Does Iguru own Bunyoro’s assets?
EDITOR—There is apprehension in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom resulting from lack of understanding of Article 246 of the Constitution of Uganda (1995). According to the Article, the institution of traditional or cultural leader may exist in any area of Uganda with the culture, customs and traditions or w
EDITOR—There is apprehension in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom resulting from lack of understanding of Article 246 of the Constitution of Uganda (1995). According to the Article, the institution of traditional or cultural leader may exist in any area of Uganda with the culture, customs and traditions or wishes and aspirations of the people to whom it applies.
The Banyoro see the institution of traditional or cultural leader as an embodiment of the customs, traditions, values and norms of the Banyoro, the totality of the culture of Banyoro.
The institution has perpetual succession and therefore must be seen as having a separate existence from the individuals who may hold positions of cultural or traditional leader at any given time. Omukama Solomon Iguru and his close associates, on the other hand, maintain that the institution of cultural leader (Obukama) and the cultural leader (Omukama) are fused into one and the same entity.
This line of thinking has caused a lot of confusion especially concerning properties and assets which were returned to the kingdom under the Restitution statute of properties and assets of cultural institutions (statute 8 of 1993).Omukama Solomon Iguru and his close associates believe that the returned properties and assets belong to him in his personal capacity hence he is free to dispose of them as he wishes. And indeed he has gone ahead to do exactly that where land and forests are concerned. There is growing opposition to his behaviour.
And people are talking openly in disgust. The Banyoro know that the Omukama holds the properties and assets which were returned and indeed any other property of the kingdom in trust for the people. He does not hold them in his personal capacity and therefore he cannot sell or give away what does not belong to him.
Some people have pointed out that when the properties and assets were returned they should have been handed to the Orukurato (the supreme council of the kingdom); but because it was non-existent at the time, the Omukama was advised to appoint a body: Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Cultural Trust composed of representatives from all the districts of the kingdom to take charge of the properties. This was done so as not to mix kingdom’s properties with the Omukama’s personal ones.
The Banyoro appeal to the constitutional court for the interpretation of Article 246 especially concerning the properties and assets held in trust for the people.
Francis Atugonza
afatwooki@yahoo.com
The Banyoro see the institution of traditional or cultural leader as an embodiment of the customs, traditions, values and norms of the Banyoro, the totality of the culture of Banyoro.
The institution has perpetual succession and therefore must be seen as having a separate existence from the individuals who may hold positions of cultural or traditional leader at any given time. Omukama Solomon Iguru and his close associates, on the other hand, maintain that the institution of cultural leader (Obukama) and the cultural leader (Omukama) are fused into one and the same entity.
This line of thinking has caused a lot of confusion especially concerning properties and assets which were returned to the kingdom under the Restitution statute of properties and assets of cultural institutions (statute 8 of 1993).Omukama Solomon Iguru and his close associates believe that the returned properties and assets belong to him in his personal capacity hence he is free to dispose of them as he wishes. And indeed he has gone ahead to do exactly that where land and forests are concerned. There is growing opposition to his behaviour.
And people are talking openly in disgust. The Banyoro know that the Omukama holds the properties and assets which were returned and indeed any other property of the kingdom in trust for the people. He does not hold them in his personal capacity and therefore he cannot sell or give away what does not belong to him.
Some people have pointed out that when the properties and assets were returned they should have been handed to the Orukurato (the supreme council of the kingdom); but because it was non-existent at the time, the Omukama was advised to appoint a body: Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Cultural Trust composed of representatives from all the districts of the kingdom to take charge of the properties. This was done so as not to mix kingdom’s properties with the Omukama’s personal ones.
The Banyoro appeal to the constitutional court for the interpretation of Article 246 especially concerning the properties and assets held in trust for the people.
Francis Atugonza
afatwooki@yahoo.com