Medard Asiimwe Beyendera, another resident has welcomed the renovation of the palace but wonders why it is taking place at the time when there is a contention on the crown prince.
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Ankole Kingdom Palace at Kamukuzi
Mbarara District local government in conjunction with the Tourism Ministry is to spend Shillings 1.7 billion on renovating the dilapidated Ankole Kingdom palace at Kamukuzi in Mbarara Municipality.
The Mbarara District LC V Chairperson, Johbosco Bamuturaki, says the move is aimed at protecting the historical site from encroachers and us it for research and Tourism.
According to Bamuturak, work is meant to commence at the end of April 2018. He says the work will involve renovating the existing structures, erecting a fence around the palace and connecting power to the palace among others.
The move to renovate the palace has generated mixed reaction among Mbarara residents. Some of them think it is aimed at silencing the claimant to the Ankole crown, Prince Umar Asiimwe Rubambansi, a descendant of King Ntare V.
Asiimwe has been claiming to be the crown prince and heir apparent to the throne. He has since established a palace at Itaaba in Rwampara, where hundreds of people visit him.
He has since been arrested twice on charges of impersonation and released on bail. Julius Tumwikirize, a resident of Kamukuzi division where the old palace is located, says government is just yielding to pressure to renovate the palace.
Medard Asiimwe Beyendera, another resident has welcomed the renovation of the palace but wonders why it is taking place at the time when there is a contention on the crown prince.
But Mbarara district LC V chairperson, Johnbosco says the move is aimed at boosting tourism and preserving culture in the district and entire Ankole sub region.
Ankole Kingdom was abolished together with other Kingdoms in 1967. The Kingdom had existed for between 500 and 600 years starting as the kingdom of Kaaro-Karungi (the beautiful land) before it became Nkore kingdom.
By the time of signing the 1901 agreement, Ankole included 11 administrative units under different chiefs. They were: Buchunku (Mitooma), Matsiko (Nyabushozi), Rutasharara (Isingiro), Ruhara (Rwampara), Nduru (Buzimba), Enganzi Mbaguta (Ngarama, Sheema, Kashaari), Mukotani (Igara), Rubarema (Buhweju), and Kaihura (Bunyaruguru.).
Anthony Kushaba
Guest