Hoima: The Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom (BKK) ruling clan, the Babito, headed by the chief prince (Okwiri), Eng. Fred Mugenyi Ruchunya, has called for a dialogue meeting to solve the leadership crisis in the Kingdom.
The call follows the expiry of the term of office for Kingdom Prime Minister (Omuhikirwa) Andrew Byakutaga on June 30, 2024.
On October 29, 2023, the contracts of BKK cabinet ministers, Rukurato (parliament) members, and the PM expired.
The Ministers (Abagaatwa) and Members of Parliament (Abakurasi) handed over the office, but Prime Minister Byakutaga’s contract was extended by the Kingdom Royal Commission headed by Fred Kallisa Kabagambe to June 30, 2024.
Since October 29, 2023, the Kingdom has been operating without a cabinet, and the budget for the financial year 2024-2025 has been delayed since Omukama Iguru, who is supposed to appoint or renew the appointment of ministers, is indisposed.
Speaking to the press on Monday July 1, 2024, Ruchunya said since the tenure of the Prime Minister expired on Sunday, June 30, 2024, the Kingdom has no prime minister and its affairs have to continue.
He notes that apart from Omukama Iguru, who appointed the Prime Minister and his cabinet, there is nobody in the kingdom with the power to appoint Katikiro and his cabinet.
Ruchunya adds that the Kingdom is in a crisis, adding that they have been advocating to have regents to help Omukama Iguru, who is unable to perform his duties, but their efforts were stopped by a High Court injunction following a case that was filed by family members of former King of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Sir Tito Winyi Gafafusa disputing the appointment of the regents.
He adds that the Royal Commission is in an advisory capacity, adding that the commission exercised its delegated authority to give Byakutaga terms and tenure of service and was never given authority on its own to appoint and extend the tenure of the Prime Minister.
He notes that any person who attempts to renew and appoint the Prime Minister, usurping the powers of the Omukama, is wrong, adding that because of this challenge, they need to have a meeting and dialogue and find a solution to the impasse.
Ruchunya further adds that as the ruling clan, they are concerned with the letter dated September 4, 2017, claimed to be signed by Omukama Iguru, giving the Royal Commission powers to appoint and vet the prime minister.
The letter also gives the Royal Commission powers to manage the transition of the Omukama’s authority, among others.
Ruchunya described this letter as a forgery and called on the relevant authority to investigate the author of the letters.
However, the BKK spokesperson, Francis Mugerwa, in a letter dated July 1, 2023, indicates that Byakutaga is still the Kingdom Prime Minister.
He says the Omukama Iguru appointed Byakutaga on January 15, 2018, adding that his appointment was open and had no expiration date.
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