A storm is likely to erupt in the Ankole region, following the announcement by the ‘Omugabe (King) Asiimwe Rubambasi Ntare VI of Ankole Kingdom’, of the appointment of Professor Venansius Baryamureeba as the Prime Minister (Enganzi), to lead a cabinet team of 19 ministers.
‘I Asiimwe Rubambasi Ntare VI hereby appoint the Prime Minister (Enganzi), Secretary (Kihimba), Speaker, create ministries and appoint Ministers and County Chiefs (Abaami B’amashaza) to serve in the Ankole Kingdom as required of me by the cultural norms and rites of the Ankole Kingdom following the coronation ceremony on 29th October 2016 at Itaaba, Kyabanyoro, Mbarara’, the ‘King’ wrote in an embossed communication on December 7.
The ‘Omugabe’ has also appointed 15 County Chiefs (Abaami B’Abamashaza) to oversee all the counties in the Kingdom.
By press time efforts to get comment from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which oversees issues to do with cultural institutions in the country, were futile.
But contacted on phone Prof Baryamureeba said he was set to address a press conmference about the issue later today.
However, the development is likely to stir emotive sentiments in sections of the Ankore commmunity since the coronation of the recognised Omugabe has been in balance after President Yoweri Museveni stopped all regal activities in the Ankole Kingdom in 1993.
At the time, a group of Ankole royals led by among others Generals Elly Tumwiine and David Sejusa (Tinyefuza) enthroned Crown Prince John Barigye but President Museveni reversed the coronation and said he was the ‘Ssabagabe’. Interestingly, Mr Museveni’s decision about the coronation of the Omugabe followed the restitution of Kingdoms that had been abolished by President Milton Obote in 1967. The other kingdoms; Buganda, Bunyoro, Tooro and Busoga were all allowed to operate.
Recognised Crown Prince Barigye died in 2011 and was succeeded by his son Prince Charles Aryeija Rwebishengye.
