By Peter Abanabasazi
The Hoima High Court Judge Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema has issued out an interim injunction restraining the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Royal Commission, the Bunyoro Chief Prince and the Minister for Gender from the appointment of regents.
The ruling come t following an application by the Family Members of the Former King of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Sir Tito Winyi Gafafusa disputing the appointment of the regents.
Sir Tito Winyi Gafafusa is the father of Omukama of King of Bunyoro Dr. Solomon Gafabusa Iguru the 1st and grandson of Omukama Kabalega.
The Chief Prince Fred Mugenyi Rucunya who is the head of the Babito ruling clan together the members of the Royal Commission the lead by their chairman Dr. Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa have been holding consultation to have regents to assist Omukama Iguru whose health is not in good condition.
Recently the group wrote to the Minister of Minister for Gender Betty Amongi and appealing to have a plan of appointing regents.
However as the group progressrs with the plans, Members of the Royal family of late Omukama Gafabusa who include Prince Samuel Nyaika, Prince Harrison Gafabusa Kintu, Prince Bonefansi Gafabusa Mahembe, Princess Tabitha Mpanja, Princess Alice Bagaya, Prince John Kabalega, and Prince Ronald Jasi Kisoro among others went to court protesting this move to have regents
The group filed the case against the Gender Minister Amongi, the Chief Prince Mugenyi and the Royal Commission Chairperson Dr. Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa at Hoima high court on 6th December this year.
In their case they accused the tree of attempting to usurp the powers of the King.
The plaintiffs emphasize that any appointment of regents while Omukama Iguru is still alive tantamount to a coup d’état.
In the ruling that was issued by the Hoima Grade One Magistrate Stella Mwali on behalf of the High Court Judge Byaruhanga, the respondents were restricted from appointing the regents until the main application is disposed of.
The main suit seeks among others a declaration that the respondents and their agents have no legal, lawful, traditional or cultural mandate, power and authority to appoint and install regents.
In the ruling Justice Byaruhanga notes that Omukama Dr. Solomon Gafabusa Iguru the 1st the Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom is the gazzetted traditional and cultural leader, and despite his current health condition, under the Bunyoro Cultural norms, the Omukama cannot be substituted or succeeded when still alive.
The interim order was granted with no costs on the side of the defendants.
The family members of late Omukama Gafabusa led by Prince Harrison Kintu Gafabusa expressed excitement about ruling saying that they have hope that the ruling of the main application will be in their favor.
Fred Mugenyi Rucunya the Bunyoro Chief Prince was not impressed by the ruling adding that people who are against the planning of having regents are not doing with good faith.
John Olimi Nyabongo the Former Bunyoro Chief Prince and Francis Atugonza the King’s subject have advised the Chief Prince Mugenyi to appeal against the ruling.
They said that it is not the first time to have regents to help Omukama adding that having regent dose not meaning overthrowing Omukama.
They said that the health condition of of Oumukama cannot him to run the kingdom and he needs to have people to help him and these must be regents.
