King Oyo’s security beefed up in visit to Ntoroko amid objection
King Oyo is escorted by his guards and subjects during a recent function. His security was beefed up ahead of his visit to Ntoroko District yesterday. PHOTO by Godfrey Mutegeki Araali.
What you need to know:
Residents in Ntoroko, part of Tooro Kingdom, claim that their beliefs and those of the Tooro Kingdom are different.
NTOROKO
The security of King Oyo Nyimba was yesterday beefed up ahead of his visit to Ntoroko District after the residents there threatened to block the king from visiting.
The development was confirmed by the Tooro Kingdom information minister Arthur Namara Araali yesterday.
“The king is supposed to visit Rwebisengo Sub-county (Ntoroko) today (Monday) as part of his tour through his kingdom and his security has been stepped up because of the letter from some Batuku to the president saying that they are not part of the kingdom,” he said.
A section of the Batuku ethnic group in Ntoroko District, which is part of Tooro Kingdom, has rejected the visits of both King Oyo of Tooro and of King Charles Mumbere of Rwenzururu.
In their July 30 petition by the Batuku community to the President against what they call “the territorial cultural expansions of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and Obukama bwa Tooro over Batuku community”, the Batuku argue that the Uganda Constitution regards them as a tribe and have formed an agenda called the “Ant-Kingdom interference Batuku community” that is fighting for their cultural rights.
The Queen mother of Tooro, Best Kemigisa, hails from Rwebisengo in Ntoroko.
The Batuku wrote: “The Ant-Bukama/Businga group from the Batuku community feel privileged to be with the government which came out of struggles against forces of tyranny, oppression and exploitation with clear memories of our history which had been characterised by political and constitutional instability.”
The group argues that both the pro-Omukama and Omusinga are violating the Constitution to impose their kings on them when Batuku are a different tribe with different cultural beliefs, customs.
“We do not have the same cultures and customs with Batooro or Bakonzo,” the group said, adding: “It is factual that there has not been a king of different indigenous inhabitants in Uganda otherwise Kayunga (Banyara) clash that claimed people’s lives would not have happened with Buganda Kingdom” They have warned government over clashes between the Tooro Kingdom and Obusinga over “colonising” Batuku community.
Oil issue
“Our sincere analysis is based on why now get interested in Butuku community when there are oil prospects in Ntoroko District. Tribal clashes in eastern Congo!!” the petition signed by Mr Daniel Steady, the group chairperson, read in part.
There was tension in the neighbouring Bundibugyo District in July after King Charles Mumbere visited the area and set up a royal shrine and a flag at Kirindi Village in Bwamba County.
This later caused clashes between the Bakonzo and Baamba-Babwisi communities as the latter (Bwamba) argued that they are not part of the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
Government later restricted the Omusinga (king) of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, Charles Wesley Mumbere, from visiting Bundibugyo District.
