The appointment of Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV as an ambassador in January remains a big topic of conversation in Busoga and kingdom officials are getting increasingly rattled by the relentless debate.
President Museveni appointed Nadiope an ambassador in charge of special duties in the president’s office. But Andrew Ntange, the kingdom’s information minister, has urged people to stop discussing the appointment of the Kyabazinga.
Speaking on Baba FM’s Tufumitirize talk show on February 7, Ntange said no Ugandan has the moral authority to second-guess the president’s decision or advise the Kyabazinga to reject the appointment. Baba FM is a Busoga kingdom radio.
Ntange also criticized Busoga Lukiiko members for urging the Kyabazinga to reject the appointment.
“No one in this country is above the president and he didn’t just wake up to appoint Iseife [Kyabazinga] an ambassador. Busoga Lukiiko is [just] one of the four arms of the Bugembe government but above it is cabinet and the royal chiefs council. People should wait for the official and final position from the prime minister,” he said.
Ntange said the Kyabazinga cannot reject the appointment because that may be construed as a Busoga boycott of the ruling NRM government. He said critics of the appointment don’t understand what they are talking about.
“Who among you [critics] knows how the Kyabazinga was raised? Our king is a total orphan who was brought up by some good-hearted people…he also needs upkeep,” he added.
Last week, the Busoga Lukiiko advised Gabula to reject the appointment arguing that a king is barred by the constitution to participate in politics or work as a public servant.
“After a series of lengthy and exhaustive consultations, it has been agreed that the appointment is not in consonance with the norms, values and culture in regard to the office of the Kyabazinga. It is not appropriate for the Kyabazinga to accept the appointment,” reads the resolution signed by Busoga Lukiiko speaker George Mutyabule, addressed to the kingdom prime minister, Joseph Muvawala.
Gabula was installed as Busoga king on September 13, 2014 after a six-year protracted power struggle with rival princes. Sources at State House claim that prior to his appointment, Gabula met President Museveni and the two talked about the job. In fact, one kingdom minister who declined to be named said that in appointing Nadiope as ambassador, the president was granting a request from the Bugembe kingdom government.
The minister argued that the position of ambassador would help the youthful king open many doors.
“He will be able to reach any country and palace of any level in this world using that title ‘ambassador.’
Museveni’s aide on media management, Faruk Kirunda, also argued that it would be a waste of resources for such a very educated youthful Kyabazinga not to serve his country in some capacity.
Gabula holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Coventry University in the United Kingdom. He graduated on November 15, 2015, a year after his enthronement.