Bulamogi's Wambuzi hailed for visiting Kyabazinga Nadiope

The recent visit of Bulamogi chiefdom prince, Edward Colombus Wambuzi Zibondo, to the Kyabazinga's palace in Kamuli district, has opened the doors for unity, peace and development in the kingdom, the Bulamogi chiefdom premier, Samuel Babuli Mutono, has said.

Lashing out at critics that Prince Zibondo breached the ethics and visited Kyabazinga Gabula IV, the premier said the visit cemented the brotherly relationship and unity among the two and the kingdom at large.

"Like the Busoga motto goes: "Obusoga okwisana n'amaani" (Busoga unity is power), the visit was of big benefit for the chiefdom and the kingdom as well," Mutono said.

Mutono said Zibondo is mature and has an independent mind, regardless of whether he consulted the chiefdom cabinet or not. He, therefore, urged people to mind their business.

The visit closed the over 10 years of rivalry between Gabula and Wambuzi, with the supporters of both sides bickering over who is eligible to ascend the throne.

Isabalangira of Bugabula chiefdom Prince Henry Woira Kitimbo said the standoff was punctuated by legal hiccups, with Wambuzi contesting the Kyabazinga's 2014 election.

The feud was ignited by the demise of Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki, as Wambuzi went to court seeking the nullification of Gabula IV.

Mutono, who has been renowned for publicly criticising the Kyabazinga, said he was delighted by the positive messages and overwhelming voices of the Basoga and other well-wishers.

Wambuzi, with four relatives, went to Gabula's ancestral place at Budhumbula in Kamuli district, for the secretly organised visit.

Sources told New Vision that Zibondo neither disclosed the visit to his cabinet, close friends nor other leaders.

Prince Kitimbo lauded Wambuzi's decision, saying it had bridged the rivalry gap.

"The rivalry had detached Bulamogi chiefdom from Busoga Kingdom," Kitimbo said. He added that in the near future, Kyabazinga will visit Bulamogi too.

The minister in charge of Kyabazinga affairs, Yudaya Babirye, said Prince Wambuzi arrived at Budhumbula palace in the company of his elder sister, Princess Elizabeth Wambuzi.

"The host led the entourage on a guided tour of his farm, which has both local cows and heifers. The guests were also taken through the orchard and the banana plantation," Yudaya said.

Farouk Jomba, a businessman in Jinja, said the royals chose to bury the hatchet to assert their forefathers' quest for unity.

Busoga premier Dr Joseph Muvawala lauded Wambuzi for putting Busoga above self.

Mikairi Kagoda, a retired civil servant from Kaliro, said Bulamogi had lost many opportunities. These included the education promotion programme last year, when some people misguided the public to reject education materials from Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Bulamogi also rejected relief food, which the kingdom had provided for the people.

The rivalry had detached Bulamogi chiefdom from Busoga Kingdom.