Bugho was the former name of the town and is a contraction of the dialect term "Binogho" (from the root word buho), meaning a small clearing within a forest area.

Among the earliest known settlers was Macario Cultura, a native of Burauen, Leyte who was believed to have led his friends and relatives to cultivate the fertile soil of the area.

At that time, he recently came from Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte where he started extensive farming activities since 1908 after his resignation as a principal at the Cebu Normal School.

[citation needed] A malaria plague in Cabadbaran, however, inflicted a heavy death toll among his people so he was urged to explore other suitable areas until he found Bugho.

Subsequently, Daniel married Dolores Mercado Veloso of Consolacion, Sogod, Southern Leyte, and settled in Bugho naming his settlement as Camalig.

He led the people to community activities and eventually improve their working habits, eradicate superstitions that hampered progress and introduced the use of vaccines and medicines.

During the mid-1950s, with the help of Attorney Higino A. Acala, Sr. the "Bugho for Municipal Movement" was organized with Felomino Mercado, Pedro Gecera, Angel Caminong, Ambrocio Novio, Bernardino Tisado and Julia Brosas among its leaders.

On December 18, 1959, at the initiative of Mayor Catalino Landia, the municipal council of Abuyog was convened to a session at Bugho endorsing by way of Resolution No.

7 to convert Bugho into an independent municipality of Abuyog to include the barrios of Caraya (Caraye), Ulhay, Tambis, Comatin, Caranhug, Talisayan and Manarug among many others.

In 1970, the seat of government was finally transferred to the present site on a building constructed through the efforts of Congressman Artemio Mate.

After 38 years, the decades-old political leadership of the Cua's was challenged when businessman Leonardo "Sandy" Javier, Jr. ran as Mayor in 2010.

His desire to “give back” blessings had pushed him to serve his hometown, concentrating his efforts on converting the poor municipality into a model town that would be emulated not only in the region but in the whole country.