The Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Chief Prince (Okwiri), Eng Fred Rucunya Mugenyi, is seeking ways of opting for an out of court case settlement after the family of the late Omukama (King) Sir Tito Winyi dragged him and two others to court over a ploy to institute regents (abahigiki).
The Okwiri is sued together with Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister, Ms Betty Amongi and the Chairman Royal Commission, Eng Dr Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa.
Their scheme and decision based on the alleged ill health of Omukama Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru was translated by the family members of the late Omukama Winyi and a section of Banyoro as a gambit to usurp his powers and overthrow him from the throne.
In December 2023, the Hoima High Court Judge, Justice Jesse Byaruhanga Rwigyema, issued an interim injunction restraining Eng Mugenyi, Dr Kaliisa and Minister Amongi from appointing the abahigiki.
Following this, now the Okwiri is mooting ways of settling the matter out of court by seeking an audience from the Winyi family so that they can solve the impasse at a personal level.
He fears that as the term of office of Prime Minister Andrew Kirungi expires in June this year, there will be more confusion in administration since there will not be anybody responsible for it; the reason he feels there should be regents to act on his behalf.
Okwiri Mugenyi observes that if regents are not installed, the kingdom may miss out on a number of services since there is nobody acting on the purportedly ailing king.
When contacted, Prince Harrison Kintu Gafabusa, who is one of the plaintiffs in the court case, welcomed the idea.
Members of the late Omukama Winyi who dragged the trio to court include Princes Harrison Gafabusa Kintu, Bonefansi Gafabusa Mahembe, John Kabaleega, Ronald Jaasi Kisoro and now deceased Prince Samuel Nyaika and Princesses Tabitha Mpanja and Alice Bagaaya among others.
