Kakende of Tooro

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Kakende Nyamuyonjo was the eighth king (Omukama) of the Tooro Kingdom. He ruled twice: first from 1875 to 1876, and again from 1879 to 1880. His reigns happened during a chaotic time with fighting and invasions from the neighboring Bunyoro Kingdom.

He became king in 1875 after his older brother Rukidi II gave up the throne and another brother, Rububi Kyebambe II, fled when Bunyoro attacked. His rise was helped by soldiers from Buganda, who wanted to counter Bunyoro’s influence.

Kakende’s first rule lasted about a year; in 1876 he left with the Buganda army, and his brother Katera became king. He returned in 1879 with Buganda support, overthrew Rububi Kyebambe II, and took the throne again. However, in 1880 Bunyoro forces expelled him, and Tooro briefly came under Bunyoro control again.

Kakende fled to Buganda and later died there from smallpox, before 1885. He was buried at Busimba Zone, Mpogo, Sironko District. He was married to Logose, a Musoga woman from the Baise Igaga clan, and they had three children: Katunku Zephania, Bulage, and Mpindi. His father was Kasunga Kyebambe Nyaika.