Isebantu Kyabazinga or Kyabazinga of Busoga is the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. Isebantu means "father of the people." This name was a symbol of unity derived from the expression and recognition by the people of Busoga that their leader was the "father of all people who brings all of them together", and who also serves as their cultural leader. The current Kyabazinga of Busoga is William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV, born on 1st November 1988 and was coronated on 13 September 2014. The queen consort to the Kyabazinga is known as Inhebantu.
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Origins
Before Europeans came to Busoga, the Basoga organized themselves into 11 hereditary chiefdoms; with five of the leaders tracing their ancestry directly from Bunyoro, and the other six tracing their origins from Buganda. There was no king, although the chiefs often met and discussed issues of common interest. When they met, the chiefs would select a chairperson from among themselves to chair the session. They often met in Bukaleeba in Bunya (modern-day Mayuge District). In 1894, the Colonial administrator, one William Grant, picked and formed a native chief’s council under his chairmanship. Later, Semei Kakungulu, a Muganda, was brought in to make the chief's council conform to colonial rule. In 1905, with his efforts frustrated by internal bickering, he was dismissed. The 11 chiefs were asked to select from among themselves someone to represent their interests at the seat of the colonial government which was based in Bugembe, in modern-day Jinja District. At first the title of the leader of the group was referred to as "Chairman", which later changed to "President". Then the chiefs coined the title to Kyabazinga in 1939.
The eleven Busoga chiefdoms
As of March 2015, the following is the list of the names of the eleven Busoga Chiefs.
Abolition and restoration
The Kyabazinga of Busoga was abolished in 1967 when Milton Obote, the self-declared President of Uganda at that time, disbanded all traditional institutions within the country. The Kyabazinga was restored with the restoration of traditional institutions in 1993 and Busoga re-coroneted Henry Wako Muloki on 11 February 1995."
Election
The Kyabazingaship in Busoga is an elected post. The Kyabazinga was initially chosen from among the five hereditary chiefs who trace their ancestry directly from Bunyoro-Kitara. Busoga's constitution has been modified to allow all 11 hereditary chiefs to stand for election as Kyabazinga. The post of Kyabazinga is not a lifetime appointment. Each Kyabazinga is elected to serve a specified term and may be recalled anytime if the chiefs who elected him are unhappy with the way he might be conducting business. The criteria of selecting or appointing the Kyabazinga of Busoga Basing on the recent appointment of the current Kyabazinga to the position of ambassador special duties in the president's office, a position under public service, there is a need for the busoga royal council and basoga at lager to call for ammendments in the constitution especially on this clause. The criteria that should be looked at before appointing any person to the seat of isebantu may include but not limited to the following; -education back ground a minimum of a degree -The person must be financially sound to avert situations of taking up presidential appotintments to earn a living -Must have reached retirement age from civil service and donot participate in elective polits.