Amendment Of Tooro Kingdom Constitution Completed

The committee set up by Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV to review the kingdom constitution says it has completed its work.

 

Last year Omukama Oyo suspended the 1999 Tooro Kingdom constitution and appointed a nine-member committee led by his aunt, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, to review it and suggest some amendments.

 

Francis Mwesige, a member of the committee told Uganda Radio Network on Friday that the amendments will be presented to the Kingdom parliament, the Orukurato, next week. 

 

The Kingdom parliament consists of more than 60 members who include Kingdom cabinet ministers, the Omukama’s nominees, clan heads, county chiefs, members of the Tooro Royal family, youths and religious leaders.

 

A copy of the draft constitution, seen by Uganda Radio Network includes the amendment of Article 15 which in the past stated that the Omukama shall be removed by the Kingdom parliament based on medical grounds or misconduct. In the amendment, the authority to remove the Omukama will now rest with members of the royal clan, since his ascension to the throne is hereditary.

 

Another amendment is Article 10 which now gives the Omukama powers to appoint members of the Kingdom land board, finance committee and appointments committee. These powers were in the past given to the kingdom parliament.  Article 29 has also been amended to create the post of deputy Kingdom speaker, which has been non-existent.

 

Also amended is Article 49 to include the districts of Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo as part of Tooro. When the constitution was drafted in 1999, both districts were still under Kabarole.

 

 However, Ntoroko district isn’t mentioned in the new document, an indication that Tooro is taking a hint from the recent protests when Ntoroko leaders said they aren’t part of Tooro Kingdom. Last year, the leaders in Ntoroko, the birthplace of Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, publicly said that they aren’t part of Tooro Kingdom. Timothy Kyamanywa, Ntoroko district chairperson banned the singing of Tooro Kingdom Anthem in schools and at district functions. He also ordered the removal of the Kingdom flags which were hoisted at various schools.

 

Mwesige says that the committee wasn’t given audience by the people of Ntoroko. He says the leaders shunned the consultative meetings and their views, weren’t included in the amendments.

 

During the review process, the committee faced a lot of challenges like lack of funds and hostility from leaders in Ntoroko district, which affected the Kingdom activities. The Orukurato couldn’t convene since the constitution was suspended.

 

The Kingdom constitution was drafted in 1999 and it spells out how the Kingdom should be administered. Early this year, King Oyo was dragged to court for illegally suspending the constitution. The case at Fort Portal High Court has on several occasions been adjourned.