(Kaneene’ is a type of fish) (All otters are totemic. African clawless otter-Lutra lutra, Lutra aculicollis)

Totem Enngonge/Ezzonge Akabbiro Kaneene English Otter Scientific Lutra maculicollis Runyankole   Runyoro Engonge Lwo(Acholi) Ongol Togo Ateso and Karamojong Engonge Kiswahili Fisi Maji Clan Leader Kisolo Estates Bweza Ssaza Busujju Omubala Clan motto Bukyanja nkete

The head of this clan called Kisolo Sebyoto Muwanga arrived in Naggalabi with Kintu and was his first prime minister. He built his headquarters in Bweza, Busujju which became the principal estate of the Nggonge clan.
Roscoe in his book, ‘The Baganda,’ writes that at some point, Kintu in a fit of anger killed Kisolo but Nsimbi clearly describes the ordeal in great detail. Nsimbi writes that after the marriage of Kintu and Nambi Nantuttululu, Kintu went to tour his kingdom and on his return, he found the queen pregnant. When he asked Nambi who was responsible for the pregnancy, she advised him to consult his prime minister Kisolo.

Kisolo denied but Kintu stabbed him in his foot and Kisolo escaped from the palace swearing never to return. This grizzly act was rebuked by chiefs and Kintu was blamed. He tried to reinstate Kisolo but he was too scared to come back.

His wound was dressed and nursed by his grandson Kitumba in Ffunvu whom he named Muganga on his recovery.
Kisolo’s daughter, Kwamagezi Nakiwala Nabacwa Ndibazza of the nnggonge clan was wife to King Ccwa Nabakka and was mother of Prince Kalemeera.

Wamala Buyungo Kaboggoza of Kyanja, son of Senkungu is the one who invented the making of bark-cloth during the reign of Kimera in a forest called Kyoga, Mawokota. It then became a clan-duty to make the official bark-cloth (luyiira) which they use to install a king. They had another duty to serve the king with one of his wives whose duty was to make the royal bed. This specific wife had to go to the king’s temple and remain there for life and at her death; another member of the clan took her place in the temple. This clan also had the duty of supplying the king with a royal tobacco attendant. The two gods, Mukasa and Wamala came from this clan.

Popular names for men:
Lutaaya, Ssemwanga, Kivumbi, Sejjemba, Sembatya, Kiganda, Ssonko, Kaboggoza, Senkungu, Kaleebu, Kitandwe, Mayito, Kalegga, Muganga, Lusekera, Katama, Kinyira, Buyungo, Ndaazu, Luvuuma, Katwere, Kimbowa, Ssekimbega, Kizunga, Wamala, Lule, Bbongole, Sembuuze, Kasaanyi, Kyenenya, Ssenkuba, Namungi, Kakanga, Biyiggisa, Mulungwa, Kaligijjo, Namulengo, Katiginya, Kayirigo, Kitumba, Luyinda (ab’olugave balituuma), Ssekirevu ne
Lutembe Namaala

Popular names for women:
Nakiwala, Nabacwa, Nakirigya, Najjemba, Nambatya, Nakiganda, Lunkuse, Gwokyalya,Namuganga, Ndibazza, Kwamagezi,Bukuyiira

About the animal
There are four different kinds of otters in Africa namely; Common otter, Spot-necked otter, African clawless otter and the Swamp otter. The four are found in Uganda and are all totemic. Otters are amphibious carnivores with long bodies and tails. The hind legs are webbed for propulsion during swimming. Their main food is fish, crabs, frogs, molluscs, aquatic insects and larvae.

The spotted otter can weigh up to 5kg. The head and body measures between 60-65cm. The tail ranges between 35 and 40cm.

This amphibious carnivore (spotted otter) which does not deposit its waste matter in the lake inhabits clear and clean water to help it catch its prey because it is a diurnal predator. It uses its sharp teeth to catch prey and not claws.

Its gestation is 8 weeks and gives birth up to three blind cubs which need parental care. Although this carnivore is solitary, it stays with its young for a year.