BASONGORA CRAWN THEIR KING

The King of the Busongora Heritage Kingdom Omukama Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale in Kasese district has today been crowned at a function in his home at Muhokya trading center despite government’s intervention to stop it.

At 2:00pm the Basongora and Banyabindi elders crowned Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale amid ululations from his subjects in the absence of government and religious leaders.

In his speech, Bwebale said that his Kingdom will have twenty sub-counties that include Kasese Municipality, Muhokya, Katwe, Bugoye, Hima and Nyakatoozi among others.

He said the Kingdom will is ready to work with the Bakonzo in their boundaries and he also commended the Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma for being hospitable to the Basongora in his territory.

He said the Kingdom administration will soon invite President Yoweri Museveni for official recognition of the cultural institution.

The Prime Minister Samuel Ntungwa said whoever opposes the existence of the Basongora Cultural Institution should go to courts of law.

Ntungwa said that people should not be confused that there are two Kings on one land adding that they both the Omusinga and Rutakirwa are cultural leaders at the same level.

Rutakirwa then announced his cabinet that is led by Samuel Ntungwa as prime minister, Jimmy Kagoro as 1^st Deputy premier in charge of foreign affairs and Muzamiru Bisanga as 2^nd Deputy Premier in charge of internal affairs.

However, the Kasese Resident District commissioner Lt. Milton Odongo who had ordered for the halting of the function said he cannot comment on the matter gone ahead with despite his advice.

The RDC met with 246 of the 1995 constitution which says that a cultural institution may exist in any area of Uganda in accordance with culture, norms, wishes and aspiration of people to whom it applies.

But the Vice Chairman of Kasese District local government said the Busongora Kingdom will not be recognized by the district local government until central government communicates its position.

By press time, there was no comment from the Rwenzururu Kingdom because all ministers supposed to speak on behalf of the cultural institution were still busy with the Omusinga’s functions in Bundibugyo. END.