Felix Basiime
2 October 2011 [http://allafrica.com/stories/201110030672.html]
King Oyo Nyimba of Tooro, who was in 2010 sued by some of his subjects for alleged "unconstitutional decisions", has made a big stride to end conflicts in his kingdom.
Last week he entered a consent judgment with the party that sued him and accepted all their conditions to withdraw all court cases.
The conflicts started after the king fired his Prime Minister, Mr William Nyakatura in October 2010, which was followed by some kingdom officials resigning, trading accusations and counter accusations that attracted some demonstrations in town by a section of the subjects.
In the main application, the Plaintiffs: Mr John Baranga, Mr John Kusemererwa, Mr Mordecai Kakorwa and Mr Lawrence Kawamara through their lawyer Mr Johnson Musana, sued King Oyo, head of the ruling Babiito clan, Mr Charles Kamurasi, Mr Francis Mugenyi, the King's Principal Private Secretary, and Mr Augustine Kayonga for allegedly abusing the kingdom's assets and powers granted to them.
King Oyo later in December 2010 replaced Mr Nyakatura with Dr Apollo Karugaba, and also appointed his mother, Best Kemigisa, as one of the five regents. These appointments also attracted stiff challenges from some subjects and clan leaders, who opened a new case in the High Court in Fort Portal arguing that the appointments were illegal.
According to King Oyo, the appointments were meant to end the leadership vacuum that had lasted about six months.
"All the pressure came when King Oyo changed administration. Some of the people were not satisfied and they are the people behind this. They also love the Kingdom, but have to appreciate what the King has done. It is good for people to go to court when they are not satisfied," Mr Arthur Namara, the Kingdom Information Minister, said then.
Later, the clan members secured a court injunction halting all Kingdom activities until the new Rukurato is sworn in.
Earlier, on November 9, 2010, court had advised the feuding parties to settle the matter out of court, and this was done September 5, when the King met some of the Plaintiffs and settled matters.
Among others, King Oyo has agreed with the Plaintiffs that the 1999 Constitution of Tooro Kingdom and regulations made thereunder is the "Supreme Law of Tooro Kingdom", and all appointments and removals from the offices of the kingdom shall be done in conformity with the kingdom's constitution.
But sections of the people see the King's move to accept all conditions by the Plaintiffs as a trap where his decisions will always be quashed at will. "Overall, the King was completely misled and he handed over his power to these people. It showed that all decisions he has been making are wrong," a source from the Royal family intimated to Sunday Monitor.
The same source added: "The King agreed with the people who took him to court that he was wrong in his decision making. At first I thought the talks were aimed at give-and-take position to create harmony among the subjects, but according to the consent judgment, it put the King completely at fault.
"Secondly, they are ready to refuse any nominee of the King through the council if he does not fit in their agenda, which in return weakens the King's ability to make decisions".
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