Fresh Kyabazinga polls to be held
Sep 13, 2009
The fight for kingship in Busoga could come to an end following an agreement by the hereditary chiefs to hold fresh elections.
By Mary Karugaba and Donald Kiirya
The fight for kingship in Busoga could come to an end following an agreement by the hereditary chiefs to hold fresh elections.
The elections will be held on October 5 at Bugembe, the headquarters of the Kyabazingaship in Jinja district, according to a State House statement.
The development follows a Friday meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and 11 hereditary chiefs from Busoga.
This was the fourth meeting the President had held with the delegation to resolve the crisis.
The Busoga cultural institution has been unstable following the death of the 87-year-old Kyabazinga, Henry Wako Muloki, on September 1, 2008.
Days before his death, Muloki reportedly reneged on a promise that he would be succeeded by a candidate from the Bugabula lineage, which complicated the succession process.
Prince Columbus Wambuzi, Muloki’s son, has on three occasions been officially ushered into the Kyabazinga office, the latest being last Wednesday, despite a court order prohibiting him from doing so.
A group of royals then petitioned the President to intervene and restrain Wambuzi from calling himself the Kyabazinga and using the kingdom office.
Unlike other kingdoms where the king is hereditary, Busoga elects its leader from the five Babiito (Baise Ngobi) chiefs, who are part of the 11 hereditary chiefs.
David Kaunhe, the Issabalangira (chief prince), who is also the acting Kyabazinga, criticised Wambuzi for defying a High Court order restraining him from assuming office.
Wambuzi was repotedly escorted by royal guards and used the kingdom’s official vehicle on August 31.
Kaunhe told journalists at the White House in Jinja that the President had advised that the elections be organised by the hereditary chiefs. He added that the royal chiefs, who served before Muloki’s death, would conduct the elections.
Preparations to withdraw the court cases are underway.
The fight for kingship in Busoga could come to an end following an agreement by the hereditary chiefs to hold fresh elections.
The elections will be held on October 5 at Bugembe, the headquarters of the Kyabazingaship in Jinja district, according to a State House statement.
The development follows a Friday meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and 11 hereditary chiefs from Busoga.
This was the fourth meeting the President had held with the delegation to resolve the crisis.
The Busoga cultural institution has been unstable following the death of the 87-year-old Kyabazinga, Henry Wako Muloki, on September 1, 2008.
Days before his death, Muloki reportedly reneged on a promise that he would be succeeded by a candidate from the Bugabula lineage, which complicated the succession process.
Prince Columbus Wambuzi, Muloki’s son, has on three occasions been officially ushered into the Kyabazinga office, the latest being last Wednesday, despite a court order prohibiting him from doing so.
A group of royals then petitioned the President to intervene and restrain Wambuzi from calling himself the Kyabazinga and using the kingdom office.
Unlike other kingdoms where the king is hereditary, Busoga elects its leader from the five Babiito (Baise Ngobi) chiefs, who are part of the 11 hereditary chiefs.
David Kaunhe, the Issabalangira (chief prince), who is also the acting Kyabazinga, criticised Wambuzi for defying a High Court order restraining him from assuming office.
Wambuzi was repotedly escorted by royal guards and used the kingdom’s official vehicle on August 31.
Kaunhe told journalists at the White House in Jinja that the President had advised that the elections be organised by the hereditary chiefs. He added that the royal chiefs, who served before Muloki’s death, would conduct the elections.
Preparations to withdraw the court cases are underway.