Buganda is located in the southern central region of Uganda,at the source of the great river Nile , along the equator right in the heart of Africa.

The people of Buganda are referred to as Baganda (the singular form is Muganda), their language is referred to as Luganda and they refer to their customs as Kiganda customs. Sometimes the generic term Ganda is used for all the above (especially by foreign scholars).

Buganda is home to the nation's political and commercial capital, Kampala; as well as the country's main international airport, Entebbe.

'Uganda' (a Kiswahili word for 'Land of the Ganda') was the name used by the Arab and Swahili traders on the East African coast to refer to the Kingdom of Buganda. These traders first arrived in Buganda in the mid-nineteenth century in search of slaves, ivory, as well as other merchandise. When the European colonialists eventually extended their hegemony over Buganda and the surrounding territories at the end of the nineteenth century, they used the Kiswahili term Uganda to refer to the new colony.

Today, Uganda is made up of almost 40 different ethnic groups with 5.5 million, Baganda being the largest group constituting almost 20% of the total population of 28 million. On his visit to the country, the late Winston Churchill was so captivated by its beauty that he called it the "Pearl of Africa."

Buganda, like her neighbours, had a proud history extending back centuries before the arrival of the Arabs and Europeans. The ruling dynasty of kings was established in the mid-14th century AD. Unfortunately, the lack of a written history prior to the arrival of the Arabs and Europeans makes it difficult to establish important dates with precision. The first acknowledged king in this dynasty was called Kato Kintu. Since Kintu's reign, there have been 36 kings including to the current King, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.

The Kingdom’s history of over 700 years, has had the Kabaka, as the supreme ruler and the Lukiiko as its Parliament. Buganda Kingdom is the oldest Kingdom in the country. Other kingdoms include Bunyoro, Busoga, and Tooro.

Custom and traditions are central in the lives of the Baganda. They are socially organised under 54 patriarchal clans and trace their biological descent through the father’s line. Each clan has a totem, and it is forbidden to eat one’s associated totem. Marriage between people of the same clan is a taboo and is prohibited. The Kabaka is the only exception. He takes on his mother’s clan.

This “inclusiveness” has helped the 54 clans to stick together and to unify behind the King, who is the head of the political hierarchy of chiefs as well as of the social pyramid of clan leaders. The Kabaka was a unifying factor of all the people of Buganda until 1966 when monarchy was abolished in Uganda. The Kabaka (Mutesa II) went into exile where he later died in 1969.

The years of political turmoil and civil strife in Uganda, and particularly in the Buganda (1966 – 1986), led to the collapse of the infrastructure, social services and the decay of morals and values. Buganda, like many other areas that had traditional and cultural institutions, lost her Kingdom status as well as her cherished cultural development, guidance and leadership. Traditional values including hard work were seriously affected. This coupled with the brain drain that ensued, crippled the economy causing hunger, poverty, disease, ignorance, crime, and despair among the majority of the society.

Buganda today

The Baganda had no King for over 27 years until 1993 when the current King of Buganda, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II (son of Mutesa II) was restored as a cultural leader without political powers. The lineage of succession has not been broken for over 700 years.

The Kabaka, is held in high esteem and commands great respect and authority among the Baganda (and among all Ugandans). The King uses his authority to mobilize people for development to ensure that the people of Buganda are united and are engaged in hard and productive work to uplift their social and economic well being. The years after the restoration of Kabakaship have had significant impact on the unity and social economic development of Buganda. The long forgotten “Bulungi Bwansi” (self-help spirit) is slowly returning to the people because of the Kabaka’s encouragement.

Today, under the stewardship of Kabaka Mutebi II, the Buganda Development Foundation (BUCADEF) has numerous projects being conducted in different parts of the region. Among them are projects in water and sanitation, food security, construction of feeder roads and micro-finance. The Kabaka Foundation is also building a home and a school for street children.

The Nnabagereka

The restoration of the Kabakaship in 1993 heralded the genesis of a new Buganda. It gave the Baganda a new sense of purpose and a vision towards a common future. The Nnabagereka (Her Royal Highness, the Queen) who is the wife of the Kabaka, is considered the mother of the Kingdom and a symbol of unity for the Baganda.

There is a new and significant role HRH Sylvia Nagginda, as the wife of the Kabaka has to play in the Kingdom. Since there had never been an office of the Nabagereka, its inception in September 1999 was a new and very crucial phenomenon

The Nnabagereka has a mission to lead a meaningful resuscitation of human, family and traditional values and sustained improvement in the social and economic welfare of the people. As a “mother” of the Baganda, the Nnabagereka spearheads the task of encouraging and mobilizing communities to enhance socio-economic developments.

It is her role to sensitize the general population on issues of Girl Child Education, prevention of childhood diseases, sexual reproduction health including HIV/AIDS, poverty eradication, environment protection, cultural preservation and culture for development, care and support for people of disabilities.

Since 1999, the office of the Nnabagereka has played a major role in facilitating the Nnabagereka achieve her mission. HRH Sylvia Nagginda whose profession is Journalism and Public Relations with a background in development work has already brought a wealth of experience to her office.

She plays a major role in sensitizing and mobilizing the general population in Buganda and Uganda on issues of education, health, sanitation, poverty eradication, environment and promotion of culture.

The Nnabagereka, drawing from her position as a traditional and cultural leader of both women and men in Buganda, has continued to encourage and mobilize communities to enhance social and economic development. In this regard she founded the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, a fully registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) whose overall mission is to contribute to the promotion of socio-economic development through support to education and health initiatives, community empowerment and promotion of good cultural values and practices.