All genets found in Uganda are totemic (Servaline genet-Genatta servalina, Common genet-Genetta genetta, Blotched genet-Genetta tigrina, Miombo genet-Genetta angolensis, and West African linsang-Poiana leightoni)

Totem Akasimba Akabbiro Engo English Genet Scientific Servaline genet-Genatta servalina Runyankole Orunyamatono Runyoro Akasimba Lwo (Acholi) Anyara Cwiny Ateso and Karamojong Emiris Alisibat Kiswahili Kanu Clan Leader Kabazzi Estates Kawumba - Kyango Ssaza Mawokota Omubala Clan motto (I) Kiiso bwe kikulaba bulungi naawe okiraba. (II) Kababembe.

A man once sent her daughter in the field to herd his goats. While the goats grazed in the savannah, a leopard pounced on one and killed it. This prompted the young girl to scream for help. The leopard attacked and killed her too. When the father came and saw the leopard’s grizzly act, he took offence and swore never to be associated with the leopard he called family. He switched his totem from a leopard to his secondary one, a genet and announced that from now on, all my descendants will belong to the genet. His name was Kibyami. The Kasimba clansmen indeed do not eat meat that is killed by a leopard.
It is believed that Kibyami came to Buganda with Kintu. When Kintu left the Nnono palace for Buvvi to establish another palace, Kibyami went along with him. He was so loyal and faithful to him, so the Kabaka gave him a task of tax collection in Ssese in form of goats and fish. He did the job but also made a fortune for himself becoming a very wealthy man.

The clan seat of the Kasimba was moved from Buvvi to Zzinga in a place called Kyango, Mawokota. The clan head is known as Kabazzi. Kabazzi formerly known as Nakiiso of Zzinga is the man who made a canoe that took Kabaka Nakibinge at Wannema’s in Ssese when he was seeking a military advisor to help him fight the Banyoro that were threatening his throne through his brother Prince Juma. Buyondo was Nakiiso’s son who was a blacksmith and the one who made a spear that Kabaka Nakibinge admired and asked to have it from him. As he fought with the Banyoro using the same spear, he fell in a hunter’s ditch and died. His body was not found so his son Prince Mulondo ascended the throne at such a young age.

It is at this time that the high throne Namulondo was made to elevate the young king. One day a hunter in the bush saw a spear in a ditch with human bones. For the love of his hunting, he descended and picked the spear. On one occasion when performers were dancing Amaggunju, the man with the spear joined came to spectate. The spear was identified by someone and he was arrested on charges of assassination. He narrated on how he found the spear and led them to the ditch. They picked the denture for examination and those who knew him affirmed but others refused. The son of Nakiiso, Buyondo (The very spear-maker) was called upon to identify it among a big collection of them and when he picked the very one, the prisoner was set free and the remains were confirmed that they were of the late King Nakibinge.
Walukagga of the Kasimba clan has a special duty at the palace to head the king’s blacksmiths.

Popular names for men:
Buyondo, Mazinga, Kiyemba, Mazzi, Bakulumpagi, Mbaziira, Nampuuma, Mpingu, Jeero, Kisirinnya, Sseruwo, Kiziri

Popular names for women:
Nakimwero, Naluwooza, Nandagire, Nakayemba, Nakiyemba, Namazzi, Kirungimazzi, Nababazzi, Naluwo

About the animal
Genets are generally spotted, blotched arboreal creatures and are closely related to cats because their claws retract. Genets are generally small weighing from 500g to 3.1 kg. They feed on rodents, hyraxes, birds, insects and sometimes fruits.