The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of the Babiito clan are seeking audience with President Yoweri Museveni over the ongoing conflict in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. The Babiito clan is the ruling clan of the Bunyoro Kitara kingdom.
Led by Fred Mugenyi Rucunya, the chief prince locally known as Okwir, the clan members contend that the ongoing conflict between some of the kingdom officials and the royal clan members is tarnishing the image of the kingdom.
According to Rucunya, it is only the president who can settle the ongoing misunderstandings in the kingdom.
Since January, the Babiito clan members have been feuding with Andrew Byakutaga, their prime minister over the administration of the kingdom. It all started when the Babiito clan members led by Rucunya suspended Byakutaga from office for alleged corruption and mismanagement of the kingdom’s assets.
It came after the clan members authored a letter on January 30, 2022, stopping Byakutaga from running the kingdom’s affairs. The same letter also suspended Edgar Agaba, the Attorney General of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom, and Robert Owagonza, the Minister for Finance and Planning.
In the letter, the Babiito clan members faulted Byakutaga for the lack of transparency and accountability for the kingdom’s resources. They pointed to the fraudulent and dubious cash withdrawals and expenditures of the kingdom’s finances without approval.
They also faulted the prime minister for the gross mismanagement of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom assets and property including the destruction of Bugoma central forest reserve, Muhangaizima cultural site, and the royal burial sites in the greater Kibaale, Katasiiha Fort historical site, and Miduuma burial grounds in Masindi.
The complainants also accused Byakutaga of his alleged involvement in the fraudulent sale of kingdom land including the one hosting Kagadi and Kakumiro district headquarters, Kaduku forest land in Kiryandongo, and Waisembe Omukkihane-Wampanga. They also accused the Prime minister of keeping their beloved king hostage by blocking his close relatives from accessing him including his sisters.
Irked by his suspension, Byakutaga sued the chief prince at Masindi high court, arguing that whereas he respects the office of the Okwiri as the head of the Babiito clan, he has no powers whatsoever to appoint or dismiss any kingdom official, either as an individual or by virtue of the authority he holds in the office.
Byakutaga argued that it is only the Omukuma Dr. Solomon Gafubusa Rukirabasaija Agutamba Iguru who can replace kingdom officials as he pleases. However, some of the kingdom subjects will not hear any of this.
On June 2, 2022, more than100 subjects of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom stormed Masindi High court premises protesting the decision by Byakutaga to sue the Chief prince. Armed with placards, the protesters demanded that the court dismisses the suit against the chief prince and order the prime minister to account for the money he has used to run the affairs of the kingdom during his tenure.
According to the protestors, culturally, it is taboo for anyone to drag the chief prince, who is the head of the ruling clan, to court on any matter concerning the kingdom.
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