By Barnabas Taremwa Bwaniaga, Senior Global Citizen. I have been in great pain since the loss of my son, my Friend , my King.
Keeping quiet is not helping me. I feel like screaming out the pain in my heart—perhaps that is the only way I can begin to calm the storm within me.
Keeping quiet is not helping me. I feel like screaming out the pain in my heart—perhaps that is the only way I can begin to calm the storm within me.
It is painful enough for the family, the people of Tooro, and the entire country to wait nine days before our King is laid to rest. But what is making an already painful situation even worse is the emerging power struggle over the future of the Kingdom.
I first heard the announcement from my good kid brother and friend, Andrew Mwenda, announcing the new King. My immediate reaction was that it was uncultured, because Andrew knows very well that it is not his responsibility to announce the choice of the clan members led by Omusuuga.
But knowing Andrew Mwenda, I also understand that his intentions were probably not meant to offend Omusuuga or the Babiito clan. He is a prominent Mutooro, and his late mother was a Mubiito—a princess. At the same time, he is a journalist who believes passionately in being the first to break important news. I believe he wanted to be the news breaker, rather than deliberately disrespecting the institution of Omusuuga or the Babiito.
However, I strongly believe that the institution of the King and the traditions established by previous Kings of Tooro must be respected.
Since the introduction of the Will, I believe that the wishes of the King must carry the greatest weight. King Oyo did not die in an accident; therefore, his Will should be respected and treated as his final instructions to his Kingdom.
He was a traditional leader. Questions surrounding modern marriage arrangements should not be allowed to override the wishes of the King in matters concerning the traditional institution. The choice of the Clans should be respected, but in my view, it should come second to the expressed wishes of the King.
This crisis is being created by a few people who appear to have developed a sense of entitlement over an institution that belongs to the people of Tooro and, ultimately, to the Kingdom itself.
– Let us not turn the death of our King into a struggle for power.
– Let the King’s Will be respected.
– Let his final instructions be his final instructions to his Kingdom.
Whoever chooses to defy the King may cease to regard himself as a subject of the King—but the Kingdom will remain.
The Kingdom must survive its King, and the King’s wishes must be honoured. Barnabas Taremwa Bwaniaga, Senior Global Citizen.
