Galihuuma was the University of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom during the reign of Omukama Cwa II Kabaleega and his immediate predecessors.
It was located at Butiti Hill (present-day Butiti Primary Teachers College) in then Mwenge County (present-day Kyenjojo District), the traditional cultural centre of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom (before this “Lost County” was incorporated into Tooro Kingdom in 1901 whose Omukama Kasagama Captain Frederick Lugard – nicknamed “Kapere” by the Banyakitara – reinstated in 1891.
Galihuuma University existed before the advent of European influence in the Great Lakes region (read Bunyoro-Kitara Empire).
Kabaleega and his siblings, among others, were graduates of this august instution.
Origin and background
The root of the name Galihuuma is the word kuhuuma – Runyoro-Rutooro for “to buzz or boom”.
Agaki? (What would buzz?)
Answer: Amagezi (knowledge).
So, in full, the university’s name was: Amagezi galihuuma, literally, “Knowledge will buzz or boom”
That’s the extent to which our ancestors had advanced!
Location
Indeed, Galihuuma was Bunyoro-Kitara University, but not like modern universities. It handled the Runyoro-Rutooro language, culture, traditional practices, etc.
Butiiti Hill begins just below Mukunyu, passes St Augustine’s PTC, via Butiiti Catholic parish, then Galihuma trading center which is located between the Catholic Church and the Church of Uganda land.
The hill gently continues to Butiiti county/sub county head quarters.
The University was located close to the former girls’ school of Galihuma, just below the Anglican Church.
Remember the first Anglican Church in Tooro was established at Galihuma, by Apollo Kivebulaya around 1858.
Notable achievements
1) Surgeons
The Caesarean section that Dr Felkins documented at Kihaara, Masindi in 1879, was a product of Galihuuma University.
Those Banyoro physicians were graduates of that university.
Note that at the Banyoro physicians were more advanced than their European counterparts. Indeed, the practice of Caesarean section was least advanced in many Westen nations at the time.
2) Rinderpest campaign
In 19003-04, rinderpest ravaged Uganda, then a British Protectorate.
The British veterinary doctors failed to contain it. However, Grant, the provincial administrator of Busoga, got to learn of Yaguma, who had been Omukama Cwa II Kabaleega’s veterinary doctor.
He recommended him to the Governor, who reluctantly accepted the advice. And, like a magician, Yaguma contained the epidemic.
3) Inter-University exchange
At the time, Bunyoro and Egypt had an inter-University exchange programme between Cairo and Galihuuma universities.
It is believed that after the British conquest of Bunyoro, many Banyoro students, including Kabaleega’s children, were stranded in Cairo.
4) Civil service training
Galihuuma university trained many people, preparing them for civil service jobs.
Upon completion of studies, these graduates became Banyoro (literally “trained officers”), who would be deployed in the kingdom as per their areas of specialization.
5) Cultural hub
Mwenge, county, where Galihuuma University was located, was the cultural centre of the kingdom.
It was where the Bahenda (language and culture specialists) were located.
The official/palace language, which was far superior to Runyakitara, was called Oruhenda.
It was taught at the university, and the Banyamwenge (people of Mwenge) had – and still do – that envious privilege of being the authentic/pure Banyakitara (Banyoro-Batoro).
Many members of the Babiito (royal clan) and Bahuma (middle class) married from prominent Banyamwenge families.
It is not by chance, therefore, that Omugo Margaret Karunga Adyeri, the Queen of Omukama Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, hails from Kyegeggwa, Mwenge.
As we ponder on the name of the soon-to-be Hoima-based regional university, Galihuuma wouldn’t be off the mark.
By Isaac Kalembe Akiiki
