Why Bunyoro king dissolved his cabinet

The Omukama (king) of Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom Solomon Gafabusa Iguru

What you need to know:

  • Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Mr Kabagambe Kaliisa who sits on the royal commission said the king used his authority to fire the cabinet.

The Omukama (king) of Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom Solomon Gafabusa Iguru has dissolved his cabinet as he looks to change the system under which one of the oldest monarchies will run in the next 30 years.
Prime minister Norman Lukumu has been replaced by Mr Andrew Byakutaga, a former Commissioner Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The dissolution of cabinet was announced on Tuesday by the king’s Principle Private Secretary (PPS) Prince Richard Katahimbwa at Karuziika Palace in Hoima Town.

The Omukama also dissolved the kingdom’s land board which was chaired by Mr Tadeo Asaba. Mr Asaba has in the recent years been at the top of protecting the kingdom land in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve from possible takeover by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) as the two parties clashed over boundaries.
“The new Prime Minister is to work with the royal commission to appoint new cabinet members after putting in place systems,” the Omukama state read in part.

Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Mr Kabagambe Kaliisa sits on the royal commission.
Mr Kabagambe told this reporter that the Omukama used his authority to retire the entire cabinet to pave way for the formalization of the new policies and regulations to govern the Kingdom for the next 30 years.
“The Omukama who has the authority to appoint the cabinet and other bodies in the kingdom decided that the entire cabinet be retired.
He has already appointed Andrew Byakutaga as the new prime minister but he will take time to appoint ministers,” Mr Kabagambe said.
Mr Kabagambe said the Omukama also established three task forces to look into the kingdom’s management structures by setting up the financial, human resource and land systems.
“The policy direction for the management systems will determine who should appointed to the cabinet and other positions in the kingdom depending on one’s qualities to serve in any capacity because for instance if you plan to produce oil in the next thirty years, you don’t need a minister for potatoes growing,” Mr Kaliisa added.