TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT

The Abanyala who were in Mukulu were ruled by Sakwa but those who were here were ruled by Kisauri and his descendants. Succession to the throne proceeded in the following manner: Kisauri son of Mahero was succeeded by his son Ngao; he was in turn succeeded by his son Manyuru, Manyuru was succeeded by Ndombi who was succeeded by Paulo Butoto.

They were ruled by an “omwami” (ruler). He protected the people, judged cases, and maintained peace in the country. He himself never went to war but he gave his consent to his “abasesia” (war leaders) to go to war. The “omwami” could not be dismissed; he wore a big copperbracelet on his hand, a cowry-shell head-dress and the “ikutusi” and leopard cloak.
           
He received all the fines paid by criminals, meat, beer, and a cow in the event of a successful cattle raid. The rest of the raided cattle were distributed among the raiders themselves, the leading raider getting the lion’s share. The “omwami” was neither a rain-maker nor a medicine man nor a sacrificial priest. He had his elders who performed these functions. The ordinary people were not allowed to wear the “omwami’s” regalia. Whenever a person killed a leopard he took its skin to the “omwami”. The “omwami” bought all the insignia himself apart from the copper bracelet which he inherited from the late “omwami”
           
The successor was usually named by his father before his death. Alternatively, he could be nominated by the elders should the father die before making his will. The successor then speared the cow in whose skin the late ruler was to be buried.

The “omwami’s” chief wife was called the “omukhaye” (the lady). Her duties were to prepare food for the guests and to take care of the royal insignia. Before the old ruler died, the mother of the successor to the throne was the one who took charge of the royal insignia, the cowry-shell head-dress, the copper bracelet, the cloak and the spear. The old ruler usually chose any of his sons who could rule the people well to succeed him. The successor was then installed by his elder brother.