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His background.
1. Kabalega was born in 1850 to Omukama Kamurasi and Kanyange Nyamutahungura, in present day Toro.
2. He was a direct descendant of the Luo who invaded Bunyoro from around 1650. AD
3. He was an illegitimate son having been born outside the traditional Bun. Culture
4. He spent his early life with his maternal uncles at Bulega across Lake Albert.
5. When he was brought back at his father’s court he was referred to as "Akaana ka Bulega"
6. The above was later shortened to Kabalega.
7. Following the death of IUs father in 1870 he was involved in power struggle with his brother Kabigumire over the throne.
8. Because he had distinguished himself as a courageous fighter and because of his social character, he had the support of his father's army and that of majority commoners.
9. With the help of the Arabs. his father's body guards and Langi mercenaries ascended to powerI throne
10. He imrnediately killed Kabigurnire and exiled members of the royal famine:: and other opponent chiefs.
11. As a king he started by strengthening the week army left by Kamurasi using recruits from Achoili and Langi
12. He appointed R wabudongo as his army commander, he divided it into regiments of 1,500 men each, and he used it to defeat Buganda and to resist the British. ,
13. He is credited for having created unity in Bunyoro.
14. He destroyed the 3 social classes and he married from all the 3 classes encouraged the rest of Bunyoro to do the same in order to destroy disunity.
15. In 1876 he re-captured Toro which had ceded from Bunyoro in 183 tried to revive the strength and fame of former Bunyoro Kitara Empire.
16. Between 1875 - 1885 he conquered several counties of Buganda and i.e.Mubende.
17. He crossed Nile Busoga where he collected taxes and tributes fromchiefs.
chiefs by 1885
18. He managed to defeat the Egyptian forces led by Sir Samuel Baker at Masindi.
19. His expansionism created as many enemies as admirers. He conflicted with Buganda, Toro, Ankole, but none of the above defeated him.
20. He participated in long distance trade with the coastal Arabs and Swahili as well as Khortoumers from whom he attained modem rifles.
21. In the first invasion of 1891 he defeated his enemies i.e. Buganda, Toro, Ankole, and Egyptians under Samuel Baker.
22. In 1894 colonel Colville invaded him with 8 British officers, 400 Sudanese, 15,000 Baganda in the second invasion.
23. He abandoned Emparo his capital and resorted to guerrilla warfare against the British.
24. In 1898 he was finally deposed and a council of regents was set up to assist the new Omukama his son Yosia Kitahimbwa.
25. He retreated to Budongo forest and re-organized his army.
26. In 1898hefoughtanddefeatedtheBritisb-GandaarmyinMasindibut later he was defeated by Semei Kakungulu and retreated to Budongo forest forcing him back to Lango
27. While in Lango he was joined by Mwanga who was also fighting the British, however it was too late for them, they were captured by Kakungulu in 1899 and they were exiled to Seychelles islands.
28. In 1923 he was allowed to return as a citizen but died on the way back at Jinja Mpumudde.
29. He was buried at Mparo his capital present day Hoima.
30. He is remembered in Bunyoro/Uganda as a hero who died with Bunyoro's fighting spirit
31. However, his resistance retarded the development of social services in Bunyoro.
32. His resistance also affected economic infrastructures.
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