The Busoga King William Nadiope Gabula IV, has vowed to take the job that President Museveni gave him last week, describing critics as clueless.
Following the Kyabazinga’s appointment as an Ambassador in charge of general duties in the office the president, there was backlash among some of his subjects and other Ugandans.
Some staunch believers in the institution of Busoga kingdom have advised the king to shun president Museveni’s appointment, arguing that the King will have sold the kingdom while others asked him to relinquish the throne.
In a reshuffle of Uganda’s diplomats announced last Friday, President Museveni designated the traditional leader, following two meetings between Mr Museveni and Gabula IV, as an “Ambassador in-charge of Special Duties in the President’s Office”.
The position has just been created for Gabula IV since it has not existed before until his appointment.
Among the critics is Ms Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Gecretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, who said the Kyabazinga’s priority should be to preserve the Busoga kingdom and culture.
“Our responsibility now is to safeguard the Obwa Kyabazinga bwa Busoga from disintegrating and the priority of the Kyabazinga is to preserve the Busoga Kingdom and the culture of the Busoga sub-region,” she said at a function organised by the Busoga Development Link at Busoga Square in Jinja Town on Saturday.
Kyabazinga’s stand
Busoga Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muvawala, who is close to the Gabula IV said the Kyabazinga’s appointment is “good news because it demonstrates the President’s trust in him”. Mr Muvawala also holds a government job as the executive director of the National Planning Authority on top of serving as prime minister in Busoga Lukiiko.
He added that as a Good Will Ambassador, Gabula IV will remain within the kingdom and continue to discharge his cultural responsibilities uninterrupted.
This means that Gabula IV will, in his role advocate for a specific cause on the basis of his notability.
The law
Article 122 (1) of the Constitution provides that the President may, with the approval of parliament, appoint ambassadors and diplomats.
The Constitution also bars traditional or cultural rulers from engaging in partisan politics and Article 246 (3) specifically provides that “a traditional leader or cultural leader shall not have or exercise any administrative, legislative or executive powers of government or local government.”
