At the founding of the Buganda Kingdom as we know it today, the head of the Lugave clan was called Mukiibi Ssebuko Ssaalongo. The Lugave clan is one of the five clans that were indigenous to Buganda before the coming of Kintu. Members of those five clans are referred to as the originals (Bannansangwa). The other original clans were the Ffumbe, Ngeye, Njaza and Nnyonyi Nnyange.

According to the oral history of the Baganda, Mukiibi and his followers played a key role in the establishment of the Buganda Kingdom. Prior to Kintu's coming into Buganda, the constituent clans were more or less autonomous although at times the head of a particular clan might succeed is establishing hegemony over the other clans. Immediately prior to Kintu's coming, the Ffumbe clan is said to have had hegemony over the other clans.

However, Buganda had been invaded and conquered by Bemba, who is thought to have come from the Kiziba area to the southwest of Buganda. Bemba proved to be a cruel and ruthless ruler and he was very unpopular among his subjects. Mukiibi, head of the Lugave clan, rebelled against Bemba who in turn sacked Mukiibi's lands and properties, forcing him and his followers to flee into exile in the nearby Ssese Islands.

While in Ssese, Mukiibi heard of Kintu's approaching force which was preparing to do battle with Bemba. Mukiibi quickly allied himself and his followers with the invading force. Kintu in turn was glad to receive allies who would help augment his force. The two are said to have met in Jjinja, Busoga; and traveled together to Mangira in Kyaggwe where the forces that would attack Bemba were marshaled.

When the battle was finally joined, Mukiibi was one of the top commanders of the invading force. Mukiibi's men proved particularly arduous in battle, and two of them Kigave and Nfudu, succeeded in capturing and killing Bemba. They beheaded him, and subsequently informed Kintu of their feat which heralded the success of the invasion. Kintu became King, marking the start of the Buganda Kingdom and the establishment of the royal dynasty that has continued to rule Buganda since then.

Because of his gratitude for the role Mukiibi and his followers had played in his ascent to the throne, Kintu granted Mukiibi the privilege of choosing for himself and his children choice pieces of land anywhere in the Kingdom on which to settle. He also allowed Mukiibi the unusual privilege of planting fig trees (mituba) for his children in the places they chose to settle. (Planting a fig tree is a symbolic recognition of the granting of ownership to the land).

This is one of the reasons that members of the Lugave clan are widely scattered throughout Buganda. Mukiibi himself settled at Kapeeka in Busiro. The crowning mark of Kintu's gratitude was the choice of Kakulukuku, one of Mukiibi's sons to be the very first Prime Minister (Katikkiro) in the Kingdom. This is the highest office to which a non-royal can rise in the Buganda hierarchy.

With the throne secured for Kintu, Mukiibi settled into the routine of ordinary life. He used to be an avid hunter and on one such hunting expedition, he found himself at a place called Ssekiwunga near Katende in Mawokota.

He was enthralled by the natural beauty of the area and he decided to settle there, telling his companions that on his death, this was the place he wanted to be buried. "Wano we ndigwa" (this is where I will finally rest) became a frequent saying of his and he was subsequently nicknamed "Ndigwa" as a result.

The name Ndigwa was later altered in speech to become Ndugwa which is now the official title of the head of the Lugave clan. The main shrine of the Lugave clan has remained at Katende, Mawokota up to this day. The main clan motto recalls this, the final resting place of the clan's founding father. From Mukiibi's time, the office of Ndugwa has been held by the following individuals:

Mukiibi Ssebuko Ssaalongo, Ssemogerere Mulangwa, Sserunjogi, Jjooga, Kavuma, Tebuuseeke, Katamba, Muleera Jjooga, Kavuma Kinenennyumba, Ssemogerere, Mayanja, Kirinya, Ddanze, Sserutenga Natiigo, Tukke, Ssemogerere Kibiina, Kaakika Kyabasinga, Zakaliya Gadanga, Sadiki Kinene, Sawulo Ssembuzi, Luttamaguzi, Kaakikkambegera, Mayanja, Alexander Katamba Mpagi, Aseri Mutanda,Yowana Ssemakula, Alexander Katamba Mudde, Grace Ssemakula Musoke.