By Kabageny Marion
Efforts to inaugurate the newly appointed Prime Minister of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Dr. Kasirivu Kyamanywa, and his cabinet have hit a deadlock.
The ceremony, initially slated to be presided over by the Kingdom’s Chief Prince (Okwiri), Eng. Fred Mugenyi Ruchunya, was abruptly suspended, leaving cabinet members and supporters in uncertainty.
A source from the new cabinet, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that preparations for the event were in full swing, with some officials already in Hoima City awaiting the inauguration.
However, the anticipated ceremony was replaced by a press conference where Okwiri announced that the new cabinet had already assumed their roles unofficially, operating from private offices rather than the Kingdom headquarters.
Okwiri refrained from disclosing new dates for the official installation and urged the current Prime Minister, Andrew Byakutaga, to vacate office amicably.
The press conference was attended by several new cabinet members, including the interim speaker and Mr. Denis Asiimwe, who has been a central figure in the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the Kingdom’s leadership.
The controversy dates back to September 2024, when Okwiri announced the new cabinet appointments. These appointments were met with resistance from certain Kingdom members, who deemed them unlawful.
Asiimwe, a resident of Masindi Municipality, filed a lawsuit against Byakutaga, Okwiri, and the Kingdom’s Royal Commission Chairperson, Dr. Kaliisa Kabagambe, at the Hoima High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the appointments.
The matter took a turn when Asiimwe and Okwiri reached a consent judgment, affirming the legality of the appointments. Subsequently, the court ruled that the new Prime Minister and his cabinet could officially assume office.
Despite the ruling, Byakutaga rejected the judgment, alleging bias, and has refused to relinquish his position, citing an open-ended contract granted by Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru.
This leadership crisis has persisted since June 2024, with Okwiri and some Babito clan leaders insisting that Byakutaga’s term expired on June 30, 2024. The impasse continues to fuel tension within the Kingdom, leaving its administrative future in limbo.