Govt, Tooro In Talks Over Return Of Kingdom Property

http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=56778

The Uganda government and Tooro have started negotiations on the return of the Kingdom property currently under the government.

Tooro Kingdom is demanding for more than 150 properties which include buildings and large chucks of land that are currently being occupied by squatters especially in Bunyangabu County in Kabarole district and in the counties of Mwenge and Kyaka in Kyenjojo and Kyegegwa districts respectively.

The Kingdom also has assets in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts, which were formerly under Tooro Kingdom.

In a telephone interview, Dr Steven Kaliba, the Omuhikirwa of Tooro, told Uganda Radio Network that the talks started last week. Kaliba says the Tooro Kingdom Committee that was appointed by Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV met with officials from the office of the Attorney General and a legal team from State House.

Dr Kaliba, however, refused to divulge details of the negotiations, saying it would jeopardize the the talks which are still at an early stage.

The three member committee which met the government side includes Kaliba, Edgar Tabaro, the Kingdom Minister for Justice and legal advisor to Omukama Oyo and David Mpaka, who is a member of the kingdom legal team.

However, a source at the Kingdom who preferred anonymity because he isn’t authorized to speak to the media, told Uganda Radio Network that the two meetings were held at the Kingdom palace. The source further said that the kingdom will this week receive a draft agreement which will be presented to the kingdom parliament, the Orukurato for debate.

Two weeks ago, the Kingdom started compiling a list of assets it’s demanding from the government.

The demand for Tooro Kingdom property gained momentum during the 18th coronation anniversary of Omukama Oyo at the Karuzika in Fort Portal, when he his Prime Minister Dr Stephen Kaliba and several spoke of the need for government to return the assets commonly referred to as Ebyaitu.

The demand by Tooro Kingdom comes after the government signed a memorandum of understanding with Buganda to return the kingdom assets.