Prince plans to block Oyo coronation fete

Prince David Kijanangoma addresses a press briefing in Fort Portal Town recently. He claims King Oyo denounced himself king after he suspended the 1999 Tooro Kingdom constitution. Photo by Felix Basiime.

KABAROLE- Prince David Kijanangoma has said he will block King Oyo’s 21st coronation anniversary slated for September.
Speaking to journalists in Fort Portal on Tuesday, Prince Kijanangoma said he will evict King Oyo from the Karuziika (king’s palace) because he is there illegally.

“This year, we are not going to allow the coronation anniversary of [king] Oyo. The people of Tooro are going to have a king of their choice,” he said at the briefing.
Prince Kijanangoma kicked up a storm in Tooro Kingdom last year after he convened a press conference in Fort Portal Town in which he declared himself the rightful king of Tooro, accusing his cousin [King Oyo] of abrogating the kingdom constitution and performing kingdom functions in Kampala.
On Tuesday, he reiterated that King Oyo denounced himself as king after he suspended the 1999 Tooro Kingdom constitution.
He vowed that the people of Tooro, with his leadership, would “with or without government acceptance coronate a king who will be a people and not a political king”.

However, when contacted, Tooro Kingdom spokesperson Kennedy Gusalire said: “[Prince] Kijanangoma is just seeking attention,” adding that the “Tooro Kingdom constitution has never been suspended” and Price Kijanangoma would never be recognised because a “king is born and not made”.

“It is on record [King Oyo is in the national gazette] and no one can reverse it, he just wants to cause chaos,” he said.