Pulkol visit riles Bunyoro leaders

By Amlan Tumusiime and Fred Kayizzi

SOME Banyoro leaders have demanded for the immediate resignation of two top Bunyoro Kingdom officials over David Pulkol’s attendance of last Friday’s empango (royal dance) and coronation anniversary celebration) at Karuzika Palace in Hoima.

MP Tom Kyahurwenda (Buhaguzi) yesterday said the Katikiro (premier), Erisa Kagoro Byenkya and speaker Ernest Kiiza must resign for allegedly inviting the former External Security Organisation director general to the royal fete “to promote their political interests.”
“We, Movement supporters and all the people of Bunyoro, were very much disappointed to see Pulkol in the royal palace and being accorded much respect by the Kingdom officials. As a Member of Parliament, I am advising the Katikiro and speaker to resign,” he said.

Kyahurwenda said the invitation of Pulkol, who was a well known sympathiser of the anti-third term Parliamentary Advocacy Forum, was “politically embarrassing” to Bunyoro and Omukama Solomon Iguru.

Hoima LC5 chairperson George Tinkamanyire Bagonza said Pulkol’s presence at the royal function was unwanted.
“His Karamoja region is still very backward and therefore he cannot be party to any group which can solve the problems of Bunyoro,” he said.

His Masindi counterpart, John Majara, implicated speaker Kiiza for it.
“The kingdom appointed Kiiza well aware of his political background,” he said.
Byenkya denied inviting Pulkol but hastened to add, “I cannot see any problem with Pulkol attending our function because he is a Ugandan.”
He said although the invitation cards were signed by him, he did not know who delivered one to enable Pulkol attend the function.

Kiiza laughed it off, saying, “Pulkol is my friend and we have been close to each other for a long time. Therefore he had to attend the function.”
He advised the politicians to emulate him and work for the development of Bunyoro, adding that said most Banyoro politicians were selfish.