http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=54999
The King of Tooro Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has revived the
Kingdom’s demand for its property that is in possession of the central
government.
Addressing a closed door cabinet meeting at his palace in Fort Portal on
Wednesday morning, King Oyo directed Steven Kaliba, the Kingdom Premier
to write to the government demanding the return of the property. Oyo
also directed Kaliba to form a team that will negotiate with the
government to return the more than 70 kingdom properties which include
land and buildings.
When kingdoms were abolished in 1966, properties that belonged to the institutions were taken over by the government.
Records from the Kingdom estates department obtained by Uganda Radio
Network show that after the restoration of the Kingdom in 1993, the
government returned only 15 out of the 75 properties to Tooro Kingdom.
Some of the returned properties include the Burahya County headquarters
at Butebe, three buildings in Fort Portal town and pieces of land in
Kichwamba, Bukuku, Karambi and Kisomoro sub counties.
The properties the Kingdom is demanding from the government are located
in Bundibugyo, Kasese, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge districts. Kasese and
Bundibugyo were formerly under Tooro Kingdom until 2010 when Charles
Wesley Mumbere was installed as Rwenzururu King.
In an interview with Uganda Radio Network, the Omuhikirwa Kaliba said
failure by the government to return the property has affected the
kingdom financially. He says that if they are returned, the kingdom can
rent them out and get income to sustain its activities and improve its
financial base.
He also says the King has no funds required to implement some of the
kingdom activities and instead turns to the government and friends of
the Kingdom for support.
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According to Kaliba, despite returning some of the Tooro property, the
kingdom hasn’t been able to access them since they are being used by sub
counties, schools and health facilities. He cites Block 4 plot 1 in
Bundibugyo town occupied by Bundibugyo town council and land in Nyahuka
occupied by Nyahuka Primary School. Kaliba says that government should
instead compensate the kingdom.
//Cue in: “Other properties…
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Uganda Radio Network has learnt from Kingdom sources that next month,
there are plans by King Oyo and his cabinet to raise the matter when
they meet President Museveni, who will be touring Kabarole district.
David Kaboyo, a member of the Kingdom Parliament, the Orukurato, says
that the move by the King is good for the kingdom, but is quick to add
that if the assets are returned they should be managed in a transparent
manner and not be sold illegally or grabbed.
Tooro joins other cultural institutions like Buganda and Bunyoro, who
are also demanding a return of their properties from the government.
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