Ffumbe Clan

A stone pedestal supporting two animal sculptures representing the Ffumbe clan totem along a tree-lined road
Sculpture representing the Ffumbe clan totem along the Royal Mile in Mengo, Kampala

The Ffumbe clan, headed by Omutaka Walusimbi, was one of the native (Nnansangwa) clans in Buganda or Central Uganda. The members of the Ffumbe clan are called Ab'effumbe (Singular: Ow'effumbe). The members of this clan are Baganda people and speak Luganda language.

Titles

Walusimbi is the title of the head of the Ffumbe clan. Omutaka is a general title for each head of a clan.

Clan totems

The primary totem, Omuziro, is the African civet. The secondary totem, akabbiro, is a frog (Kikere). A member of the Ffumbe clan is forbidden from eating or injuring the African Civet cat.

Structure

The Kabaka (Ssaabataka)

The Kabaka of Buganda is the head of the clan structure and the heads of the clans, the Bataka (plural form of Omutaka)) are under him.

Clan Head (Ow'Akasolya)

The head of the Kasolya (roof) is Omutaka Walusimbi.

Clan Seat (Obutaka)

The location of the clan seat (Obutaka) is in Bakka, Busiro, Wakiso District, Uganda.

Clan motto (Omubala)

The clan's motto (omubala) or slogan (emibala) is:

  1. Galinnya e Bakka.
  2. E Bakka basengejja (mbu ebirungi tebiggwa Bakka)
  3. Kasolo ki? Ffumbe
  4. Ka muti gumu
  5. Kakozaakoza alikoza mu lw'effumbe
  6. Taatuuke Bumpi

Duties and Responsibility at Palace

The members of the Ffumbe clan were the Kabaka's medicine men.[citation needed]

Clan Names (Mannya g'ekika)

The surnames or lastnames of people belonging to this clan vary depending on one's biological gender (Male or Female). Some of the names are common to all members of the clan but some are more commonly used in specific units (Essiga) of the clan. In fact, some of the names that a particular Ssiga uses may have come from a different clan, for instance due to Okubbula (i.e naming someone after a favorite or a deceased person who was dear to them).

Boys' Names

Some boys' names belonging to this clan are:

  1. Bakka
  2. Balimwezo
  3. Ggolola
  4. Kafumbe
  5. Kajoba
  6. Kalema
  7. Kasolo
  8. Kaweesa
  9. Kigozi
  10. Kimuli
  11. Kisitu
  12. Kiwendo
  13. Lukomwa
  14. Lubwama
  15. Luzinda
  16. Mabikke
  17. Magunda
  18. Mayambala
  19. Mpanga
  20. Musaazi
  21. Nagaya
  22. Nsobya
  23. Ntege
  24. Nvule
  25. Senkaba
  26. Sennoga
  27. Ssebaggala
  28. Ssebirumbi
  29. Ssekadde
  30. Ssempala
  31. Ssengendo (or Sseŋŋendo)
  32. Ssentumbwe
  33. Ssewakuka
  34. Walusimbi

Girls' Names

Some girls' names belonging to this clan are:

  1. Nabaggala
  2. Nabakka
  3. Nabumba
  4. Nabwami
  5. Nakafumbe
  6. Nakasi
  7. Nakaweesa
  8. Nakawungu
  9. Nakigozi
  10. Nakimuli
  11. Nakindi
  12. Nakku
  13. Nalubwama
  14. Nalumansi
  15. Namammonde
  16. Nampala
  17. Namusaazi
  18. Nandugga
  19. Nangendo (or Naŋŋendo)
  20. Nannozzi
  21. Nantaba
  22. Nanteza
  23. Nnaabalamba
  24. Nnakanyike
  25. Nnanvule
  26. Zaawedde

Famous members of the clan

  1. Former Katikkiro, Engineer John Baptist Walusimbi was a member of the Ffumbe clan.
  2. Former Uganda Attorney General, the Late Professor Kiddu Makubuya.
  3. Former Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, the Late Professor Livingstone Luboobi.
  4. Former Prime minister, Uganda, the Late Apolo Nsibambi

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Buganda Clans". Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "ffumbe clan". Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Kiingi, K (2009). Enkuluze ya Oluganda eya e Makerere [Makerere Luganda Dictionary] (in Ganda) (2nd ed.). Kampala: Fountain Publishers. p. 92. ISBN 978-9970-02-613-5.
  4. ↑ Roscoe, John (2022). The Baganda: an account of their native customs and beliefs. Legare Street Press. ISBN 9781015918757.
  5. ↑ Chesswas, J.D. (2014). The Essentials of Luganda (4th ed.). Nairobi: Oxford University Press. p. 14.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Nsimbi, M.B. (April 1980). "Luganda Names, Clans, and Totems". Munger Africana Library Notes (52–53). California Institute of Technology.
  7. ↑ Kiingi, K.B. (2009). Enkuluze ya Oluganda eya e Makerere [Makerere Luganda Dictionary] (in Ganda) (2nd ed.). Kampala: Fountain Publishers. pp. 93–102. ISBN 978-9970-02-613-5.
  8. 1 2 "Ffumbe clan names". Retrieved 26 July 2025.