Mpigi RDC Ssempala Amos Kigozi saves Muwanga Forest cultural site, one of the major tourist sites from land grabbers

The Resident District Commmisioner (RDC) Mpigi district Ssempala Amos Kigozi has warned all land grabbers to stay away from the Mpigi district after an attempt to encroach on one of the promising tourist sites in Mpigi district. #WhisperEyeNews

Last month a group of land dealers attempted to destroy the site after forging a land agreement dated back in 1982 using a nephew of the Kiyimba Ssebwalunnyo’s family lineage Nakayizza Teopista.

The forged agreement bears two signatures the one who drafted it by the names of J.L.S Kawoowa (deceased), and the said owner of the said land Ms Nalumansi Kasifa (deceased).

The family members of the late Kawooya who is said to have drafted the said agreement protested the handwriting saying it’s different from the one of the late Kawooya.

Ssebwalunnyo’s family members also dispute the handwriting of Nalumansi Kasifa saying the one used on the forged agreement is far different from Nalumansi’s hand writing.

Ms Nalumansi Kasifa whom they claim to have transferred the Kibanja to Ms Nakayizza Teopista was not the owner of the said Kibanja. Nalumansi was just a sister to Kalooli Kisitu who was the real owner of the said land which is the seat for the family lineage of Kiyimba Ssebwalunnyo at Kaligwa-Mpambire Mawokota (Omutuba) of Civet Cat clan (Ffumbe) for so many decades ago. The family members are the registered owners with it’s land titles.

Nalumansi died in 2004, before the real owner Kalooli Kisitu who died in 2013. The last funeral rites ceremony took place in 2016 on the same land uninterrupted by anybody, even the one making allegations that was given that land attended.

The land comprises of three tourist features; Muwanga’s Forest, Nansubuga’s Forest and Kayanja’s house.

About Muwanga

Muwanga is one of Buganda’s gods who is responsible for healing and certifying all traditional healers in Buganda and controlling all spirits. It’s believed that when Muwanga got into misunderstandings with Kabaka Kintu’s royal guards (Abambowa) due to his interpretation of dreams and was a fortune teller. He became Kabaka Kintu’s prophet and he loved him so much which annoyed his guards.

After a period of time the royal guards alleged that Muwanga wanted to take over the thrown thus convincing Kabaka Kintu, who ordered his guards to kill Muwanga.

Since Muwanga had supernatural powers, the guards tried to implement Kabaka Kintu’s order but they failed.

Muwanga decided to vacate the palace and travelled to Mawokota at a village called Nseke. Rumors circulated that Muwaga was living at Nseke, thus Kabaka Kintu ordered his guards to hunt down Muwanga at Nseke. The royal guards reached at Nseke and saw Muwanga, however when they moved close to kill him (Muwanga) he turned into sedge grass (grass straw) “Enseke” which is used to make local straws used to drink local beer. The whole place was covered by grown grass straw thus attaining it’s name Nseke village.

Muwanga disappeared from Kabaka Kintu’s royal guards. After so many years the people of Nseke misbehaved which annoyed Muwanga to leave Nseke and settle at Kaligwa – Mpambire update.

When he reached Kaligwa he warned the people of Nseke about the tough times ahead of them, recorded saying every time that, “they will see what will happen at Nseke” (akaligwa e Nseke bali kalaba) due to thier misbehavior. Thus naming the place Kaligwa which is Kaligwa village update.

The family lineage of Kiyimba Ssebwalunnyo at Kaligwa-Mpambire gave Muwanga land to build his site.

About Kayanja
The land has also Kayanja’s shrine, Kayanja was a spirit which the people of Kaligwa and near by areas prayed to have rainfall. Whenever they were experiencing a serious drought they could go to Kayanja and pray to have rainfall. Whenever they could receive hail storm they could pray to Kayanja to have moderate rainfall.

It was the responsibility of the whole village to make sure that Kayanja’s shrine is a good condition to have desired rainfall.

To the believers, the recent hail storm in the area is attributed to the bad status of this shrine. And this shrine is on the land that land grabbers forged an agreement with an intention to sell it.