Tooro Kingdom has expressed strong opposition to the scheduled visit of Omusinga (King) Charles Wesley Mumbere of the Rwenzururu Kingdom to Bunyangabu district, which falls within Tooro Kingdom.
Omusinga Mumbere’s visit, planned for Friday, May 17, 2024, is intended to address Bakonjo residents in Bunyangabu. The Rwenzururu Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Joseph Kule Muranga, informed Tooro’s Prime Minister, Stephen Kiyingi Amooti, of the visit in a letter dated May 2, 2024. Muranga stated that Mumbere had been invited by the Bakonjo in Bunyangabu to discuss reconciliation, peace, unity, socio-economic transformation, and mindset change.
Despite this, Tooro Kingdom has vehemently opposed the visit, urging the police and government to prevent it. In a letter dated May 13, 2024, Prime Minister Amooti conveyed Tooro’s objection to the mid-western regional police commander, citing a lack of proper protocol and respect for Tooro Kingdom’s consent.
Amooti also mentioned a conversation with Bunyangabu District Woman MP and Minister of State for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Peace Mutuzo, during the Labour Day celebrations in Fort Portal. Mutuzo had promised to transport Bakonjo residents to meet King Mumbere in Kasese instead. However, the following day, Tooro’s Deputy Prime Minister, William Kwemara Ngabu, wrote to Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, accusing Mutuzo of supporting Mumbere’s visit for political gain.
Ngabu’s letter to Nabbanja expressed concern that Mumbere’s visit could spark conflict, given the historical ethnic tensions between the Batooro and Bakonjo. He highlighted the violent past, particularly the 1964 ethnic violence centered in Bunyangabu, and referenced a 2013 incident where the government halted Mumbere’s visit to Bundibugyo to prevent clashes.
Ngabu called for the cancellation of Mumbere’s visit, allowing him only as a private visitor under strict security considerations. Consequently, the police directed the mid-western regional commander to block the visit. Police Director of Operations, John Nuwagira, emphasized that Bunyangabu falls under Tooro Kingdom’s jurisdiction and any official activity by the Omusinga requires permission from the host kingdom.
The Rwenzururu Kingdom criticized Tooro’s actions, asserting that Mumbere was invited by the local community and district leaders. Rwenzururu’s Deputy Prime Minister, Baritazale Kule, noted that Tooro was informed of the visit in writing but chose to bypass proper communication channels. Kule emphasized that Mumbere’s visits aim to promote peace, unity, and transformation.
In response to the tensions, Mumbere has agreed to postpone his visit to Bunyangabu, pending a government decision.
