By Andrew Irumba
Tooro Kingdom: Princess Mabel Komuntale Akiiki, elder sister to late Omukama of Tooro, Patrick Mathew David Olimi Kaboyo Rukidi 111 (father to reigning King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi 1V), has threatened to drag Tooro queen mother (Oyo’s mother) Best Kemigisa Akiiki and her son Oyo to court for attempting to ‘steal’ Boma palace located on plot 10 Government Road, Fort Portal Tourism City.
Background of The Property:
In 1967, when former prime minister Milton Obote abolished kingdoms, at the time, Omugo lady Kezia Byanjeru Abwooli was staying in Harukoto palace, which now became officers’ mess for Obote’s military men, where they would also jail those perceived to be ant-regime. When president Idd Amin took over power in 1971 from Obote in a coupe de’ta, he thought it wise to find a befitting residence for the now displaced lady Kezia since her place of aboard (Harukoto palace) had been taken over by military as tactical base.
Amin then instructed his then trusted Tooro Governor, Ozo to give lady Kezia a house in Boma for her to live with her seven children. Paperwork was done and a building on plot 10 Government road, Boma in Fort Portal was given to lady Kezia. That’s how the building changed status, from being a public property into a private property belonging to lady Kezia, wife to late king Kamurasi and mother to seven Babiito royal children, including late king Mathew Patrick Olimi Kaboyo Rukidi 111, father to current Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi 1V.
Initially, this house was part of the many Government houses built across the country to house Government workers. Bugolobi flats, Bukoto Flats in Kampala are some of the examples such arrangements.
Who are Omugo lady Kezia’s children she groomed from that house? Omugo Kezia gave birth to seven children, namely;
Princesses and Princes Elizabeth Bagaya Camphine, Mabel Komuntale Christine, Kaboyo Patrick Mathew (later adopted Olimi Rukidi 111 when he became king), Jimmy Mugenyi, Damalie Komukyeya, Racheal Margaret Kabasweka and Silver died at a very tender age.
Back to Princess Mabel Komuntale’s Issue:
According to Princess Mabel Komuntale, Omukama Oyo Nyimba, who’s a grandson to late Omugo Kezia and Queen mother Best Kemigisa, who’s not even a mubiito, but a woman married into the family by her late young brother (Olimi Kaboyo), now want to ‘inherit’ their late mother’s estate when they’re still alive!
“I want you to just imagine a grandson and his mother, who came into the home, inheriting your mother’s property, even when her children are still breathing. As if that’s not enough, they go ahead and deter you (with security) from accessing your own home, which is your mother’s place! A place our mother groomed us from while we called it home, now I have to seek permission from Best Kemigisa from Butuku, to access it, can you people believe this?!,” Mabel was heard on phone explaining to one of the elderly members of Isaazi Lya’bantu Bakuru Ba Tooro, a forum that brings together Tooro elders and opinion leaders.
Our ever alert Spy has also managed to intercept a letter princess Mabel wrote to King Oyo and Best Kemigisa copied to Isaazi Lyabantu Bakuru Ba’Tooro.
Mabel, in her strongly worded letter, warns both Oyo and his mother Kemigisa to immediately vacate the said house and hand it over to her before ‘unthinkable’ happens to them!
Bellow Is The Unedited Letter
“The Estate of Lady Kezia-Nyina Omukama
23rd November 2021
