Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom is facing a leadership standoff as its embattled Prime Minister, Andrew Kirungi Byakutaga, refuses to vacate office following a controversial decision by the Babiito clan.

On September 2, Eng. Fred Rucunya Mugenyi, the kingdom’s Chief Prince (Okwiri), announced Byakutaga’s removal and the appointment of Dr. Baltazar Kyamanywa Kasirivu Atwooki as the interim Prime Minister.

The decision was made after an emergency meeting of the Babiito clan, which issued a one-week deadline for Byakutaga to step down.

The clan claims that Byakutaga’s tenure was illegally extended by the Royal Commission in July, which granted him an additional year in office. Rucunya, however, insists that managing kingdom affairs in the Omukama’s absence is his responsibility, not the Royal Commission’s.

Despite the pressure, Byakutaga has vowed to stay in office, questioning the legality of the interim appointments. He emphasized that only the Omukama, Dr. Solomon Gafubusa Rukirabasaija Agutamba Iguru I, holds the authority to appoint or remove kingdom officials. Speaking to this news site, Byakutaga revealed he is consulting with his legal team to challenge the Babiito clan’s actions.

The new interim cabinet announced by the Babiito clan includes several prominent appointments. Owek. Kugonza Miganda has been named the interim Speaker of the Orukurato and Chairperson of the Clans Consultative Council, while Owek. John Apollo Rwemparo takes the role of First Deputy Interim Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Land, and Natural Resources. Owek. Stephen Mukitale is the Second Deputy Interim Prime Minister and Minister of Oil and Gas.

Other key figures include Daphine Kabatalesa, who will serve as Interim Minister of Palace Affairs, and John Williams Byakagaba as Interim Minister of Finance and Planning. The appointments extend across various sectors, with Francis Ssewante heading Culture, Charles Ochaki Nyabwongo in General Duties and Disaster Preparedness, and Simon Kinene overseeing Production.

Byakutaga, originally appointed in 2018, had his term extended until June 2024. However, the Babiito clan disputes the extension, leading to the ongoing conflict.

The kingdom has struggled with governance issues due to the Omukama’s ill health, leaving it without a functioning parliament or full cabinet for over a year. This internal power struggle has added further complications to the kingdom’s leadership challenges.