{UAH} Oyo's fast: How many divisions does the ex-infant king have? - Comment - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/comment/King-Oyo-of-Toro-divisions/-/434750/2364648/-/a0p6amz/-/index.html

Oyo's fast: How many divisions does the ex-infant king have? - Comment

Uganda's second-most prominent monarch, King Oyo of Toro, is learning a few realities the hard way.

The 22-year old ascended to the throne at the tender age of three following the demise of his father, and ruled through regents until he attained the age of 18. All along, he was referred to as the "infant king," much beloved of the media and the public.

On one occasion, South African hero Nelson Mandela was attending a public function in Kampala and wanted to greet the king, but Oyo was busy playing with his toys behind the VIP tent. The gracious Mandela waited patiently until Oyo was through with his games to say hello.

But that was then. Everybody loved the infant king. Now the adult king essentially has to start making enemies and opponents, and the newest one is the hardest to fight – the state.

For those not too familiar with Ugandan affairs, there have long been four prominent kingdoms, which were defeated by the colonialists at the close of the 19th century.

Buganda, Toro, Ankole and Bunyoro remained cultural kingdoms with some administrative and economic roles until 1966 when they were abolished by the first Independence government.

Three of them, Buganda, Bunyoro and Tooro, were restored in 1993 on the strict understanding that they remain completely cultural and non-political.

Ankole was not restored because the state was convinced that the majority of Ankole people were not interested in the institution.

But with time, the "purely cultural" kingdoms began trying to assert themselves and as their demands on the state grew, a new phenomenon emerged.

Like all kingdoms in human history, the Ugandan kingdoms also grew by conquering and taking over weaker ones. But some were formed by breaking away from bigger ones.

Now some defunct small chiefdoms have been coming up and claiming their independence from the big three.

The climax came in 2009 with the bloody riots that left scores dead after the state barred the Kabaka of Buganda from touring one of his counties where an army veteran had proclaimed himself king.

Buganda of course suspected the state of propping up the new "king." Other long-forgotten chiefdoms have been declaring independence from Buganda and Tooro, with the state failing to restrain them and being suspected by the bigger monarchs of encouraging them.

Faced with apparent state recognition of the independence of component counties of his kingdom, King Oyo recently decided to go into fasting.

The media called it a hunger strike. Then remarks attributed to the president, General Yoweri Museveni, had it that the fast or hunger strike by the "young man" was timely as it would help him lose weight!

What may have escaped King Oyo's notice is that all the breakaway "kings" from Buganda and Tooro are junior military officers.

Yes. Kingdoms are founded by warriors, sometimes assisted by a bigger warrior. If young King Oyo is to fight to retain the integrity of his kingdom, he may need to do more than fasting.

Moral suasion may not work. Was it Stalin who asked how many (armoured) divisions the Pope had?

Joachim Buwembo is a Knight International Fellow for development journalism. E-mail: buwembo@gmail.com

Oyo's fast: How many divisions does the ex-infant king have? - Comment - www.theeastafrican.co.ke
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/comment/King-Oyo-of-Toro-divisions/-/434750/2364648/-/a0p6amz/-/index.html‎

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