Mutesa I.
Mukaabya Mutesa I. (* around 1837 ; † October 19, 1884 ) was the king ( Kabaka ) of Buganda in what is now Uganda from October 1856 until his death .
He took the throne from Ssuuna II. Under his leadership, Buganda reached the top of his power. At the same time, however, he was the last ruler of Buganda who still had full power in his own empire. During his reign, the influence of European forces in Buganda increased significantly. Among the very first Europeans to visit the empire and have an audience with the Kabaka were John Hanning Speke and James Augustus Grant in 1862. Catholic and Anglican missionaries soon came into the country and shook the established power structures. Mutesa was rather negative about them. One of the reasons, besides the threat to his influence on his own kingdom, was the condemnation of polygamy by the missionaries.
After his death, the palace built by Mutesa on Kasubi Hill in 1882 was rededicated as a burial site for him, which today as Kasubi Tombs houses the graves of four Kabakas and is a World Heritage Site . His son Mwanga II followed him to the throne .
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Ssuuna II. |
Kabaka by Buganda 1856-1884 |
Mwanga II. |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Mutesa I. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Mukaabya Mutesa I. |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Kabaka (King) of Buganda |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1837 |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 19, 1884 |