Embattled Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddaffi will retain the honor that was given to him by Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru, a kingdom official has said.
In 1996, King Oyo honored Gaddaffi and President Museveni with the ‘Omujwarakondo’ or Defender of the Kingdom, which is the highest honor in the Kingdom. Since the founding of Tooro Kingdom in 1830, no other person had been given the honor.
When Gaddaffi was honored, King Oyo put a yellow and blue crown on Gadaffi’s head. Yellow and blue are the kingdom colors. King Oyo also dressed Gaddaffi in a blue robe with the Tooro Kingdom emblem emblazoned on it, before giving him a spear.
Rebels opposed to Gadaffi’s 42-year-rule have overrun Libya’s capital Tripoli, overpowering Col Gaddaffi and his forces. The Brother Leader, as he prefers calling himself, is now in hiding and the rebels put a 1.7 million dollar bounty on his head.
On Monday, members of the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council wrote to King Oyo asking him to speak out whether it is not an embarrassment to the Kingdom for Gaddaffi to continue holding the honor, because of the events in Libya.
But in a telephone interview with Uganda Radio Network, Arthur Namara, the Kingdom Information Minister says that King Oyo’s decision to honor Gaddafi is irreversible.
Namara says the honor that was given to Gaddaffi was in recognition of his contribution to the development of Tooro kingdom. Namara also says the kingdom condemns the events in Libya because Gaddaffi is regarded as a ‘son’ in Tooro.
Gadaffi’s relationship with Tooro Kingdom started in 1996 when he financed the renovation of the Kingdom Palace at Karuzika in Fort Portal town, which had been in ruins for 30 years.
Since then, the Libyan government has been funding some kingdom activities which include the annual coronation anniversaries. Last year, it contributed 500 million shillings for the celebrations as King Oyo took full administration of his kingdom.
During last year’s coronation anniversary, Abdullah Bujeldain, the former Libyan ambassador to Uganda, who represented Gaddaffi, said the Libyan government would contribute funds for the construction of King Oyo Foundation Hospital in Kyenjojo district.
