Members of the Babiito Royal Clan in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom have given Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga a two-week ultimatum to present a report, apologise and resign, accusing him of overstaying his term in office.
The ultimatum was issued by the kingdom’s Chief Prince, Okwir Fred Mugenyi Rucunya, who said Byakutaga’s extended term expired in June 2024 and that his continued stay in office was contributing to administrative challenges within the kingdom.
Addressing journalists at his home in Rukooge Cell, Hoima City, Mugenyi also said the Omukama remains ill and called on his subjects to pray for him.
“His Royal Highness Omukama Rukirabasaija Gafabusa Solomon Iguru I continues to be ill (Omukama akusaasa). We continue asking all the people of Bunyoro and Uganda to pray for our King,” he said.
Mugenyi said that, according to Bunyoro culture, the Okwir, as head of the royal clan, assumes certain responsibilities when the Omukama is unable to perform his duties. He accused the Prime Minister, or Omuhikirwa, of undermining that role.
“In an event like this, where the King is unable to perform his duties, the power of the kingdom lies in the hands of Okwir, which the Prime Minister (Omuhikirwa), who is in office illegally, is trying to demean. Not anymore,” he said.
Mugenyi said other members of the kingdom’s cabinet had left office after their terms expired, while Byakutaga remained in office, creating what he described as an unusual situation.
He argued that the prolonged illness of Omukama Iguru, who has reportedly been unwell for several years, should not be used to justify the continued stay of officials whose terms have expired.
“We have been silent as the Babiito clan, seeing the criminal activities that the Prime Minister was carrying out in the name of the kingdom, such as selling kingdom property, leasing kingdom land, and failing to provide accountability to the kingdom, among many others,” Mugenyi alleged.
He did not provide specific evidence to support the allegations during the briefing.
Mugenyi also said the royal clan had drawn lessons from recent developments in Tooro Kingdom, particularly the position taken by its Babiito succession committee and Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi.
“His term of office expired in 2024. Unfortunately, the King who appointed him has been sickly since 2019. When your term is over, you leave. People have been undermining me, but now, looking at how strong the Omusuuga of Tooro is, they know the strength of a Chief Prince. He must go within two weeks,” Mugenyi said.
He further argued that the Prime Minister, whom he described as an appointee of the Omukama responsible for the kingdom’s administration, should not interfere in cultural matters.
“Omuhikirwa is an ordinary person whom the King appoints to lead, but in terms of culture, he is not in any way connected. Let him stay away from cultural matters,” he said.
Mugenyi also raised concerns about the management of kingdom property, alleging that land and other assets had been sold or leased under the current administration.
“A lot of kingdom property has been sold, including land and assets, under their watch. When I tell them that, in the absence of the King, I am second in command, they just laugh me off. Now we are going to see who is who this time,” he said.
He further alleged that some government officials were influencing Byakutaga and frustrating his efforts to engage President Yoweri Museveni on matters concerning the kingdom.
“Bunyoro would have stabilised if Byakutaga was not being influenced by certain key government officials who do deals with him. Imagine I have a scheduled meeting with the President, but some of them are fighting me not to meet the President. But surely, why? Let’s unite and make our kingdom great again, even when our King is sick,” Mugenyi said.
Mugenyi said that if Byakutaga failed to comply with the ultimatum, the Babiito clan would announce a new Prime Minister.
“After the ultimatum given to him to make a report, apologise and resign, a new Prime Minister will be unveiled who will help us in the smooth running of the kingdom’s affairs,” he said.
Byakutaga, however, declined to comment directly on the ultimatum. He acknowledged that the prolonged illness of the Omukama had affected the running of the kingdom but said internal efforts were underway to find a lasting solution.
“The administration is not running well due to the absence of the King, but efforts and avenues on how to have the operations run are on. We hope and pray he gets well so that he can take charge of his kingdom. The subjects dearly miss him. Sometimes they ask us to present the King to them, and we have no answers,” Byakutaga said.
Byakutaga and his cabinet were appointed by Omukama Iguru in 2018. The following year, the Omukama fell ill, and the kingdom has since operated without his regular involvement in its affairs.
The cabinet’s term expired in 2023, after which the ministers left office. However, the Royal Commission, led by senior presidential adviser on oil and gas Dr Kabagambe Kaliisa, reportedly granted Byakutaga a one-year extension to prevent an administrative vacuum.
That extension expired in mid-2024, but Byakutaga continued serving as Prime Minister.
Efforts to establish regents to oversee the kingdom’s affairs in the absence of the ailing Omukama have also been attempted but have not resulted in a lasting arrangement.
The latest ultimatum has renewed focus on the leadership and administration of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, with members of the Babiito Royal Clan calling for changes in the management of the institution.
