Bunyoro starts preparations for Omukama Gafabusa 32nd coronation anniversary

BUNYORO - Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom has unveiled plans for celebrations to mark this year's 32nd coronation anniversary of Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru.

The prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Andrew Byakutaga, says the kingdom has initiated flagship activities ahead of the main event to be held on 11th June.

This year's  commemoration anniversary will be marked under the theme “Promoting our cultural heritage in diversity for social and economic development.”

The coronation anniversary, also known as Empango, is commemorated annually on June 11 to celebrate the day Iguru ascended to the throne. Iguru was enthroned on June 11, 1994, following the restoration of kingdoms by the government.

During the celebrations, guests are treated to different cultural performances, including dances, drama, and poetry recitals.

On Friday, May 8th, Byakutaga said that the kingdom is mobilising shs 300m to fund various activities, including a marathon, cultural games, a blood donation drive, a business exhibition, and a music festival, among others.  

He called on the Kingdom subjects to positively contribute to the coronation anniversary and also turn up in large numbers to grace the function.

Byakutaga also appealed to the clan leaders to ensure that they register their clans with the kingdom officials as directed by the Omukama.

“Out of the over 176 historically known clans in the kingdom, only 38 clans have been registered,” Byakutaga revealed.

Byakutaga also said that, as a way of resolving some of the standoffs within the kingdom, last week, kingdom officials and members of the royal family held a high-level meeting with government officials convened by the Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja.

“We agreed that the Attorney General of Uganda will support us to convene a meeting of all clan heads in Hoima on 18th May 2026 to resolve some of the issues which have been ongoing within the kingdom,” Byakutaga said.

Byakutaga also said that this year the kingdom has also partnered with Vision Groups’ Kabalega FM to promote the speaking of Runyoro language.

He said that Kabalega FM will run a promotion where people are encouraged to register and participate in speaking Runyoro on Kabalega FM, and the winner will be awarded shs1m, the second shs500,000 five, and the 3rd will get sh300,000.

“As a kingdom, we are encouraging our people to register and participate in the competition because it is helping to preserve and teach our people their local language, Runyoro and the winners will be awarded on the day of the commemoration anniversary," he added.

Kaahwa Martin Isaac, the station Manager, Kabalega FM, noted that the competitions will improve the speaking of Runyoro up to the international level.

Steven Mugisa, a retired teacher in Hoima City who hailed the campaign to popularise local language, said that the competition comes at a time when many young people are struggling to speak their native Runyoro.

“Despite the government’s emphasis on promoting indigenous languages to preserve cultural heritage and enhance literacy, many schools in Bunyoro are grappling with a shortage of teaching materials, including textbooks, workbooks, and other essential instructional resources. We are happy that Kabalega has identified the gap,” Mugisa said.

Mugisa said that the new curriculum, rolled out in 2020, mandates the inclusion of local languages at the secondary school level. However, several administrators' lack of resources is making it difficult to implement the program effectively.