Ankole Kingdom (Uganda)

Obugabe bwa Ankole

Last modified: 2022-04-16 by bruce berry
Keywords: uganda | ankole |
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• Introduction
• Ankole Kingdom state flag
• Ankole Kingdom royal standard & car flag
• Ankole Kingdom Coat of Arms

• Uganda
• Uganda : national index

Introduction

The Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act 2011 was adopted in April 2011 by the Ugandan Parliament, passing into law the Bill which was published on 07
December 2010 as Bill No. 24 in the "Uganda Gazette", No. 72, vol. CIII.

The provision for emblems of Cultural Leaders is outlined in Article 19:
Symbols and seals of institution of traditional or cultural leaders.
(1) Institutions of traditional or cultural leaders may have flags, anthems, seals and logos.
(2) Flags, anthems, seals and logos of traditional or cultural leaders existing before the coming into force of this Act shall continue to be in use.

The list of the recognized cultural institutions and leaders is appended at the end of the Law, namely:

Ker Kwaro Acholi
Ker Alur
Obukama bwa Bunyoro
Buruuli Chiefdom
Obwakyabazinga Bwa Busoga
Obwakamuswaga Wa Kooki
Lango Chiefdom
Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu
Obwakabaka bwa Buganda
Teso Chiefdom
Tieng Adhola Chiefdom
Obukama bwa Tooro
Inzu ya Masaaba.
Ivan Sache, 17 Nov 2012

Ankole Kingdom state flag

According to "Nations Without States", in November 1993 nationalists unilaterally declared the re-establishment of the traditional kingdom of Ankole, or Ankole-Kigezi, in southern Uganda. The flag described for the kingdom was a green field with a crouching white lion surmounted by two white drumheads crossed by horizontal black stripes and backed by crossed white spears.
Ned Smith, 15 Feb 2001

State flag as of 08 Sep 1967.
Source: Michel Lupant and The Flag Institute.
John D McMeekin, 15 Dec 2002

Ankole Kingdom royal and car flag

This is the royal standard and car flag as at 08 September 1967.
Source: Michel Lupant & The Flag Institute.
John Duncan McMeekin, 15 Dec 2002

I found an article in the Uganda Argus newspaper dated 16 March 1964  dealing with the Royal Standard of the Ankole:

ROYAL STANDARD of H.H. THE OMUGABE
"A Royal Standard was designed for The Omugabe - "set on a yellow cloth with his Coat of Arms, drums in white and a lion in brown against a black background."

Image by John Duncan McMeekin, 24 Oct 2012

This is different to the flag we know which is green with the drums in white/black/white - which have been described as "feet" - this green flag must be the Personal Standard of the King!

Reported in "I.S.S. Occasional Papers - Regalia Galore:  The Decline of Ankole Kingship" by Martin Doornbos (Institute of Social Studies, The Hague) Issue No.14, November. 1971 (Page 46).
John Duncan McMeekin, 24 Oct 2011

The Royal Coat of Arms is taken from Sir Charles Gasyonga II's cap emblem, which is the same as the one worn by Omugabe Ntare VI.
John Duncan McMeekin, 25 Oct 2011

Image sent by John Duncan McMeekin, 24 Oct 2012

Above is a scan of the late Crown Prince John Patrick Barigye Rutashijuka, a.k.a. Nyakusinga Rubambansi Omugabe Ntare VI whowas born on 14 January 1940 and died on 14 October 2011, with his Personal Arms. He will be succeeded by his second son,  Crown Prince Charles Rwebishenge Arjaiya Ntomi ya Rugazinda (born in 1991).
John Duncan McMeekin, 24 Oct 2012

Ankole Kingdom Coat of Arms

Arms of Obugabe bwa Ankole (Kingdom of Ankole).
Source: "Beautiful Uganda", 1965.
John D McMeekin, 15 Dec 2002