By Omubito Kasami Rogers Mike Acaali
The unfolding discussions surrounding the future leadership of Tooro Kingdom provide an important opportunity for the people of Tooro to reflect on their history, culture, identity and the traditions that have sustained the institution of the Omukama for generations.
First and foremost, I wish to extend my appreciation to everyone who has contributed to maintaining peace, dignity and stability in Tooro during this important period.
I recognise and appreciate the role played by H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, the Babiito, the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the Queen Mother, all the clans of Tooro, religious leaders, Members of Parliament, ministers, the security forces, the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the media.
Each of these institutions and individuals has, in one way or another, contributed to the stability and visibility of Tooro at a critical moment in its history.
I also wish to commend the Committee of 21, which has undertaken an important responsibility at a time when emotions, expectations and competing views about the future of the Kingdom are high. Their work deserves recognition, particularly where it contributes to consultation, unity and the preservation of Tooro’s cultural heritage.
However, appreciation must go hand in hand with a call for transparency.
The discussion about succession to the Tooro throne cannot be separated from the history and customs of the Babiito and the clans of Tooro. The institution of the Omukama is not merely a political office. It is a cultural institution deeply connected to ancestry, lineage, clan structures, traditional rituals and the historical identity of the people.
Therefore, where questions arise concerning the identity and lineage of a person presented as a possible successor, the people of Tooro are entitled to ask legitimate cultural and historical questions.
Who is the mother of the alleged heir?
Which family does she come from?
Who is her father?
Who are her grandparents?
Which clans do the maternal and paternal grandparents belong to?
What is the documented connection of those families to Tooro?
These questions should not automatically be interpreted as hostility towards any individual. They are questions of heritage, identity and historical record.
If the throne is fundamentally rooted in the history and traditions of the Babiito and the people of Tooro, then establishing the lineage of any person proposed to occupy it should be done openly, respectfully and in accordance with the customs of the Kingdom.
We are tired of uncertainty and questions surrounding lineage. We want a succession process in which the people can clearly understand the family, ancestry and cultural connections of anyone presented as the rightful heir.
At the same time, this debate must not become an attack on people because of where they were born, their nationality, their family background or their personal relationships. What matters is whether the requirements of Tooro’s customs and the applicable law governing cultural institutions are satisfied.
The proper approach, therefore, is not speculation, insults or social-media accusations. It is verification.
Let the relevant cultural authorities, elders, Babiito leaders, clan heads, historians and other competent institutions establish the facts and present them to the people.
Tooro deserves a succession process that is credible, transparent and respectful of its traditions.
The passing of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has brought profound grief to the Kingdom, but it has also created a historic responsibility for the present generation. Whatever decision is ultimately reached about succession will become part of Tooro’s history and will be remembered by generations to come.
Therefore, the question before Tooro should not be reduced to personalities or political interests.
It should be:
What does Tooro’s history, culture and established tradition provide?
Who is entitled under those traditions to carry forward the institution of the Omukama?
And can the people of Tooro have confidence that the process has been conducted openly, fairly and in accordance with the cultural traditions of the Kingdom?
The answer must be found through consultation, evidence, cultural knowledge and respect for the Babiito and all the clans that constitute Tooro.
Let the debate remain peaceful.
Let the Babiito have their rightful cultural voice.
Let all clans of Tooro participate respectfully.
Let religious and political leaders provide guidance without undermining cultural institutions.
Let historians and elders bring forward the historical record.
And above all, let the truth prevail.
Tooro does not need a succession process driven by rumours, pressure or personal interests. Tooro needs a process that leaves no reasonable doubt about lineage, legitimacy and cultural continuity.
The people are not asking for conflict. They are asking for clarity.
They are not rejecting anyone on the basis of origin. They are asking that the historical and cultural requirements of the Tooro Kingdom be clearly established.
The Kingdom has survived generations because its people have valued their heritage. The responsibility of today’s generation is to ensure that the institution is handed to the future with the same dignity, legitimacy and cultural foundation with which it was inherited.
Tooro’s heritage belongs to its people. Its history must be respected, its customs must be understood, and its succession must be transparent.
Entondore Ensyaa.
