The Story of Kato Kimera and the Rise of Buganda
Prince Kato Kimera was the young twin brother to Isingoma Mpuga Rukidi the first Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom after the fall of the Abakitara bachwezi dynasty.
As soon as Omukama Rukidi Mpuuga was ascended to the throne he divided Kitara Empire amongst his brothers and his followers. To Nyarwa, his eldest brother he sent him to govern Kaarokarungi(Ankole) , to Muhwahwa (Buganda) he gave to Kato Kimera and Busonga to Kiiza his youngest brother.
After a short while Kato asked for permission to go hunting as well as to see what his saza of Muhwahwa looked like. Rukidi allowed him but suspecting that Kato might decide to settle in there and not come back to Bugangaizi as he already shown signs of rebellion and independence, Rukidi ordered many old men faithful and trustworthy to accompany him, they included Katumba (of Muhinda clan) Kahira (of Bafumambogo clan) Balitemu, Mpinga, Mazige, Gunju, Kaswija and many others.
Rukidi companied him up to a hill called Kiburara where he bade him farewell at departure he asked him to make a mukago (brotherhood pack) that he will be returning to visit the capital/palace, they put a mark on a stone at the point of departure.
Prince Kato proceeded to Muhwahwa for good and never returned, The marks which they made on the stone at the spot where they said good bye to each other are still visible to date and also there is a shrine at Karuziika Palace Hoima called Kyakato which symbolizes the house of Prince Kato Kimera who went to Muhwahwa and rebelled while there.
Prince Kato arrived at the house of a man called Ssebwana, who had hereditary culminated himself into the saza chief of Muhwahwa at the time following the earlier royal appointments of Omukama Wamara of Bunyoro, At the time of the arrival Ssebwana was not at home but his wives were, These ladies struck by the Kato’s good looks and Majestic appearance fell in love with him at first sight. So they decided to conspire with the servants to murder Ssebwana and marry Kato.
When their plan was executed and Ssebwana safely dead, Kato declared himself the King of Muhwahwa County and made it a Kingdom and performed all the necessary ceremonies, following what had happened at Rukidi’s coronation. He sent a message to his twin brother, Omukama Rukidi, saying, “I have germinated like a sap tree does (Mezire nk’omutoma), and my name will henceforth be Kimera,”. Rukidi ignored Kato’s rebellion and did not lift a finger to reduce him once more to obedience
Now a King, Kato Kimera went on a campaign of conquest and expansion of territory, and is most remembered for the conquest of Kyaggwe County current Mukono district.
Originally Buganda was called Muhwahwa County but it came to be called Buganda after the name of the saza chief appointed to govern it by Omukama Wamara. This chief was called Kaganda Rusirri Ntege Koyo. Bakitara people used to despise the people of Muhwahwa and used to describe them jocosely as “Kaganda’s little men, Obuganda” This nickname slowly took root and the name Muhwahwa disappeared.