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'Daudi Kintu Mutekanga (b. 1875, d. 1947-06-02)' Daudi Kintu Mutekanga was the son of Igaga of the Musubo clan (totem:red robbin) which originated from Kalalu in Bugweri County, Iganga District (about 65kms from Kamuli)in the South Eastern part of Uganda (Busoga). Igaga emigrated from Bugweri County to Bugabula (North of Busoga)during the 1880s and settled at Nabusiki behind Gabula (Chief) Mutibwa’s Court (the county cheif of Bugabula).

Gabula Mutibwa transferred Igaga to Kananage, near Kamuli to head that Mutala (sub-parish).

Mutekanga was sent by his father, Igaga, to work in the Gabula’s Courtyard by way of apprenticeship and training. He, thereby acquired knowledge of the art of governance and administration. Subsequently, Igaga allowed Mutekanga to act in his stead as the Mutala headman of Kananage.

Mutekanga also occupied himself as a trader who dealt in simple agricultural implements, clothes, beads, tobacco and also bought cattle from Bukedi through bartering. The barter trade also involved exchange of goats’ hides and skins with hoes from European and Indian traders which he then sold in Buganda. This developed into Mutekanga a certain amount of self-discipline relative to handling of money and social behaviour and served as a training ground for the future administrator.

By the time he became a Muluka (Parish) Chief, he had become wealthy, a factor which exposed him as a potential leader.

In 1906 Mutekanga became a sub-county chief of Gombolola Mutuba I Nabiwigulu, Kamuli. During this time he read for baptism and was baptized “Daudi” (David) at Kamuli Church.

Following the departure of Kasibante from Buganda as Katikiro (Premier) to Gabula Nadiope. Mutekanga was appointed Katikiro in 1911. Two years later, Gabula Yosia Nadiope died and was succeeded by his three year old son William Wilberforce Bwamiki Kadhumbula. At the same time Mutekanga was appointed by the Saza (county) Lukiiko (Council) to act as Kadhumbula’s regent from 9th January 1913, a position he held until 20 January 1933.

Mutekanga’s Contribution to Sir William Wilberforce Bwamiki Kadhumbula Nadiope’s life

Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope was Kyabazinga of Busoga at the time of Uganda’s political independence and the first Vice President of Uganda(1963-1966). He was also a direct nephew of Sir Apolo Kaggwa, former Katikiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda Kingdom from 1890-1926.

As noted above, Mutekanga became Nadiope’s Regent. Effectively, he took care of the personal, administrative and political affairs of the young chief. He effectively served as Chief of Bugabula County for 20 years and, by looking after Nadiope’s personal property was, in legal parlance, a trustee for the young chief. This included administering the fund into which the Saza Lukiiko (County Council) had sanctioned an allowance of ½% of poll tax collections for the young chief.

Mutekanga sent Nadiope for his education initially to Kamuli High School, then to Mengo High School following consultation between Mutekanga and Nadiope’s uncle Sir Apolo Kaggwa, the Katikiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda.

In 1924 Nadiope was sent, together with Mutekanga’s elder sons, Azalia Wycliffe Nviri and Yona Mwidu Igaga , to England to study at the Loughborough College, Leicestershire. Yona Igaga unfortunately succumbed to tuberculosis and died in England.

Nadiope returned to Bugabula in 1929 and worked under the supervision of Mutekanga as chief until 1933 when Mutekanga retired from the British Colonial service.

Mutekanga’s Views on Education

Mutekanga valued education and religious instruction. He spearheaded the construction, respectively of the Naminage and Kamuli (Bukwenge) churches and Kamuli High School (later renamed Busoga College, Mwiri).

Apart from institutional and infrastructural contribution to education, Mutekanga ensured that all his children were sent to school. Notable examples are Azalia Wycliffe Nviri and Yona Mwidu Igaga who were sent to England to study together with Kadhumbula Nadiope.The other children who flourished as a result of education are late George William Bakibinga (1926-1998), former Commissioner of Lands and Permanent Secretary, who was the first Ugandan registered land surveyor, Professor Joseph Mutekanga Igaga (1940-2002), former Director of the National Curriculum Development Centre and founding Vice Chancellor of Busoga University, Richard Nathan Baleke (1929-1999), former Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Grace Wilson Igaga, retired Principal of National Teachers College, Mubende and Warden, Livingstone Hall Makerere University; Patrick David Muzale Igaga (1931-1981), registered Surveyor.

several of his grandchildren have prospered in various spheres and it would be demeaning to enumerate some and leave many out.

Legacy of Mutekanga

The legacy of Mutekanga relative to that event may be summarized as follows:

(a) Contribution to Education and Religion

Refer to section 3 of this profile (above)

(b) Health

Mutekanga played a critical role in fighting the rats plague (Kawumpuli) in the early 1920s in Bugabula. He worked closely with health officers by mobilizing the people to construct proper stores and rat proofed buildings at each Gombolola (County) headquarters. This supplemented granaries built onto poles recommended to be no more than 3 feet high. Another initiative was to use trenches, though less satisfactory since they were prone to being overgrown.

Similar to the current campaign to control HIV/Aids infection Mutekanga also battled the twin problems of venereal diseases which were causing blindness and adultery for which administratively heavier sanctions were imposed. The mobilization of people at local levels to combat health epidemics could inform efforts to eliminate the jiggers challenge in parts of Busoga region.

Additionally, Mutekanga effected the construction of the maternity home at Kamuli.

(c) Maintenance of Roads

The recent riots and demonstrations of dissatisfaction with the speed at which the Kamuli – Jinja Highway Road is being renovated is a reminder of the role Mutekanga played in maintaining roads within Bugabula county. This included: the sweeping of roads every Monday, particularly the one leading to the Council (Lukiiko) House at Kamuli, planting of trees on either side of the road, renovation of the road between Kamuli and Kakindu and from Ndolwa to Namasagali so that they could be used by lorries to move cotton.

Mutekanga’s campaign to maintain roads was so persistent that the roads around Kamuli had progressed from “rocky” in 1921 to “excellent” in 1929 based on the assessment of the Colonial Administration.

(d) Maintenance of Government Buildings

Mutekanga worked strenuously to improve and maintain government buildings particularly those located at Gombolola (Sub-county) headquarters at the time known as “camps”. Notable among these were Kamuli, Naminage, Igwaya and Bugaya.

As already noted, Mutekanga had constructed the maternity home at Kamuli in 1921, although there was concern that it was not effectively utilized due to the small number of patients. The home was later closed in 1925 and the midwife transferred to Iganga. This initiative, which was aimed at improving maternal health care has current relevance as one of the United Nations Millenium Development Goals.

(e) Agriculture

Mutekanga was instrumental in implementing the Colonial Government Campaign to grow cotton which increased the income of farmers.

The period 1918-1927 was noted for its lack of food and famine. Consequently, there was a big and consistent campaign by the administration to encourage people to plant and conserve food in granaries which they were urged to construct at their homesteads. Concurrently, the people were discouraged from excessive drinking which consumed scarce millet grains.

Mutekanga also implemented the construction of rain proofed granaries at each Gombolora (Sub-county) headquarters to provide relief supplies in the event of subsequent famines. These measures were effective since by 1928 food shortage had eased and the situation normalized.

Apart from cotton, millet, maize and banana plantain (Matooke) there was a campaign to grow rice in Kitayunjwa(South Bugabula) between 1926 and 1929 and Nabiwigulu, near Kamuli. Each Gombolola (county) was also encouraged to cultivate an acre each of Misambya trees to be used to construct public buildings.

From Mutekanga’s crusade in combating famine lessons can be drawn to ensure food security locally. This is currently a challenge given the concern in the Busoga region about the overuse of land for sugar cane plantaton to the detriment of food cultivation.

(f) Discipline

Mutekanga was a disciplinarian both in his home and the county administrative level. In this regard, he ensured that Gombolola (sub-county) chiefs did not abuse their authority in handling subjects particularly in relation to the imposition of fines. He insisted that such cases be handled by the sub-county court.

Mutekanga also dealt with issues of absenteeism by Gombolola and Bwesengeze chiefs from the Saza Lukiiko (County Council), disobedience or insubordination which were referred to the Saza Lukiiko or district officer, as the case required. The chiefs would be reprimanded, fined or dismissed.

The lesson to be learned is that effective administration requires monitoring and enforcement of sanctions in the event of laxity, insubordination or other form of indiscipline.

(g) Mutekanga, the Entrepreneur

(i) Farmer

It has been observed that even before he became a Mutala headman, Gombolola (sub-county) chief and Katiikiro, Mutekanga was a trader. Nevertheless even after he became an administrator he continued to carry on large scale farming involving food crops such as millet, potatoes, maize and banana plantains (matooke). Such enterprise led to his being given another Mutala at Nakakabala(South Bugabula) by the Busoga Lukiiko on which he grew cotton as a cash crop and employed foreign labour mainly from Kenya and Bukedi district.

In 1927 he acquired Naminage estate near Kamuli from the Indian proprietor, Nanji Kalidas Mehta. This was aimed at expanding his farming activities and also preparing for retirement.

Mutekanga’s wives and children participated in the farming activities including looking after goats and harvesting crops.

(ii) Estate Developer

Mutekanga constructed a number of buildings at Balawoli, Kidera, Naminage and Kamuli, which he let out to Asians to be used as shops. He also brought land from Prince Badru Kakungulu in Kibuli which was subsequently developed by one of his sons and a grandson.

(iii) Transporter

Mutekanga owned a fleet of lorries and a car with which he carried on transportation business. This was adversely affected by the Second World War when the vehicles were commandeered by the Government for the war effort.

Mutekanga also owned canoes used for fishing and ferrying people across the River Nile to and from the Buganda shore.

The lesson to be drawn from Mutekanga’s entrepreneurial initiatives is that individuals, including public servants can diversify their sources of income. This is currently relevant to the challenges caused by the inflationary spiral which has affected the cost of living in Uganda.

SOURCE: Bakibinga,D.J. Daudi Kintu Mutekanga:Administrator & Entrepreneur (Kampala: Professional Books Publishers & Consultants, 2007)