THE MIGHTY BANYARUGURU
It is derived from Buganda’s history and finds out that this was after two Baganda kings had fought against each other and one died in the field. According to the way the Bunyaruguru tell the story, it was the year 1797 and Kabaka (King) Junju Sendegeya, the 27th Kabaka of Buganda was reigning, with his capital at Magonga. His younger brother, Prince Semakookiro Wasajja Nabb
unga, rose up in arms against him. Ssemakookiro then sent a contingent of soldiers to capture Junju. His final instruction to the regiment was: “Temumulekaayo!” meaning “Do not leave him behind!” Of course Junju dispatched a regiment of his own to repulse the aggressors. He personally participated in the battle, as was common in those days for kings to do. Ssemakookiro’s men then proceeded to Bamunaanika to report that they had killed Junju. Ssemakookiro was angered. He had instructed them to capture his brother, not to murder him! He was so upset that he ordered those who participated in the battle together with their descendants and extended families, to leave Buganda or he would make them face the same fate as they had subjected to his brother. The outcasts fled west to present day Kitagwenda in Kamwenge District, in the Kingdom of Toro. Those who still had the strength to climb the hills and mountains of Northern Ankole went on into present-day Rubirizi District, in what is commonly known as Bunyaruguru. Other sources give versions which slightly differ in details, but the flight of the Banyaruguru and the Batagwenda is a historical fact, that occurred slightly over 200 years ago. The Banyaruguru, especially the older folks, speak fluent Luganda in addition to Runyankole and other languages. Their dialect of Runyankole is similar to the dialect of Rutooro called Rutagwenda. They maintain their allegiance to the Baganda clans from which they descended, those who fled came from 12 Baganda clans.
