Engabu Za Tooro revived the Koogere tradition in 2003 as a competitive development award to inspire young women to embrace entrepreneurship and leadership roles. The competition required contestants to have model projects in their respective villages.

“When we were surveying the community for positive cultural attributes, we came across the Koogere tradition and identified it as a very interesting one, as it has informed many traditional saying and songs that we use this day,” says Stephen Rwagweri, the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro.

Engabu Za Tooro organised Koogere hand over

Koogere, was a daughter to Omukama (king) Ngonzaki Rutahinduka and a paternal aunt of Isaza Waranga Rugambanabato, both kings of Bunyoro-Kitara under the Batembuzi dynasty. These were the rulers of the vast Bunyoro-Kitara Empire before the legendary Bacweri whom the current Babito kings (to which lineage king Oyo belongs) succeeded.

Despite the common belief that women in traditional Africa were underrated and didn’t participate in public activities as equals, there is glowing historical belief that Koogere was highly held as a strong woman, who was wise, hard working and a good leader. It is even said that Koogere did things that men had failed to do in her time.

A story is told of when the king Isaza Waraga almost suffocated to death as a result of a fresh giraffe skin he had wrapped around his body. As it dried, the skin almost squeezed the king to death as many people looked on helplessly.

The king was only saved when Koogere heard about his predicament and ordered her guards to carry him to the nearest river and soak him in water. This softened the skin, which Koogere ordered her guards to cut from his body thus saving Isaza.

As a way of rewarding his aunt, Isaza made Koogere the chief of Basongora, found in present day Kasese district. It was here that Koogere demonstrated her abilities as a hard working, wise and charismatic leader; achieving both in administration and economic prosperity and providing the many skeptics wrong.

Koogere become the richest person in the whole of Bunyoro-Kitara, the biggest known Empire in African history, starching from northern Uganda, to Tanzania.

According to literature collected by Engabu za Tooro, Koogere had many herds of cattle-the strongest symbol of wealth then. This is believed to be the origin of a common saying in Bunyoro, Tooro and Ankole today “Busongora bwa Koogere nambere ikamwa niboroga” implying that Koogere had so many cattle that they were always crying to be milked, instead of for being milked.

But this is not the only reason why Koogere is highly held. Her ingenuity and administrative abilities exceeded all other rulers in the empire; the reason her legacy has prevailed across generation for more than 1000 years.

It is believed that Koogere once again saved king Isaza from an ultimatum from his father to be killed in case he failed to interpret six riddles as a test to Isaza.

Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV

After king Isaza’s advisors failed to help him answer the riddles, he called his chiefs, among whom was Koogere who later solicited the help of one of her maids who helped them answer the riddles and save Isaza.

“This was also Koogere’s initiative and a quality of good leadership to share issues and involve even her subordinates,” says Rwagweri.

It is hoped that through the Koogere award, young girls in the region will be inspired to work harder and take on all challenges as equal to men.

Rwagweri says Koogere project is already yielding results. In its first year, it yielded more than 50 projects in villages across Tooro and enabled young women to acquire innovation, leadership and mobilization strategies. All the more reason for women to look to their culture for inspiration and direction.

By Mutabaazi Enoch Ultimate Media

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