President Kaguta Museveni has shown interest in meeting top leaders in Ankole to discuss issues of the development and establishment of Ankole Palace located in Kamukuzi into tourist attraction and center of Ankole cultural norms
The Palace which is located in Kakika at Nkokonjeru, houses two gravestones where the remains of two former Ankole kings were laid to rest.
According to the history, the two kings include Omugabe Kahaya ll whom President Museveni wrote about in his book, Sowing The Mustard Seed, that his death time corresponds to his own birth date and was laid to rest at Nkokonjeru in 1944.
Another one is Omugabe Rutahaba Gasyonga ll’s whose remains were also buried here in 1982 after his twenty three-year reign.
On 6th September 2022, the Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni penned down a letter addressed to Uganda’s most prolific historian Dr. Mwambusya Ndebesa who had previously written to him expressing interest for the developing and rehabilitation of Omugabe Palace at Kamukuzi in Mbarara City into a major tourist site.
In his letter, the President suggested meeting for all the MPs and District heads (District Chairpersons) from Ankole Sub-region which he preferred to take place at his country home in Rwakitura, Kiruhura District.
MPs and District Chairpersons from Kigezi, Lyantonde and Sembabule are invited to attend as witnesses on an account that these areas are historically and culturally occupied by the Banyankole and Bahororo.
Dr. Mwambusya Ndebesa will attend as an observer representing his foundation known as the Banyankole Cultural Foundation together with the foundation of the Late Kahigiriza.
It could not be established wether Eng George William Katatumba will attend the meeting since is the Prime minister of Ankore.
Could the developments in the meeting bring back the debate to have Ankore cultural king and Obugabe reestablished?
Let’s wait to hear from the meeting but the restoration of the Ankore monarchy is a delicate matter since some people are opposed to restoring kingship in Ankore with their own reasons some that it was oppressive and others think that it would help to unite the Banyakore.
