‘Commoners’ demand eligibility for Kyabazingaship

In a petition presented before the constitution review commission, some Busoga chiefs want commoners to be eligible for the throne.

A cross section of residents of Kigulu, one of the 11 hereditary counties of Busoga, have tabled a proposal before the Busoga Constitutional Review Commission demanding that eligibility for election to the office of the Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga be opened to non-members of Busoga’s royalty.

“We want even the commoners to be eligible for ascendency to the throne. It should not only be the Baise Ngobi (royalty) as the case has been,” the royal chief of Nakalama Sub-county, Mr Amuza Bwogere.

He said this at the constitutional review meeting held at the Iganga District headquarters at the weekend. Under the current arrangement, reportedly agreed upon in the 1930s when the British brought all Busoga’s 11 chiefdoms under one central leadership, Busoga’s throne has been the preserve of members of the ruling families of the five hereditary counties of Kigulu, Luuka, Bulamogi, Bugabula and Bukono. which are believed to have been founded by princes from Bunyoro Kitara who migrated to Busoga to set up their own empires.

This effectively locked out the traditional hereditary rulers of the other six counties namely; Butembe, Bunhya, Bugweri, Busiki, Bukhooli and Bunhyole.

Mr Bogere, who was backed up his fellow chiefs from Kigulu, argues that the exclusion of other chiefs has been the cause of wrangles that have plagued Busoga Kingdom since the reestablishment of the institution of Obwa Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga and the enthronement of Henry Wako Muloki as the third Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga in February 1996.

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