Totem Omusu Akabbiro Kayozi English Edible rat Scientific Thryonomys swinderianus Runyankole Enshenzya Runyoro Omusu Lwo (Acholi) Anyeri Ateso and Karamojong Enyuru Kiswahili Ndezi Clan Leader Muyingo Estates Ssama Ssaza Mawokota Omubala Clan motto Kivu kizze okuluma n’okutwalana

Some elders in Buganda argue that the clan is divided in two groups. The Bakunja of Kyaggwe fall under the Omusu Omwene while the Banyala of Bugerere are of the Omusu Ogw’Emmangala.These people are believed to be the natives of Kyaggwe formerly known as Bukunja and Bugerere before Kintu came to Buganda. On his arrival, Kintu conquered and annexed Kyaggwe and Bugerere to Buganda.
Roscoe, in his book ‘The Baganda’ says the Musu clan forefather was Miigo and he came to Buganda with Kintu. The royal duties of the Musu clansmen being special guardians, spies on generals and private police to the king were conferred upon them by Kabaka Mawanda. They were also in charge of the royal enclosure.
However, Nsimbi in his book ‘Amannya Amaganda…’ does not indicate any form of division in this clan as the elders argue and neither does he rhyme with Roscoe in the ancestry and the origin of these people. He writes that the Musu clansmen came from Ssese Islands and they trace their ancestry to Bukulu whose father he could not trace. The three people, Muyingo, Nkalubo and their sister Nassegye who landed at the shores of Luubu in Mawokota from Ssese and settled in the same place during the reign of Kabaka Ndawula, left their brother Kimuli in Kkoome who settled there permanently. It is perhaps against this background that some elders think that the clan is in two separate groups.
When Muyingo, Nkalubo, and their sister arrived at Kikomeko’s home according to Nsimbi, he gave them Luubu Estates in Ssama, Mawokota to settle and to date; this is the principal estate of the Musu clan.
Nkalubo soon moved and joined Kabaka Ndawula, the king who loved hunting. He befriended him and they started hunting together. The king got fond of Nkalubo because of his new ideas which gave him the respect he deserved. He is the one who introduced the idea of the king’s privacy and convenience when everybody resorted to the bush. The Kabaka appointed him to be in charge of sanitation (Bwannamusu). He gave him land near the palace and a tool to excavate the soil known as “kayikuuzi.”
He got more privileges from the king once he knew that he also saved the life of Lady Nakidde Luyiga who was then expecting King Mawanda and had been sentenced to death. Nkalubo saved this woman and King Ndawula got to know and liked Nkalubo the more.
Mawanda made him chief (Ssekiboobo) during his reign because of his bravery and abilities as an individual. He later promoted him and honored him with a hereditary chieftaincy of Ssebuggwaawo because when he summoned him to bring down a throne-threatening rebellion that was emerging in Entebbe; he did and earned himself the title.

Kabanvu known as Kayungirizi was the king’s emissary of war. He ran from kingdom to kingdom to disseminate information thus the name Kayungirizi which means connecting people. Kikaawa of Kawoko who made bark cloth where the king sat when trimming his hair was from this clan.

Popular names for men:
Senkumba, Bwami, Bukulu, Kaliba, Nsimbe, Zizinga, Nkalubo, Jagwe, Taamusange, Bulega, Mulumba, Sebuggwaawo, Lumala, Ssebyondya, Mbizzi (ab’amazzi g’ekisasi balituuma), Kirembwe, Wadda, Nsawo, Kimuli

Popular names for women:
Nankumba, Nabwami (ab’amazzi g’ekisasi balituuma), Nassegye, Nabankema, Mawemuko, Namagga, Nassuuna, Kimbowa, Nanjovu, Nabisubi, Najjinda, Lulyolyo, Waabadde

About the Animal
The cane rat known as omusu in Luganda is a rodent and destroys crops. It is active at night so seeing it is difficult. Its head and body measure from 43-58cm while tail ranges from17-26cm. It weighs from 4.5-8.8kg and in Buganda, this nocturnal creature is much hunted for its meat with the exception of the Musu clan.
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