Kalema of Buganda

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Kalema Rashid was son of Kabaka (King) Mutesa I of Buganda (Uganda), and pretender to the throne during exiles of Mwanga II.

King Kalema Rashid, was son of Mutesa I thus meaning that he had a legitimate claim to the throne. Kabaka Kalema (1888-90) was a Muslim who reigned at a time of religious strife. He had succeeded his brother, Kiwewa (1888), who had himself succeeded his younger brother, the deposed Kabaka Mwanga. Kabaka Kalema had 30 close relatives killed in this ditch.

In 1888–89 Mwanga attempted to decapitate both Muslim and Christian factions at the Bugandan court. His efforts failed and led instead to his defeat and exile, and a series of religious civil wars. In 1889 Kiwewa succeeded Mwanga as kabaka. By Oct. 18, the Muslim faction was ascendant in Buganda. All Christian missionaries were expelled, and Kiwewa (a brother of Kalema and Mwanga) was deposed. Muslim kabaka (king) Kalema succeeded him, but was eventually forced to step down by the British imperial forces. He was offered an ultimatum by the British: either convert to Christianity and retain the throne, or remain Muslim and lose the throne. He evidently chose Islam and was deposed.

His brother Mwanga then retained the throne for a second time as he unlike Kalema was more willing to compromise with the British in order to retain his power. Kalema Rashid had a son who was made a chief of a large town just north of the Jinga district, and given a great monetary wealth and large estates which are still in the hands of Kalema Rashid's descendants today, thus establishing the family as an aristocratic one as opposed to a royal one (all Muslim Princes in Uganda are of this family).

Therefore despite his brief reign over Buganda his rule cemented Islam in Uganda which remains a potent force in the religious life of numerous Ugandans.