Passion or Profession: King

Period: c. 1838–1884

Mutesa I was one of the last kings of the African kingdom Buganda, inside of what is now Uganda. Early in his reign, he was faced with the arrival of foreign explorers and missionaries. He traded with many groups and allowed Muslims, Catholics, and Protestants to settle in his land. The rival groups were not easily controlled, but Mutesa managed to keep a strong monarchy without converting to any one ideology. However, upon his death his kingdom grew weaker and was eventually taken over by European powers.