Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has directed journalist and political commentator Andrew Mwenda to stop commenting on the ongoing issues in Tooro following his public criticism of the Kingdom’s Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa.
Gen Muhoozi issued the directive in a post on X, saying he had personally instructed Mwenda to refrain from commenting on matters concerning Tooro.
“I have instructed comrade Andrew Mwenda not to speak about the issues of Tooro again. He will stop it immediately,” Gen Muhoozi posted.
“Once again, as PLU, we commiserate with the great Batooro people on the tragedy that befell all of us. May the soul of the late King Oyo rest in peace,” he added.
The intervention comes days after Mwenda launched a scathing attack on the Queen Mother shortly after the burial of the late Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Mwenda accused the Queen Mother of allegedly attempting to undermine Tooro’s cultural heritage and made a series of claims about her role in the affairs of the Kingdom over the past three decades.
Among his allegations, Mwenda claimed that the Queen Mother had attempted to interfere with the burial of her late son, prompting security agencies to intervene to ensure that the body was released for burial.
He also alleged that the Queen Mother had wielded significant influence over the Kingdom for about 30 years, including allegedly having powers to sell Kingdom land.
Mwenda further made allegations linking the Queen Mother to the death of one of the princes in the late 1990s.
The comments sparked criticism from members of the public, with some questioning the timing and sensitivity of attacking the Queen Mother immediately after the burial of her son, as the royal family continues to mourn.
Gen Muhoozi’s directive effectively puts a halt to Mwenda’s public commentary on the Tooro succession and other Kingdom-related matters.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of a bitter succession dispute that emerged following the death of King Oyo.
The royal family, led by the Queen Mother, has maintained that the succession question should be guided by the late King’s will, which they say names his son as the first heir, followed by Prince Komwiswa Yoweri and Prince Nyaika Solomon.
The identity of the alleged son has, however, not been publicly disclosed, while the Babiito, the royal clan responsible for selecting the King, have rejected the position that the reported will should determine the succession.
The Babiito succession committee, chaired by Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi, selected Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyobongo I as the new King of Tooro.
The decision has been strongly contested by the royal family, deepening tensions over who should succeed the late King Oyo.
