Three officials of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom sued over leadership crisis

6 September 2024, 7:18 am

By James Muhumuza

The development follows the announcement by Chief Prince, Engineer Mugenyi Fred Ruchuya, of plans to welcome the newly elected cabinet, a move that has faced opposition from the dismissed prime minister and his team.

Denis Asiimwe, a concerned subject of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, has filed a lawsuit against three officials of the Kingdom in the Hoima High Court over various issues related to the leadership and administration of the kingdom’s affairs.

The three kingdom officials are Prince Mugenyi Fred Ruchunya, the Chief Prince (Okwiir), Andrew Byakutaaga, the Prime Minister (Omuhikirwa), and Kabagambe Kaliisa, the Chairman of the Royal Commission. According to civil suit no. C5-038 of 2024, filed in the High Court of Hoima, Holden at Hoima, yesterday, Thursday, 5th September 2024, the plaintiff seeks the court’s judgement on a number of issues.

The issues include a declaration that the defendants’ appointment of new cabinet ministers is unlawful, null, and void, as well as a declaration that the defendants are trespassing on the King’s prerogative powers to appoint cabinet ministers.

The plaintiff seeks an order restraining the defendants from making any further appointments of cabinet ministers unless in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the kingdom’s laws and customs.

He also seeks an injunction compelling the defendants to reverse any appointments made in contravention of the law. Additionally, he requests an order requiring the defendants to provide accountability for the kingdom’s assets that were sold off under the pretext of the King’s health condition.

According to the copy of the suit, the cause of action arose from the fact that the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom is a traditional institution recognised under the Constitution of Uganda and operates under specific laws and customs governing the appointment of cabinet ministers.

Meanwhile, since yesterday, security has been increased at the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom offices in Hoima city amid tensions surrounding the transition to the new cabinet. According to Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police PRO, the police presence is intended to maintain law and order and prevent any potential chaos or disruptions during the transition process. He stated that the deployment is necessary to ensure a peaceful transition.

Chief Prince Ruchuya has emphasised that the new cabinet will assume office by all means and has urged the security forces not to politicise the matter, stating that their aim is to work for the betterment of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. The situation remains tense, with the dismissed prime minister and his team vowing to oppose the new cabinet.