Clans & Totems

These are the clans of the people of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and their respective totems as part of the cultural establishment of the Banyoro people

The following clans have the bush-buck (Ngabi) as their totem

1. Babiito (Royal Clan)

12. Abahemba

2. Bachaki

13. Abaziraija

3. Abahyakwa

14. Abagorongwa

4. Abalyebeki

15. Abapasisa

5. Abanywagi

16. Abagaya

6. Ababworo

17. Abatabi

7. Abakwonga

18. Abahemba

8. Abadwalo

19. Abatwairwa

9. Abajagara

20. Abapina

10. Abagomba

21. Abasengya

11. Abamwolo

22. Abatembe

The following clans have two totems. In addition to avoiding the bush buck totem, they also avoid Malegyo (rain water from the roof of a house).

Bachaki

Abangamwoyo

Abacwera

Abacwa

Abasiita

Abagweri

Abasengya

Abagumba

Abalisa

Ababombora

Abagimu

Abandikasa

Abalega

Abahangwe

Abaligira

Abategwa

Ababworo

The following clans have their totems (Omuziro) dealing or related to the Cow.

Clan

Totem

Abanyakwa

Ngobe, cow with short straight horns.

Abasita

Busito, pregnant cow

Ente Emira, cow which has drunk salt water.

Ababyasi

Busito, pregnant cow or its milk

Abacwezi

Busito, pregnant cow

Ente Emira, cow which has drunk salt water.

Ababemba

Busito, pregnant cow

Abasaigi

Nkira, tail-less cow.

Abasingo

Mulara, black cow with white strips down face and back.

Abasingo

Ntimba, brown and black cow.

Abangoro

Mulara, (they split from Abasingo because their companion had killed a man and they feared the consequences).

Abami

Mpuga, spotted cow.

Abagimu

Mpuga, spotted cow.

Abayanja

Kitale, white cow.

Abakwakwa

Ngobe, cow with short straight horns.

Abatwa

Milch cow.

Abanyonza

Ntimba, brown and black cow.

Abaranzi

Ntimba, brown and black cow.

Abalisa

Ntimba, brown and black cow.

Abagahe

Ntimba, brown and black cow.

Abafunjo

Ngobe, cow with short straight horns.

Abalebeki

Ngobe, red and white cow.

Abagimu

Ngobe, red and white cow.

Abaligira

Ntimba, brown and black cow.

Ababworo

Ngobe, brown and white cow.

The following is a list of various clans and their avoidance objects (Omuziro).

Clan

Totem

Ababworo

Omutima, heart of animal

Abanyama

Omutima, heart of animal

Abasita

Muka, dew on grass.

Abaosara

Butweke, woman who enters a kraal, solicits the owner’s son and bears a child to him.

She must never enter the kraal of the clan again and have any member converse with her.

Butweke also means a girl who is pregnant.

Abagabu

Ntuha, Crested Crane.

Abagabu

Kawaisomba, geret cat.

Abasaigi

Njobe, a certain animal.

Abasengya

Orulimi, tongue of animals.

Abaregeya

Nkobe, monkey.

Abaregeya

Musokiso, bird – these separated from the Abasengya.

Abakaikya

Kagoma, the large eagle – bird that carries away small goals and like animals, and birds.

Abasonde

Rubeibere, Cock.

Abanyonza

Nyonza, bird.

Abaraha

Akanyamasole, wagtail.

Abaraha

Akatenge – tedge.

Abayaga

Kanyamunkonge, bird.

Ababiiro

Ndahi, guinea -fowl.

Abanana

Ndahi, guinea -fowl.

Abahenga

Kagondo, small black water bird.

Abanyampaka

Kagondo, small black water bird.

Abaiegeya

Ndegeya, bird.

Ahengo

Leopard skin, these separated from Abasingo due to a quarrel over a skin. The skin which caused the havoc became their new totem.

Abasaizina

Mhogo, buffalo.

Abafumambogo

Mbogo, buffalo.

Abafunjo

Munyerere.

Abairuntu

Njojo, elephant

Abanyama

Isereke, woman who is a stranger and is nursing a female child.

Abakimbi

Isereke.

Abayangwe

Nkende, grey monkey.

Abayangwe

Nkobe, large monkey.

Abahinda

Nkende.

Abagweju

A house burned down.

The place is avoided and no vessels from such a house should be used by the member of the clan.

Abatongo

Amara, the stomach of animals.

Abafumambogo

Nsenene, grasshopper.

Abasonga

Nsenene, grasshopper.

Abahango

Nsenene, grasshopper.

Abayaga

Nsenene, grasshopper.

Abayaga

Oburo, millet

Abayaga

Guswera, a fly.

Abasambo

Obutweke, pregnant girl.

Abasambo

Nkuuku, kind of peas.

Abasuli

Mbuzi, goat.

Abakame(i)

Aki wakame, Hare.

Abasogo

Akaibo Kateirwe ha mutwe(basket put on the head).

Abagombi

Akaibo Kateirwe ha mutwe(basket put on the head).

Abagombi

Biwetu, sugar cane.

Abachubo

Guchu. kind of fish.

Abagere

Njoza, an antelope.

Ababopi

Ekigongoro, centipede.

Abazazi

Guchu, kind of fish.

Abaisanja

Epo, kind of Antelope.

Abaduka

The old skin of a drum

Abaho

Kalogi, fungus growing on trees.

Abasihiri

Ebihunna-Mayuni, Yams.

Abahembo

Kaibo Masa, empty basket.

Abahamba

Ensonga, a certain plant.

Abakorwa

totem not known.

Abaseke

Akacunzi, Red Finch

Abagonza

totem not known.

Ababaki

totem not known.

Abasindika

totem not known.

Abaginga

totem not known.