Busoga Debacle: Confusion as Nadiope is Unseated, Restored and Premier Warned to Leave Issues of Royals to Royals

Just as everyone thought the Kyabazinga of Busoga debacle was long settled and closed, eight out of eleven royals last week issued a vote- of- no- confidence against the reigning Kyabazinga, HRH William Nadiope Gabula.

And a few hours after the controversial statement had hit town, the Katuukiro of Busoga, Dr Joseph Muvawala issued a rebuttal to clarify that the Kyabazinga reigns for life.

“His Highness Wilberforce Nadiope Gabula the legitimate Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga Kingdom as duly elected on August 24, 2014, enthroned on September 13, 2014 and duly gazetted by the Government of Uganda on June 24, 2019 under the General Notice No. 649 of 2019 is firmly in office and duly performing his functions,” Muvawala’s statement states.

But one of the royals responding to Owek. Muvawala, strongly warns the Katuukiro to leave matters of royals to royals. “What moral authority does Muvawala who is a commoner has to speak about issues of the royals?” the royal fumed after being contacted for a comment.

This royal while doubting whether Muvawala retains the job of Katuukiro following the coup passed against Nadiope, cynically advises the premier to be contented with his job of Katuukiro and leave matters of royals to royals.

Muvawala, who the coup-talk apparently hit like a thunder from the blue, quickly summoned courage to pen a rejoinder asking the subjects of Kyabazinga, well-wishers, partners and everyone else to treat the news with the ‘contempt it deserves.’

Also, the enviable country’s chief planner, Muvawala alludes to the Uganda Constitution and that of Busoga which he says fully recognize Nadiope as the Kyabazinga of Busoga before laughing off the alleged coup as an absolute joke.

To drive the point home, Muvawala takes the country through the legal process of the enthronement and the Legal Notice issued by the central government, among others, which he submits is more than enough to remove any lingering doubt from the mind of anyone about the legitimacy of Nadiope as the king of Busoga.

A January 12, 2022 public statement issued by a grouping of people styling themselves as the Royal Council of Busoga had caused a stampede in Busoga and Uganda at large by announcing the dethronement of Nadiope as the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

In spite of the fact that the group doesn’t give grounds of removing the Kyabazinga and only stop at asserting the move is in the best interest of the kingdom, but they raise more eyebrows when they propose the vacuum left by the supposed unseating of Nadiope to be filled by his predecessor Columbus Edward William Wambuzi Muloki.

Wambuzi had by the time of filing this statement, fortunately though, not come out in support or opposition of the purported coup nor offered himself to replace Nadiope.

What we know is that much as Wambuzi in the past would step out now and then to oppose the Kyabazingaship of Nadiope, he has of late cut a posture of a man at good terms with the reigning king. The duo has not only been exchanging visits, but have been seen together on tours promoting the operation wealth creation in Busoga.

The vote -of- no- confidence was issued on January 3, 2022, but the masterminds have been apparently keeping it under wraps while consulting and lobbying all members of the royal council to assent to it.

The eight purported seconders of the coup say they invoked Article 8 (2) (f) of the Constitution of the Kyabazinga of Busoga to expel Nadiope from office. Apart from appending their signatures on the statement purporting to dethrone Nadiope, none of the royals wrote his name on the statement. The statement, though, comes complete with an emblem of the office of the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

Author Profile

Stephen Kasozi Muwambi: Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]