Busoga’s rebel chiefs applaud Museveni on king

Dec 02, 2008

THE five hereditary chiefs of Busoga who boycotted the October 31 Kyabazinga election have applauded President Yoweri Museveni’s intervention.

By George Bita

THE five hereditary chiefs of Busoga who boycotted the October 31 Kyabazinga election have applauded President Yoweri Museveni’s intervention.

Museveni, while meeting Busoga leaders at State House Nakasero on Friday, reportedly declared the Kyabazinga-elect Columbus Wambuzi Muloki as an illegitimate Isebantu of Busoga.

Prince Patrick Izimba of Kigulu on Sunday welcomed Museveni’s stand and said the people of Busoga would show their gratitude.

“The Basoga have anxiously been waiting for Museveni to speak for himself as his representatives like Jinja deputy RDC Apollo Bwebale have been threatening people allegedly on the President’s behalf,” Izimba said.

He argued that the election of Muloki was marred by gross irregularities and failure to respect the quorum for such elections.

“We are ready to meet the President as hereditary chiefs to iron out our differences,” Izimba said.

He explained that several chiefdoms in Busoga do not recognise Muloki and are under the authority of their respective chiefs.

Caesar Lukalu, the Issabalangira (chief prince) of Bugabula chiefdom and also regent to Prince Nadiope Gabula, also expressed his satisfaction with the presidential intervention.

“It has been timely since non-Basoga RDCs have been threatening us with imprisonment over the Kyabazinga issue yet it is entirely our cultural problem,” Lukalu said.

He added that all the chiefs opposed to Muloki would meet Museveni. Efforts to get a comment from Muloki were futile as he was not at his Nakabango palace the entire day.

John Kadoko, the Kyabazinga affairs minister, declined to comment referring The New Vision to the kingdom information minister. Busoga chiefs who boycotted the polls include princes Christopher Mutyaba (Bukono), Munulo Luba (Bunyha), Fred Kakaire (Bugweri) , Izimba and Nadiope.

Prior to the polls, the constitutional court had ruled that the Kyabazinga election should not proceed.

The court said irregularities cited by some hereditary chiefs would have to first be addressed. The contentious issues raised included the eligibility to contest as some Basoga wanted all the 11 hereditary chiefs to be candidates.

Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki succumbed to cancer of the throat at Mulago Hospital on September 1.

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