Archaeology of Buganda

Between 2000 and 2003 research was undertaken examining the archaeology of Buganda. This work was undertaken with the Department of Antiquities and Museums, Kampala, and involved students from UCL, other British universities and Kyambogo and Makerere Universities in Kampala. The archaeology of this historically well researched African kingdom was virtually unknown and related principally to capital sites and shrines. To avoid being biased by historically defined sites and habitation, small surveys were conducted at nine survey locations, stretching from the north western shores of Lake Victoria (known locally as Nalubaale) into the interior and along the River Nile.

Fig. 1 Survey was undertaken by field walking

Survey was undertaken by field walking where possible (Fig 1). However, not infrequently the vegetation was dense forest and made survey impossible. Sites were also located by asking informants if they knew of potential locations.

Fig. 2 Pottery scatters, iron slag and even rock engravings

Sites consisted of diverse elements including pottery scatters, iron slag and even rock engravings (Fig 2). The latter were frequently found on exposed rock surfaces. They feature mancala boards (known as emyeso) and also grooves, deep cups and other features. Some rock surfaces feature over 20 emyeso, but as yet there is no indication of why so many boards would have been made in one place. Did they attract large numbers of people coming to play all at the same time – like a sports stadium?

Over 320 sites were recorded around the 9 survey centres chosen. Whilst these by no means represent the full total of sites in the region, they do allow us to highlight elements of particular interest for the history of Buganda that was not previously realised. The most important result of the research has been to reveal the existence of communities trading across the northern shores of the lake around AD 1000, that is several hundred years before the emergence of the Buganda kingdom itself. Another unexpected discovery is considerable evidence for iron working industries, particularly relating to the 19th century. More information is provided in the links below:

Lake Victoria before Buganda

Iron production in Buganda

Fig. 3 Rosette Mulinde and students from Luka Primary Schoo

An important element of our research has been to engage in dissemination of the research results. In particular, in the later years of the project, this has involved, setting up exhibitions of the research results in schools and trading centres near to our research base. This exhibition, using a dual English/Luganda text, and with both English and Luganda speaking guides, has proved particularly popular with schools (Fig 3). In rural areas, with few if any educational resources, this raising of historical and archaeological awareness has proved exceptionally significant, and in several cases students were sufficiently inspired that they reported other locations where similar material existed which were duly visited and confirmed as archaeological sites.

Our research would have been largely impossible but for the efforts of Peter Ssebina Bisasso, who sadly died in 2005 (Fig 4). He made a huge contribution to the success of the project and will be greatly missed by all of his friends and colleagues.

Fig. 4 The late Peter Ssebina Bisasso looking for more sites in Ssi-Bukunja

This page last modified 5 May, 2009 by Institute Webmaster