This meeting, chaired by Bishop George William Kasangaki of Masindi Kitara Diocese, took place at the Gulu University Hoima-Campus offices located within the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Administration Block in Hoima City
The interim prime minister Dr. Baltazar Kyamanywa Kasirivu and other ministers were sworn in today (Sunday) in a function that was presided over by Robert Atega, the commissioner of oaths from Hoima high court.
In a letter dated September 2, Eng. Fred Rucunya Mugenyi, the Chief Prince (Okwiri) of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, the Okwiri replaced Byakutaga with Dr. Baltazar Kyamanywa Kasirivu Atwooki as the new interim prime minister of the Kingdom.
Now Mugenyi states that, on Sunday evening they (clan Members) convened an emergency meeting and Babiito clan heads unanimously agreed that Byakutaga vacates the office within one week as he (the Okwir) appoints an interim Prime minister within two weeks to undertake the affairs of the Kingdom.
The project will jointly be implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Once complete, the system will serve more than 5,000 residents in the villages of Kyakaboga A, Kyakaboga B and other areas that have been battling with acute water shortage.
The call was in a speech read by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the 30th coronation anniversary of Omukama Solomon Rukirabasaija Gafabusa Iguru I on Tuesday. The events were held at the Kingdom chambers in Hoima.
He says divisions deter development and therefore cultural institutions should ensure that they use their platforms to preach peace and development. Museveni called upon traditional leaders to mobilise their subjects to work hard to get rid of poverty from their homes.
The Kingdom is currently seeking 500 million shillings to fund various activities, including an Empango marathon, bicycle competitions for both women and men, a blood donation drive, a business exhibition, and a music festival, among others.
In their January 6, 2023 petition signed by the chairperson, Joseph Serumaga Kazairwe, the group wants Bugangaizi and Buyaga counties to become independent cultural institutions. The two counties covering Kagadi, Kakumiro, and Kibaale districts are under the administrative units in the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom.
This comes amidst final preparations by members of the Bugungu community in Bullisa district to install their cultural leader alias Mutebengwa before the end of this year.
Norman Lukumu, the former Prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, who chairs the organizing committee for the Bugungu Cultural Institution, says plans are underway to install their cultural leader before this year ends.
To date, the project affected persons are yet to be issued with the titles despite government committing itself that the titles will be issued before they are resettled.
Prof. Barongo Yolamu served as Bunyoro Kingdom Prime Minister from 1994 to 1999. He was the first Prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom when the Kingdom was restored in 1994.
Muniongo 77, died on Wednesday at his Ancestral home in Duhaga cell Kahoora Divison Hoima Municipality from cancer. He was the Chief adviser to Bunyoro Kitara King Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru on cultural affairs and a member of the Bunyoro Kitara Royal commission.
Bahati Ondoma, one of the affected persons, says they are in untold suffering ever since they were forcefully evicted from their ancestral land. He explains that most of them mainly children and women have nothing to eat and that some of their colleagues have started dying of hunger.
Currently, the government and oil companies are implementing several Infrastructure and environmental social Impact studies in preparation for the first barrel of oil expected by 2022. Part of the ongoing works includes the construction of an airport in Buseruka, studies on the East African Crude Export Pipeline, construction of the oil refinery and development of oil roads.
The Omukama also called on his subjects to work hard and improve so as to boost their household income. Iguru also observed the need to conserve the environment because of the effects of climate change.
While droughts are uncommon in Hoima, the length and severity of the dry conditions since September last year have strained cattle farmers. They endured dry conditions for more than five months, hand feeding their animals and forced to sell down stock as they run out of pasture and water during the prolonged dry spell.
