President Yoweri Museveni has written to the Gender and Cultural Affairs Ministry to accord David Kaunhe Wakooli, the acting Kyabazinga of Busoga Kingdom full recognition and benefits that accrue to other cultural leader. All cultural leaders are entitled to a vehicle, security and a monthly allowance of shillings 5 million.
In his May 26th letter, Museveni directs Lukia Isanga Nakadama, the minister of gender and cultural affairs to pay Kaunhe arrears for the period he has been in office as acting Kyabazinga since the demise of Henry Waako Muloki on 1st September 2008. The president’s letter comes after years of a stalemate over the position of the Kyabazinga.
Following the death of Mulooki, a group of Busoga chiefs hurriedly installed his son Edward Columbus Wambuzi as the Kyabazinga but he was rejected by another group the post was not hereditary. As result, the group installed Gabula Nadiope as the Kyabazinga leading to a stalemate. In his letter Museveni says that until the 11 Busoga hereditary chiefs elect a substantive and acceptable leader there is an acting Kyabazinga in office who should not be underrated.
Last month, Kaunhe suffered humiliation after he was thrown out of his house at second lane over the failure to pay shillings 6 million. His landlord David Katenderi threatened to drag Kaunhe to court should he fail to clear the money within a month’s time. In his defense Kaunhe faulted government for denying him the emoluments all traditional leaders are entitled to including his monthly allowances.
Farouk Kirunda, the deputy media desk officer in state house says that president Museveni was aggrieved at the manner in which the acting Kyabazinga was thrown out of his house yet is entitled to benefits like a monthly allowance from government. But Chief Yasin Waguma Ntembe of Butembe chiefdom says all the hereditary Busoga chiefs should be accorded recognition.
He says giving David Kaunhe Wakhooli privileges cannot solve the leadership wrangles in Busoga Kingdom.
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Prince Patrick Izimba Gologoloof Kigulu chiefdom says government should recognize all the 11 chiefdoms that were united by the colonial governments in 1894 in order to foster development.
