By Aggrey Baba
Tooro’s Musuuga Charles Kayondo Kamurasi on Thursday, at the Media Centre, gave journalists a glimpse into the firm approach he has taken in managing Tooro affairs since the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV.
As the fourth estate took turns asking questions about the succession and the September 29 coronation of Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, Musuuga appeared keen to keep control of the room, repeatedly asking those with questions to raise their hands or even come forward.
At one point, a journalist started asking a question from a place where Musuuga could not clearly see him, but the old man forced him to come forward for him to clearly see the journalist
“I don’t see you. Come forward please,” he told the journalist, making those in the audience to bust into a basket of laughter.
Another journalist addressed him as “Mzee”, but Musuuga quickly corrected him.
“No, they call me Musuuga,” he said.
The exchanges were brief, but they captured the firm personality the Musuuga has displayed since the succession crisis started following Oyo’s death.
Batooro are often described as calm and soft-spoken people, but the Musuuga has shown a different side during the succession dispute, repeatedly standing his ground as questions emerged over who should take over the Kingdom.
He has remained at the centre of the transition, defending the authority of the Babiito clan and the traditional institutions involved in choosing the next king.
When journalists eventually put the question to him directly, of who is currently in charge of Tooro, Musuuga gave an answer that left little room for interpretation.
“I closely worked with late King Oyo, and in accordance with our laws and traditions of Tooro Kingdom, I assumed all the powers of the Kingdom [following his death]. And I am the one in charge,” he said.
The Musuuga, however, made it clear that he does not intend to retain those powers indefinitely.
“And when time comes, I will surrender the power,” he added.
His declaration came against the background of a succession dispute that has continued to attract almost everyone’s attention since the youthful king died, with different positions emerging from members of the royal family and other stakeholders.
One of the questions put to Musuuga was how the Kingdom was dealing with concerns associated with the royal family, including the position of Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and claims surrounding an alleged son of the late King.
Musuuga said he had been involved in discussions over the matter and had spoken to President Museveni, who, he said, had sought an opinion from the Attorney General.
“I don’t know the advice or the opinion the Attorney General [Sam Mayanja] gave to tge head of state, but later on, towards the end, the government made it absolutely clear that that claim of the child was not proper,” he said.
He said government subsequently gave the Kingdom clearance to proceed with the coronation.
“And we are doing it with full approval of the government. So there is nobody who can contest that. Government has already made its position very clear,” Musuuga said.
His response was significant because the question of the alleged child has been one of the issues surrounding the succession debate, particularly in relation to the wishes of the late King and the position of members of his family.
Journalists also asked Musuuga about an earlier memorandum of understanding said to have been reached between the Babiito clan and the royal family regarding certain rituals and arrangements before the burial and the announcement of a new king.
Musuuga did not provide details of any outstanding dispute over the arrangement, instead returning to the position that the Kingdom had now received government clearance to proceed with the coronation.
The focus then shifted to the practical side of installing a new king, how much the ceremony will cost and where the money will come from, with the Musuuga disclosing that the budget for the September 29 coronation is about UGX922 million, bringing the estimated cost close to UGX1 billion.
He further acknowledged that Tooro cannot raise the money on its own.
“As Tooro, we cannot raise that money,” he said.
The Kingdom is therefore looking for support from friends of Tooro and Uganda, both within the country and abroad, as preparations for the ceremony continue.
Charles Kamurasi’s fundraising appeal was directed at ordinary Ugandans as well, arguing that small contributions from a large number of people could meet the target.
“If you raise 2,000 shillings per person in Uganda, we shall exceed that budget,” he said, later later broadening the appeal beyond cash, asking Ugandans to contribute food and other items needed for the ceremony.
“If you have a cow, if you have a kitoke [Matooke], please come forward and give it to us. We need it,” he said.
The coronation, for Musuuga, is also an opportunity to reconnect younger Batooro with Tooro’s traditions. Responding to a question on how the Kingdom intends to pass its culture and traditions to the younger generation, he called on young people to attend the ceremony and witness the rituals for themselves.
“We call upon the young people, to come forward and see what the culture of Toro is,” he said.
The media engagement showed a man who has remained firmly involved in the transition since Oyo’s death and who appears determined to ensure that the process moves forward despite the disagreements that have surrounded the succession.
For months, the succession debate has tested Tooro’s traditional structures and brought the royal family, the Babiito and government into difficult conversations over the future of the Kingdom.
Musuuga has nevertheless continued to defend the process that produced former news anchor Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, while maintaining that he himself assumed the powers of the Kingdom after Oyo’s death. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
