Totem Enjovu Akabbiro Nvubu (hippopotamus) English African elephant Scientific Loxodonta Africana Runyankole Enjojo Runyoro Enjojo Runyankole Enjojo Lwo(Acholi) Lyec Ateso and Karamojong Etome Kiswahili Tembo/Ndovu Clan Leader Mukalo Estates Kambugu - Buliji Ssaza Busiro Omubala Clan motto (i)Nsimbye Amasanga. (ii)Nakate ajja.

The Njovu clansmen claim their descent from Sessanga who came with Kintu in Buganda and settled in Ntonnyeze in Busujju. He was Kintu’s herdsman and also took charge of his spears and arrows. It is in Ntonnyeze that he had his son Mukalo who became the first wealthy man in the entire clan and acquired many estates. He became the head of the clan after his father’s death and all the Njovu clansmen claim their descent from him.

During the reign of Kabaka Ccwa I, the king moved Mukalo from Busujju and gave him estates in Kambugu, which became the ancestral estates of the Njovu Clan to date. The head of this clan is called Mukalo.
The Njovu clan has many official duties to perform for the King. The chief herdsman (Ssensalire) of the kabaka comes from this clan. He was initially not the king’s official herdsman but there is a legend about how he got this post that was once held by Mpinga of the Lugave clan who took care of the king’s cows and also carried his milk-pot.
When Kimera was leaving Bunyoro to inherit his grandfather’s throne in Buganda, one of his men committed an offence and Kimera sentenced him to death. He asked Mpinga to carry out the execution. Mpinga requested Ssensalire to hold the milk-pot so as to behead the culprit and he complied. After the execution, Mpinga demanded his milk-pot and Ssensalire denied him. He complained to Prince Kimera and the matter was tabled. Asked why he wouldn’t give back the pot, Ssensalire said that the executioner had tainted his hands with blood of a man and such hands should not handle a precious royal milk-pot. It made so much sense to the arbitrators and the prince that from then on Ssensalire became the King’s herdsman and Mpinga was officially appointed to be the Executioner.
The other duty they performed was when crowning the king; Ssensalire had several rituals to go through with the king. He drove cows in the palace for the king to inspect and herd as well. He handed over a flute which is believed to be the very one King Kimera played while herding cows in Bunyoro and a milk pot.

They supplied the king with a special type of butter for embalming ceremonies. They also had the duty of supplying the king with mud-fish (ensonzi) which was a table delicacy. The hunting drums Lugumira and Kibi which were played by the king on his way out to hunt were under their care. Namutalira who was in charge of the king’s musical instrument (kadinda) was from the Njovu clan. They played special types of drums called “ennyeenya” for the king. They also decorated the king’s war apron made out of a leopard skin. Ssempyangu son of Ggulu was in charge of supplying a special type of fish (enkejje) for the initiation ceremony of the king’s children. One Katale was in charge of making some bark-cloth for the king. They also had a spiritual role to play by invoking Katonda, the god of creation.
*** In Ankole, the Njovu clansmen are the Bairuntu. ***


Popular names for men:
Ssemmambo, Kakembo, Ggalabuzi, Kikomeko, Ssentomero, Sevviiri, Muzingu, Batte, Sseddyabanne, Ssentulubalo, Sezzooba, Settyabula, Mbazzi, Kiro, Ssessanga, Senteza, Ssozi, Ssegujja, Sekandi, Bitalo, Ssekimpi, Ntambi, Wavvuvuumira, Kayaaye, Ssengo, Katunda, Kayiga, Sennyomo

Popular names for women:
Nassanga, Nanteza, Nassozi, Nagujja (Ab’enjaza balituuma), Nnakandi, Nabitalo, Nnabwato, Nnakate, Nabatte

About the animal
It is the biggest land animal across the species. The tail is between 1-1.5 metres in both sexes. Females weigh 2,200-3,500kg while the males weigh from 4,000-6300kg.

It is easily identified because of its huge size and unique features of a trunk, big flappy ears, tusks, texture and monumental legs.its colour ranges from black to pale grey but sometimes the colour is influenced by the mud in which it wallows.
Its ears help the animal to cool its body from the heat but they are also charging devices. It eats about 300kg in 24 hours. Females are sexually mature at 8 years while males mature between 10-14 years. Gestation lasts 650-660 days and usually one calf is born. Two rarely occur. The young remain with the mother for about 10 years. Their lifespan is about 65 years.
Elephants form family groups known as clans or bond groups. Males are usually driven out of family groups as they sexually mature. They find other male groups but will choose partners that are much younger or older.
This animal has been hunted since time immemorial mainly for its ivory