King Oyo To Go On Hunger Strike Over Creation Of New Kingdoms

Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, will fast for seven days to show his displeasure with the ongoing division of his kingdom.

In an interview with local media, Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Dr. Stephen Kaliba, says King Oyo will fast at his palace in Fort Portal starting on Saturday June 14th.

Since the coronation of Lt. Col Martin Kamya as the cultural leader of the Bamba and Bawisi in Bundibugyo district two weeks ago, there has been discomfort in Tooro Kingdom.

Kaliba says that the King is disappointed that the creation of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu in Kasese and Obudhingya Bwa Bamba in Bundibugyo has divided and weakened the power and supremacy of Tooro Kingdom. Kaliba adds that the King will also fast over delay by the government to return the kingdom assets.

According to Kaliba, the King will fast with his subjects from the counties of Tooro, which include Kyaka, Mwenge, Kitagwenda, Kibaale, Bunyagabu, Burahya, Ntoroko and Fort Portal Municipality. He adds that prayers will also be held during the fasting period.

Kaliba says King Oyo is unhappy that the new kingdoms were formed without even consultation with the mother kingdom. He says that the creation of other kingdoms has led to ethnic clashes and yet the Batooro, Bakonzo and Bamba and other tribes have been living harmoniously before the cultural institutions.

He says that the creation of the new kingdoms will make it hard for Tooro to claim some of its assets in Bundibugyo which include two commercial buildings in Bundibugyo town and more than 70 hectares of land.

Some subjects have welcomed the move by King Oyo and are ready to join him during the fasting period.

Beatrice Nyangoma, a member of Ebitara n’Amacumu, says it’s disappointing that President Museveni, who is a regent and Omujwara Kondo or Defender of the Kingdom, which is the highest honour in Tooro, to support the division of the kingdom.

There are unconfirmed reports that other areas that are part of Tooro Kingdom are also agitating to have their own cultural leaders. The areas include Kitagwenda in Kamwenge district, Busongora in Kasese district and Kyaka in Kyegegwa district.