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By Raymond Baguma
and Hope Mafaranga

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked cultural leaders to champion national unity and warned them against sowing discord among people of Uganda.

He said this during the 15th coronation anniversary, locally known as Empango, celebrations of the Toro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru yesterday in Fort Portal.

Cultural institutions, he said, were restored in Uganda for the purpose of uniting people in Uganda and the integration of the African continent.
Museveni reminded the big gathering which included cultural leaders from different parts of Uganda and Africa people that there was resistance to restore the kingdoms in 1993.

Kingdoms were constitutionally abolished in 1967 by then Uganda People’s Congress government infringing on the people’s right to culture. To reverse it the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government restored the cultural institutions and leaders.

The President recalled that despite the debate over the restoration of the cultural leaders he personally supported it with a view of cultural leaders fostering unity by emphasising the commonalities which link the various communities.

He, however, expressed regret that some cultural leaders had gone against the original purpose of restoring the kingdoms and were promoting differences amongst the communities.
Museveni warned that government would not allow any cultural leader who messes up this vision.

“To support you (traditional leaders), was not (intended) to prove how separate we are; but what we share in common,” Museveni said.
“Traditional institutions should not impede this integration.”

He said that integration of African countries at regional and continental levels is important for the creation of wider markets for goods and services produced by African countries.

He cited the regional cooperation existing amongst East African Community member states, which if politically federated under a single political structure, can boost trade and the region’s power to negotiate in international trade.

King Oyo who ascended the throne at 3 also marked his 18th birthday, and now comes of age to administer the kingdom on his own. During the occasion he also ceremonially received the instruments of power to enable him administer his kingdom.

As a gift President Museveni gave King Oyo a car. The Queen Mother Best Kemigisa also gave the king a brand new Mercedes Benz 2009 model M-Class.

A series of activities were held for two days in the run up to the celebrations which climaxed yesterday. Some of the activities included tree planting, princesses’ exhibition, clan soccer tournament, town cleaning and an all-night music concert organised by Uganda Telecom.

The Empango ceremony began with a church service led by the retired bishops of Rwenzori Diocese Eustace Kamanyire and Benezeri Kisembo and the official opening of the refurbished Karuziika (palace), feasting that involved singing and dancing to the tunes of the Amakondere, a luncheon and sharing the birthday cake, and giving gifts to the youthful king.

Also, during the ceremonial rituals to hand over power, the King was presented with the royal regalia that included a number of spears onto which he rested his hands on at a time. He was also presented a number of royal drums and he sounded each of them nine times.

In attendance were several African cultural leaders from Mali, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Mauritania, South Africa, DR Congo, Nigeria, Libya, Kenya, including guests from the USA.

Other guests included diplomats, the king’s Batoro subjects, government officials who included ministers, civil servants, as well as Members of Parliament.

Buganda Queen Sylvia Nagginda and Omukama Iguru Gafabusa led delegations from Buganda and Bunyoro respectively