Clan's early History

At the founding of the Buganda Kingdom as we know it today, the head of the Njaza clan was called Kayimbye-Obutezi-N'okukwakkuliza. The Njaza 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, Lugave and Nnyonyi Nnyange.

Members of the Njaza clan originally came from Bunyoro and settled at Kiwawu in Busujju. They moved from here and settled in the area of the Mabira forests in Kyaggwe. By the time of Kintu's arrival in Buganda, the Njaza clan was well established in Kyaggwe and that is where all there main settlements are as can be seen from the above list of clan elders. The main clan seat was at Kirugu, from where it moved to Kkonko also in Kyaggwe.

Because of Kyaggwe's proximity to Busoga, members of the Njaza clan were sent on many expeditions into Busoga by the various kings of Buganda. For example, Masanso of Naminya was asked by Kabaka Kyabaggu to settle at Butiki near Jjinja as the Kabaka's representative in Busoga. All people going from Busoga to Buganda, and those sent by the Kabaka from Buganda to Busoga, would first have to report to Masanso. One time when Masanso came to visit the Kabaka's court in Buganda, the Kabaka asked him "Waguma okusigala e Busoga?" (Did you have the courage to stay in Busoga?). Masanso replied in the affirmative "Naguma". From that time, Waguma became Masanso's title. Other members of the Njaza clan also took chieftaincies in Busoga at various times and Busoga became a semi-trubutary of Buganda.

Members of the Njaza clan had the ritual duty of hunting elephants for the king. The Mabira forests in Kyaggwe used to have many elephants. This clan also had the responsibility of trasnporting the Kabaka's tributes from Busoga to Buganda. They also served as customs officers in the Kigungu Market where most of the merchandise from the states to the east of Buganda arrived into Buganda.

Kaggwa Ndikumulaga, who was reponsible for the construction of the Kabaka's Lake at Mmengo was a member of the Njaza clan.