Busoga now has a king
Prince David Muluya Kawunhye Wakoli (R) presents Prince Gabula to the Basoga as the new Kyabazinga. He was elected by the Busoga Royal Chief’s Council on Saturday. Photo By Isaac Mufumba.
What you need to know:
In a vacuum. Busoga has not had a substantive Kyabazinga since the death of Henry Wako Muloki in September 2008
JINJA:
The royal drums sounded throughout the weekend as Basoga put to back years of waiting that kingdom at the source of River Nile has not had a Kyabazinga (king).
The Busoga Chiefs’ Royal Council, that brings together the kingdom’s hereditary leaders of the 11 traditional counties elected Prince William Nadiope Gabula IV as the Kyabazinga-elect of Busoga kingdom at the weekend.
The hereditary chiefs constitute the Electoral College that elects the Kyabazinga.
Prince Nadiope emerged unopposed during the chiefs’ Saturday meeting, which was attended by 10 out of the 11 hereditary chiefs.
The spokesperson of the hereditary chiefs, Mr Juma Luba Munolo, in the company of the chairperson of the Chiefs Council, Daudi Kawunhe Wakooli, told the public shortly after the meeting that the impetus was creation of harmony in Busoga.
“We felt it important to end the struggles in the kingdom by electing the person who we deem fit for this seat as demanded by majority stakeholders in order to bring sanity back the kingdom,” Mr Munulo said.
Mr Munulo said the chiefs’ Saturday meeting had also resolved to have the constitution of Busoga amended so that an elected Kyabazinga reigns for only five years and not for life.
He said the five year tenure is a temporary provision that will be harmonised when the Lukiiko [parliament] finally debates a draft constitution that was recently compiled by the Busoga Constitutional Review Commission led by Jinja lawyer Haji Shaban Muziransa.
The two chiefs Munulo and Kaunhe revealed the new Kyabazinga would be presented to the Lukiiko today (Monday).
Prince Edward Columbus Wambuzi, who had in 2008 been declared winner at a similar exercise, organised shortly after the death in September 2008 of his father, Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki, on August 13 threatened legal action if he is not recognised as the Kyabazinga of Busoga.
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, who hails from Busoga had also recently issued a one-month ultimatum to the chiefs directing them to present a Kyabazinga to the people and end the impasse.
Not invited
Prince Wambuzi told Daily Monitor yesterday morning he had not been made aware of the chiefs’ meeting as he was not invited.
“I cannot comment about that apart from telling you that I am still the Kyabazinga as declared by court” he said on phone.
Busoga Diocese Bishop Emeritus Cyprian Bamwoze congratulated the royal chiefs for breaking the leadership impasse in the kingdom urging them to form a strong team behind the Kyabazinga elect.
“I am relieved, motivated and excited by the news decision taken by the royal chiefs to elect Price Gabula IV as the new leader of Busoga,” he said.
Bishop Bamwoze who is also Prince Gabula’s mentor and regent said he [Gabula] was a well groomed leader whose election to the throne was not by accident.
key events
September 2008. Henry Wako Muloki the then Kyabazinga of Busoga dies from a long illness.
August 13 2009. Prince Edward Columbus, is installed as the new Kyabazinga but the decision is challenged, culminating into a long struggle.
2012. President Museveni urges the Basoga in a meeting at the kingdom’s seat in Bugembe to sort out thier differences and elect a new king.
2014. Speaker of Parliament Ms Rebecca Kadaga gives the Busoga Chief’s Royal Council an ultimatum of one month directing them to present the kingdom with a Kyabazinga.
