Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema Memorial Foundation derives its name from King Nooh Kalema who was the 33rd King of Buganda. The current King, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is the 37th King of Buganda. Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema was a son of Mutesa I, thus a grand sone of Ssekabaka Suuna II during whose reign Islam was introduced in Uganda. Kalema was born around the 1830. Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema was a Muslim and he was circumcised. He sat on Buganda throne (Namulondo) in October, 1888. Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema became King amidst religious wars between the Muslims, traditional believers and Christians. He succeeded his brother Ssekabaka Kiwewa whose reign lasted for only 2 months.
Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema ruled Buganda at a very critical time in history of the Kingdom due to the following 2 factors.
By the time he sat on Buganda throne (Namulondo), the four religious beliefs that shaped the public opinions at the time had already become deeply rooted with considerable influence on Baganda subjects. These were Baganda traditional beliefs, Islam, Roman Catholicism and Anglican Protestantism.
In addition to the religious dimensions, the colonial rulers had already started subdividing Africa into spheres of influence. Uganda had been shared by Britain. The British colonial rulers sought to establish themselves through exploiting existing differences in society under their policy of divide and rule. The divided society in Buganda along religious lines was a fertile ground for colonial rulers to play one faction against others to consolidate their rule.
Ssekabaka Mwanga who was a brother to Kalema, backed by the traditionalists and some other forces started a rebellion against Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema. Mwanga who believed in traditional beliefs of his ancestors was a sworn enemy of both Muslims and Christians. The rebellion by Ssekabaka Mwanga started by pushing Ssekabaka Kalema and the Muslims from Kampala to Nansana in Wakiso District. Soon Kalema was also pushed out of Nansana and he ended up in Kijungute, in present day Kyankwanzi District.
In 1890, Kalema fell sick. Before his death, he greatly encouraged his people to adhere to Islam, and promised them that Allah will never let them down. The sickness lasted for a few days and he passed on in April, 1890. May Allah be pleased with him and reward him abundantly.
After his demise, the Muslims elected Prince Huhu Mbogo as their leader and he too accepted. The Muslims under the leadership of Prince Nooh Mbogo continued to resist Mwanga’s rule who had been now supported by the colonial rulers. Prince Nooh Mbogo, finally negotiated a peace settlement with the Colonial rulers and he returned from Kijungute with the Muslims to Kampala.
After the peace settlement, the body of Ssekabaka Kalema was exhumed and transferred from Kijungute to Mende, in Wakiso District. Meanwhile, Mende village, where Ssekabaka Kalema was buried, became a historic site in Buganda and the Muslim Community.
In 1942, when Prince Mbogo had already died, his successor, Prince Badru Kakungulu, appointed one of his dedicated sheikhs, Ali Kulumba to take charge of Busiro County, with Mende where Ssekabaka Kalema was buried as his Headquarters. Sheikh Kulumba worked so hard to put up mosques and schools throughout Busiro County, starting with the headquarters at Mende. Sheikh Kulumba also started annual major Muslim gathering at Mende to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birth {Mawled}. Sheikh Ali Kulumba rose in Islamic ranks to become Sheikh al Islam and also Deputy Chief Qadhi of Uganda.
From his experience as a serving mullah whose term exceeded thirty years, Sheikh Kulumba realized that all serving mullahs were volunteers and when they became old or retired, they could hardly find a firm support system to take care of them and their families. He therefore founded the Ssekabaka Nooh Kalema Memorial Foundation {SNKMF} to shoulder that responsibility.
However, the current leadership of the Foundation has expanded the mandate of the foundation to bring on board wider social responsibilities including but not limited to:
Education of orphans from all backgrounds regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, age, level of education etc.
Provision of assistance with health needs of the vulnerable
Provision of a shelter for the senior citizens.
Mobilization of the Foundation members to participate in poverty alleviation programs provided by government such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and the like.
