By Aggrey Baba
In a shocking public declaration, former Speaker of Parliament and first deputy prime minister, Rebecca Kadaga has accused the leadership of Busoga Kingdom of betrayal, political interference, selling kingdom’s property, and a failure to deliver tangible benefits to the people of Busoga.
Her statements were made during an interview on a local radio station, and have set the stage for a deeper political and cultural conflicts in the region, one that threatens to unravel the delicate balance between Kadaga, the Kyabazinga, and those he rules with.
Kadaga, earlier, known for being a staunch ally of Busoga Kingdom, shocked many when she accused the Kingdom’s leadership of undermining her political standing.
According to the Kamuli district woman MP, she played a key role in securing the ascension of William Gabula Nadiope IV as the Kyabazinga of Busoga. She revealed that President Yoweri Museveni, initially opposed to Gabula’s enthronement, was convinced to back him only after Kadaga personally pestered the President on several occasions .
Sources close to Kadaga, and those who have been by her side for years, revealed how how the fearless ‘Mama Busoga’ one day refused to leave Museveni’s sitting room, at the Entebe state House, until he agreed to Gabula’s enthronement, despite his (Museveni) preference for another prince, Kolombus, from Bulamogi chiefdom. Kadaga’s persistence eventually forced Museveni to relent, and Gabula was enthroned as Kyabazinga of Busoga.
Fast forward to the present, and Kadaga finds herself in a bitter political battle for the Kamuli Woman MP seat, with some accusing the Kingdom’s second deputy prime minister (Katukiro), Owekitibwa Osuman Ahmed Noor of orchestrating her political downfall. Kadaga claims that the Kingdom, is fielding their minister Veronica Kagona, who declared her bid for the seat, accusing Kadaga of ageing, as the candidate to challenge her in the upcoming elections. This, according to Kadaga, is a deliberate attempt to weaken her political influence in the region.
“Why is the Kingdom working so hard to remove me?” Kadaga questioned, accusing the Kingdom of playing politics rather than focusing on the welfare of the people of Busoga. Her concerns extend beyond just politics.
The former speaker also raised alarms about the Kingdom’s alleged failure to bring meaningful development to the region.
“There’s nothing tangible the Kingdom has for the past ten years done for the people. If I wasn’t available, Busoga Kingdom would be no more,” she declared, a comment that reflects her belief that her leadership is the driving force behind any progress in the region.
Kadaga’s remarks come at a time of increasing speculation and concern within the Kingdom. Many Basoga have raised questions about the silence of the Kyabazinga in recent months, with some even suggesting that he may not be at the palace or that his safety could be at risk.
The Kingdom’s leadership has done little to quell these rumors, with some claiming that the Kyabazinga is simply focused on his royal duties, while others wonder if his absence is part of a larger political maneuver.
It is now being reported that the Kyabazinga, who has been absent from public life for some time, is out of the country pursuing further education, specifically working toward a PhD. However, some experts in Busoga affairs are pleading for the Kyabazinga to return to the Kingdom and help harmonize the current tensions. They argue that the Kyabazinga is the only one who can bridge the widening gap between Kadaga and the Kingdom’s leadership. As someone who respects and is respected by Kadaga, his return could play a critical role in diffusing the growing rift.
“Kadaga and the Kyabazinga have always shared a mutual respect. His return could be the key to resolving the current crisis,” advised Journalist and politician Simon Muwanga Lutaaya who’s currently working on a local radio station in Jinja. “The Kyabazinga appointed all the people that Kadaga is now at odds with, and his involvement could help bring both sides back to the table.”
In a further twist to the saga, Kadaga has openly criticized certain members of the Kingdom’s leadership, particularly Owekitiibwa Osman Ahmed Noor, the second Deputy Prime Minister responsible for partnerships. Kadaga has claimed that the Kingdom is no longer in the hands of true Basoga, accusing Noor, who has no ancestral ties to the region, of being an outsider controlling the Kingdom’s affairs.
Noor has been involved in securing investment deals for the Kingdom, but Kadaga argues that these efforts have not translated into real benefits for the people.
“Busoga Kingdom has been grabbed. It is now being controlled by foreigners like Osman who have no roots in Busoga,” she asserted, fueling further divisions within the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Kyabazinga, who has often been seen organizing Iftar dinners and celebrating Eid with the Muslim community in Busoga, was, notably absent this Ramadan. This has further heightened fears among the Basoga, who have expressed concern over the lack of communication from their King. Some speculate that the Kyabazinga is being sidelined, while others worry for his safety.
The first Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Joseph Nsekere Muvawala, has tried to reassure the public, insisting that the Kyabazinga is fine and safe. Muvawala has also praised Osman for his role in the Kingdom’s development, specifically highlighting his procurement of tents for royal events.
However, this praise has been met with skepticism from many Basoga, who see tents as a poor substitute for meaningful development. Critics argue that Muvawala should be ashamed of his leadership, given that the Kingdom has seen little in the way of tangible progress under his watch.
Kadaga’s claims of betrayal are compounded by the broader landscape in Busoga, where a growing number of Basoga are demanding accountability from their leaders (katukiro). The Kingdom, once a symbol of unity and pride for the Basoga people, now finds itself at the center of a storm, with political allegiances shifting and trust in the Kingdom’s leadership eroding.
In recent years, the Kyabazinga’s leadership has been under increasing scrutiny. His failure to address the concerns of his people, coupled with the rising political ambitions of figures like Kadaga and Kagona, has left many wondering whether the Kingdom can withstand the growing divisions, mostly under the leadership of Muvawala and his team which they accuse of failing and fighting the youthful kyabazinga.
Kadaga, for her part, has positioned herself as the only true advocate for the people of Busoga, willing to stand up to the Kingdom’s leadership and fight for the Kyabazinga, and the region’s future.
As the 2026 elections draw near, the political battle in Busoga is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in Uganda, with Kadaga and the busoga media fraternity accusing most MPs from the region of fighting the very person who babysitted them during her prime time, just because they were given billions of money by some names in the NRM to bring Kadaga down.
This comes just weeks after the Bukoli North MP, Solomon Silwanyi, was captured on video urging the Bugiri NRM District Executive Committee (DEC) members to rally behind the current speaker of parliament, Anita Among in the coming party elections, calling the former speaker old and incompitent. Among recently made public her intentions to push Kadaga out of the NRM National Executive Committee (NEC) where she currently serves as the national second deputy chairperson (female), and one of the approaches she ( Among) alegedly chose is, waning Kadaga’s influence in her own home region by splashing money.
Will Kadaga’s accusations of betrayal and her challenge to the Kingdom’s leadership galvanize the Basoga, or will the Kingdom find a way to weather the storm? It all remains to be seen.
But for now, the future of once a united kingdom hangs in the balance, and its people are demanding answers from those in power. The time for silence has passed, and the Basoga want to see their King, and they want to know where their leadership is taking them.
The Kyabazinga’s return, even if temporary, could prove to be the crucial turning point in this battle for the kingdom’s future. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
