Busoga prone to succession disputes
THE raging conflict of who should become Busoga’s next Kyabazinga (king) is not a new experience in the kingdom.
By Frank Mugabi
THE raging conflict of who should become Busoga’s next Kyabazinga (king) is not a new experience in the kingdom.
The late Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki, who is increasingly becoming difficult to replace, was himself a product of a crisis.
When the kingdom was formed in 1915, it started off with a succession system different from that in other kingdoms like Bunyoro, Buganda and Toro.
In Busoga, the king was to be elected and this set a recipe for conflict.
Ezekiel Wako Muloki, father of the late Henry Muloki, became the first Kyabazinga on February 11, 1939.
Then came William Wilberforce Nadiope III who reigned from 1949 to 1955.
It was not until 1956 that Henry Muloki took over the throne from Nadiope. Henry Muloki was privileged to reign for two tenures. His first tenure was cut short when President Milton Obote abolished traditional kingdoms.
His second opportunity came on February 11, 1995 when the NRM government reinstated monarchies.
His reinstatement, however, was awash with power struggles. Those behind the power struggle said the kingship was supposed to be rotational among the chiefs from the five royal clans of Kigulu, Luuka, Bukono, Bulamogi and Bugabula.
Much as Muloki had secured his second tenure through an election that was held in 1993, two rivals came up to challenge his election, which delayed his ascent to Busoga’s crown until February 11, 1995.
Prince Eriakesi Kiregeya of Kigulu and Prince David Kibubuka from Bukhooli, rejected the idea of handing Muloki another reign. Kiregeya took the battle to court in a bid to stop Muloki’s enthronement.
He (Kiregeya) even arranged his own coronation in a shrine at his home in Igenge village, Iganga district.
The deadlock, which like the current one raged on for three years, only got resolved following talks between the two clans of Kiregeya and Muloki.
The then Vice-President, Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, and then Deputy Prime Minister, Al-Hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja played critical roles in the negotiations.
As a compromise, Kiregeya was declared the chief prince. Busoga. Meanwhile, the other chiefs were to wait for their turn in the queue for the Kyabazingaship.
THE raging conflict of who should become Busoga’s next Kyabazinga (king) is not a new experience in the kingdom.
The late Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki, who is increasingly becoming difficult to replace, was himself a product of a crisis.
When the kingdom was formed in 1915, it started off with a succession system different from that in other kingdoms like Bunyoro, Buganda and Toro.
In Busoga, the king was to be elected and this set a recipe for conflict.
Ezekiel Wako Muloki, father of the late Henry Muloki, became the first Kyabazinga on February 11, 1939.
Then came William Wilberforce Nadiope III who reigned from 1949 to 1955.
It was not until 1956 that Henry Muloki took over the throne from Nadiope. Henry Muloki was privileged to reign for two tenures. His first tenure was cut short when President Milton Obote abolished traditional kingdoms.
His second opportunity came on February 11, 1995 when the NRM government reinstated monarchies.
His reinstatement, however, was awash with power struggles. Those behind the power struggle said the kingship was supposed to be rotational among the chiefs from the five royal clans of Kigulu, Luuka, Bukono, Bulamogi and Bugabula.
Much as Muloki had secured his second tenure through an election that was held in 1993, two rivals came up to challenge his election, which delayed his ascent to Busoga’s crown until February 11, 1995.
Prince Eriakesi Kiregeya of Kigulu and Prince David Kibubuka from Bukhooli, rejected the idea of handing Muloki another reign. Kiregeya took the battle to court in a bid to stop Muloki’s enthronement.
He (Kiregeya) even arranged his own coronation in a shrine at his home in Igenge village, Iganga district.
The deadlock, which like the current one raged on for three years, only got resolved following talks between the two clans of Kiregeya and Muloki.
The then Vice-President, Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, and then Deputy Prime Minister, Al-Hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja played critical roles in the negotiations.
As a compromise, Kiregeya was declared the chief prince. Busoga. Meanwhile, the other chiefs were to wait for their turn in the queue for the Kyabazingaship.