Embattled Bunyoro PM Byakutaga petitions Museveni over kingdom conflicts

Masindi: The embattled Bunyoro Kingdom Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga has petitioned President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni over internal conflicts in the Kingdom.

He highlighted issues caused by a group of individuals allegedly destabilizing the kingdom through unauthorized sales of kingdom properties and attempting to usurp the king’s power by appointing their own Prime Minister, Cabinet, and Parliament.

‘’President, for the better of the Kingdom and people of Bunyoro, a fewer group of people who have mastered the art of grabbing kingdom assets are not happy, to an extent that they have appointed the prime minister and cabinet even when they know it’s not their mandate to,’’ he reported.

Byakutaga, however, expressed his appreciation for the security agencies maintaining peace at the kingdom headquarters and mentioned efforts to engage clan heads to address the challenges.

He was speaking on Friday, September 20, 2024, during the president’s meeting with the leaders from the Bunyoro subregion aimed at tackling youth unemployment and promoting community development held at Balaam’s five-star hotel gardens.

In an exclusive interview with this publication on Sunday, September 22, 2024, Chief Prince (Okwir) Eng. Fred Mugenyi clarified that the interim Prime Minister did not attend the meeting due to Byakutaga’s refusal to vacate office.

Mugenyi emphasized that they are following a process to ensure Byakutaga leaves office, urging him to be disciplined and hand over the office since his term has expired.

This situation underscores the ongoing leadership crisis within the Bunyoro Kingdom, with tensions between different factions.

President Museveni has chosen not to respond directly to the internal conflicts within the Bunyoro Kingdom. He reiterated his stance from 2022, emphasizing that he prefers not to interfere in cultural institution matters, which were restored to promote peace and unity.

This stance followed a complaint by Byakutaga regarding the secession of Bugungu from Bunyoro, with Museveni advising an amicable resolution.

Stephen Birahwa Mukitale, the Second Deputy Interim Prime Minister and Minister of Oil and Gas, expressed disappointment over Byakutaga’s comments.

He felt that the leaders should have focused on pressing issues like oil and land conflicts instead of internal disputes.

‘’It’s unfortunate that the leaders from Bunyoro have not raised issues affecting us; instead, they use the platform to point fingers at each other, yet it’s the right channel to raise our voices,’’ he stressed.

Other requests

Additionally, Dr. Balaam Barugahara, the Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs, highlighted concerns about land grabbing near Budongo Forest and Murchison Falls National Park.

He suggested that the land measing over seven square miles be released to the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for 50 years to protect it.

Byakutaga also made several requests to the government, including: gazetting April 6, the day King Kabalega died, as a public holiday; renaming Murchison National Park to Kabalega National Park; and renaming Lake Albert to its original name, Mwitanzige.

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