Longest Serving Tooro Kingdom MP Dies

http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=57457

John Baranga, the longest serving member of the Tooro Kingdom Parliament, the Orukurato, has died.

Baranga (79), passed away on Wednesday morning at his home in Maguru, Fort Portal Municipality.

According to his brother David Rujumba, Baranga who was diabetic, collapsed and was rushed to Kabarole hospital, where he died 30 minutes later.

Elderman Baranga, as he was commonly known in Kabarole, has been a member of the Kingdom parliament under the reign of Tooro Kings Sir George Rukidi, Patrick Olimi Kaboyo and Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

In the 1950s, Baranga was elected as member of the Orukurato representing Fort Portal Municipality, a position he held in the parliament until his death.

Baranga was also a member of the Tooro Kingdom Clan Council, which is advocating for reforms in the Kingdom. Last year Baranga and John Kusemererwa dragged King Oyo to court for illegally appointing Steven Kaliba, as the Kingdom Prime Minister and suspending the Kingdom constitution.

Saul Mugasa, the Tooro Kingdom parliament speaker, says that Baranga’s services to the Kingdom will be missed. Mugasa says that since Baranga had experience, members of the kingdom parliament often sought his advice on the operations of the parliament.

//Cue in: “we have lost an encyclopedia…
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Rev. Richard Baguma, the Tooro Kingdom regent, says although he disagreed with the deceased when he dragged King Oyo to court, Baranga loved the Kingdom and often mobilized the Batooro to love the King and kingdom.

Baguma also says that Baranga was instrumental in 1993, when he was part of the committee that sought the views of the Batooro on whether they demand a cultural leader. According to Baguma, last month, Baranga also helped the Kingdom locate some of its assets located in different parts of the Kingdom.

At the time of his death, Baranga was also the Chairperson of the Diabetes Association of Rwenzori region. He advocated for the establishment of a diabetes clinic at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.