Clan's early History

As indicated above, the Clan Head of the Nvubu clan is KAYITA. The name Kayita is derived from an ancient tale during the reign of King Kintu told about Kayita a local 'doctor' who always gathered his medicinal herbs during the night.

It so happened that whenever the King called for Kayita he arrived at the palace before day break. That is when the King asked him "Ggwe oli kayita kiro?" literally translated "Are you a night monger/traveler?" Hence the name Kayita.

Kayita and his people were among the clans that came into Buganda with Kintu. One of Kayita's sons, Nkukunala, was a prominent resident of Busujju county. Nkukunala's son called Semuwooya asked his father what their clan was.

The father responded "... a big animal which lives in the lake but feeds on land." Here also was derived the name "Ndiira" (to feed or to eat). The Clan's motto (omubala) also derived from this connotation goes as follows "Mu nnyanja weddiramu ki? Nvubu, Nvubu, Nvubu."

The Nvubu clan has two main designated tasks or duties in the King of Buganda's palace: a) The duty or task of healing the sick or the wounded. It is said that whenever the King's worriors got wounded, say if his worrior was struck by a spear in the chest, Kayita the 'doctor' would relocate the wound from the chest to the leg where he would then start the process of healing it. b) The second duty or task was to light up the palace torches (reeds light) especially during the King's dinner time and or when he was in conference with his chiefs.