrants are known as Bakenyi or Bakenye. The Bakenyi can be found among the Basoga, Bagwere, Balamogi, and the Samia proper. Some retained some aspects of their Kiganda culture; members of the Ngo Clan (Leopard Clan) renamed themselves the Babango and changed their totem to the Guinea Fowl (Nkofu). The Ngabi Clan (Antelope Clan) became the Bakoma and the Bagulu.

• Kabaka of Buganda

• List of the Kings of Buganda