Subjects sue Oyo over constitution

The king is accused of ‘unconstitutionally’ governing Tooro.

King Oyo of Tooro has been sued again by one of his subjects for allegedly breaching a consent judgment that was reached in 2011 and abrogating the constitution.

The group also claims that the king irregularly appointed the new prime minister.

The king and the newly-appointed kingdom prime minister, Mr Stephen Kaliba, have been asked by the High Court in Fort Portal to file a defence within 15 days following a suit filed by Mr George Kusemererwa, a member of the Tooro Clans Council.

“You are hereby required to file a defence in the above suit within 15 days from the date of service of this Summons on you. If no defence is filed on your behalf, by yourself, your pleader or by anybody authorised by law to do so, the case will proceed and judgment may be given in your absence,” the summons from court read in part.

King Oyo had in 2010 been sued by the same group over alleged “unconstitutional decisions” and later court advised the parties to settle the matters outside court, a thing they did in 2011.

When contacted about the fresh suit, Tooro Kingdom information minister Arthur Namara Araali, said: “It is unfortunate that people who should be guiding the kingdom are the ones setting a very bad precedence”.

“Traditionally, the King does not seek approval of the Orukurato (parliament) in order to appoint his Omuhikirwa (prime minister).

Secondly, the king did not suspend the entire constitution, if he had done that why did he ask the Orukurato to review the constitution quickly...?” he added. , in his communication he said the Orukurato with all its committees, the cabinet should continue to operate and indeed the new Orukurato was sworn in.”

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