He was born to Ssekabaka Ssuuna and Gwolyoka of the Njovu clan and his Royal sisters were Baliraala and Zikuzoobuto Muggale. His Twin was called Bakumba, the Home (Nnyumba) was called Muzibu-azaalampanga and the Jjembe was called Manyonyi. He ruled from 1854 to 1884 and his Prime Ministers were Kayiira of the Mbogo clan, Kisomose of the Mmamba clan, Mayanja of the Nkima clan, Mulere of the Njovu clan and Mukasa of the Musu clan. His tombs are found at Kasubi Nabulagala in Kyaddondo.

Mutesa I was the 32nd King of Buganda. He reigned during the time of the exploration of Africa. Mutesa's first contact with the western world was through Arab traders. The Arab traders circumnavigated the African Continent during the 16th and 17th centuries, searching for slaves whom they bartered for beads and guns. The evil characteristics around slavery disappointed many African leaders, including Mutesa I. Unable to bear the pain inflicted upon his subjects, Mutesa sought a way out of this mode of trade.

His genuine search for a way out, led him in contact with a European Missionary Explorer, Henry Morton Stanley. Among other things, H. M. Stanley was going around Africa searching for the source of the Nile. As the tradition demanded, Stanley had to be introduced to the Kings and their conversation led the King to seek direct contact with the British thereby doing away with the Arab middlemen.

Some of his wives include the following;

• Abisaagi Baagalaayaze of the Ã...‹Ã...‹onge clan
• Gwomujjidde Kabejja
• Kalingennyana of the Mbogo clan
• Kiribakka of the Mmamba clan
• Nnaabagereka Kaddulubaale of the Nvubu clan
• Ndibuwaakaani of the Mmamba clan
• Lunkireribaze
• Kasana
• Kikome
• Namakula of the Lugave clan and many others.

His children included amongst the following Daniel Basammula Mwanga11, Kimera, Kiweewa Mutebi, Nandawula, Kalema, Mawanda, Ndawula, Kayondo, Nabweteme, Jjunju, Mutebi, Nassolo, Nakalema, Muggale Nalumansi, Nakamaanya and Mpologoma. He grew up from Kyagwe and when he took over power, he put his palace at Nabulagala and named it Kasubi in remembrance of his village Kasubi in Kyagwe.