Tooro Premier resigns; King Oyo appoints successor

Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Bernard Tungakwo resigned abruptly last week and immediately King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV appointed Steven Frankstone Kiyinji to replace him.

In a letter dated August 20 to the king, Tungakwo said he wanted to avoid a conflict of interest since his new assignment is at national level in the cultural fraternity.

“This is to communicate a decision I have reached to step down from the position of Prime Minister of Tooro Kingdom effective immediately in order to enable me prepare for service in another role,” he said.

“I will continue to promote and support the cause and interests of Tooro Kingdom in my new assignments and where possible remain available for consultation to the person you shall choose to as my successor,” he said.

The premier’s resignation came as the kingdom prepares for King Oyo’s 27^th coronation anniversary planned for September 12.

King Oyo appointed Tungakwo in June 2015, replacing Steven Kaliba, who came to office following the resignation in 2013 of Amos Mugisa.

Since his ascension to the throne in 1995, Tooro has had 10 premiers. These include John Sanyu Katuramu, Steven Nyabongo Rwakijuma, David Rusa, Steven Irumba, William Nyakatura, Dr Apollo Karugaba, Amos Mugisa, Steven Kaliba, Bernard Tungakwo and now Steven Frankston Kiyinji.

On Friday, Tooro Kingdom’s Supreme Council, known as Orukurato Orukuru rwa Tooro held an extra-ordinary council for the King to unveil the new Prime Minister.

However, drama ensued after the King named Kiyinji as the new premier.

Some members of the Supreme Council rejected Kiyinji’s appointment saying that he is neither a Mutooro nor a Ugandan.

Rev Willy Kintu-Muhanga led the voices of opposition saying it’s a shame for the kingdom to have a premier who is not a Mutooro, and doesn’t understand the culture.

“We are not happy with the whole process. Imagine, the king has appointed a premier who is an Indian. Do our cultural norms tally with those of Indians?” he said outside of the debate.

“How will he defend our kingdom?”

A section of members gathered asked for greater clarity into the new Premier’s background.

The kingdom’s Minister for Culture, Peter Sunday Rusoke, who seconded Kiyinji’s appointment argued that it is not written anywhere that a non-Mutooro cannot be Prime Minister.

The King also appointed Harriet Nyakake as the First Deputy Premier and Kwemara Ngabu as the Second Deputy Premier.

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