Royal clan/ Abalangira clan/ Engoma clan

 

Royal clan Engoma clan Abalangira

Kabaka is the head of the royal clan and he delegates his authority in this regard to the Ssabalangira who is the head of the princes and governs the day to day affairs of the clan while the king is occupied by state affairs.

The Role of the King's Mother namasole

Namasole (title for king's mother) was awarded high respect and honor throughout the kingdom (obwakabaka). Namasole was given a palace of her own to live in and various servants to serve her. In fact the head of her servants was also called a katikkiro. This should not be confused with the king's katikkiro who headed the kingdom's government. However Namasole had no formal role in the governance of the kingdom. 

During Kimera's time to that of Ssuuna II, the Namasole was not allowed to even set eyes on her son who had acceeded to the throne. One of the Namasole's brothers, given the title Masimbi would go to visit the king on Namasole's behalf and return with news of the king's health. Whenever Masimbi visited the king, he would carry a shield and two spears. This was supposed to symbolize Masimbi's readiness to fight in defense of their "son" if need be to ensure that he retains the throne. Another of the Namasole's brothers, given the title Ssaabaganzi had the responsibility of consulting traditional doctors and gods in all matters concerning the king's health to help ensure his continued well-being.

Namasole together with nine of her sisters and nine of her brothers formed a team that was called "Bannakazadde ba Kabaka". They used to be scattered in various parts of the kingdom and served as listening posts to try and spy any plots on parts of civil chiefs to rebel against the king, or worse still any attempts by a prince to dethrone the king. 

 Namasole was not allowed to remarry. To avoid the king call another man father since one can ascend to the throne only when Kabaka ( his father) is dead. Also they did not want the king to have brothers who were not of the royal lineage which would tend to confuse future successions. Thus the saying "Kabaka taddwaako mukopi" - meaning that the king cannot have a commoner for a sibling. Mutesa II was the first king to dispense with this custom when he gave permission for his mother to remarry. Even then, this led to considerable uproar in the kingdom. To quel this, the official duties of the Namasole were transferred from Lady Namaganda to her older sister, Perepetwa Nnaabaweesi.