The History of Uganda before it became a British protectorate is one of a assembly of various but similar tribes.
Early activity within the region of Uganda has been traced back to the Archeulean age ( 1.7- 0.1 Million years ago ). Stones and other artifacts used by inhabitants in the area recovered from Lake Victoria is dated back to a period around a hundred thousand years ago, marking the occupants of the region some of the oldest in the history of human kind.
The location of Uganda itself, filled with water sources, made it very desirable for settlers. Indeed the Baganda meaning “Bundles” people, derived from the Bantu, signifying “human beings'” tribe, is one of the main aboriginal peoples that settled in the region.
The Bangandas originally came from the central and western areas of the continent. These residents were at the origin of a new era such as ironworking skills and social/political constructs. Their belief in a constitutional system prompted governments which in turn gave birth to structures such as kingdoms and empires. The Buganda and Bunyoro-Kitara are two of earliest ethnic groups originating from the Bantu people employing such organization.
The Empire of Kitara; the mother of all kingship in the Great lakes region and modern day Uganda, left and indelible mark on the district with a powerful oral tradition expanding over the territory. Their oral tradition; one of a ruling clan that was later on recorded by some Banyoro natives, served as a sample to upcoming dynasties such as the Batembuzi and Bachwezi.
Following the establishment of these settlers; The Bantu, Banganda and the Kitara Empire, a cluster of ethnic groups known as the Nilotic people rooted themselves in Northern section of the area as farmers. They include the Luo, Ateker, Lango people amongst many others. These folks were known to have flourished with many cattles and were the basis of the agricultural life in the region. Both Luo and Bantu united to form the mighty Babiito dynasty, with Bunyoro-Kitara as ruler.
The Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom solely expanded their influence unto the Eastern and even Western shores of the territory, up to the early sixteenth-century. They possessed the highest quality of metallurgy in their surroundings which reinforced their economic and political prowess. At it’s height, the empire controlled the entire region of the Great Lakes is regarded and of the most powerful empires in East Africa from the thirteenth to nineteenth century.
The Baganda people is currently one of the largest traditional kingdoms, most powerful ethnic group in current Uganda, representing twenty percent of it’s population or approximately twenty-eight million people, spreading their tongue “Luganda” an their customs “Kiganda” all over the country including Kampala which holds their political and commercial capital.
Interestingly, the name Uganda meaning ” The Land of the Ganda” originated from Arab and Swahili traders that ventured to East Africa as they refer to the Kingdom of Buganda. Today uganda is made up of over 40 different ethnic groups.
Recently, the use of DNA testing conducted on ancient Egyptian mummies have linked Egyptian pharaohs to the people of the Great Lakes area. In late 2012, DNA tests on the mummy of the Pharaoh Ramses III and his son showed their chromosome group E1b1a was associated with Niger-Congo speaking Africans.
Many siblings of Royalty in Ancient Egypt became ascendents of their throne. Moreover, many of the Egyptian customs transferred over to the Bugandan Kingdom.
Although there are still multiple debates being held on the precise time and manner in which a the Luo tribe established themselves, the Ancient history of Uganda is one that is fairly uniform throughout my personal research. Their values and traditions are deeply rooted, bringing together a beautiful, culturally diverse, loving people we now know as Ugandans.
Sources:
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Ancient-Egyptian-Pharaohs-related-to-Ugandans—DNA/-/691232/2419938/-/cjldv9/-/index.html
http://www.buganda.com/bugintro.htm
http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Uganda.html