Police and UPDF Seal Off Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Offices
HOIMA CITY – Heavily armed officers from the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Monday sealed off the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom headquarters, restricting access to the Rukurato (Kingdom chambers) and deploying at the palace as well as other key points across Hoima City.
By 9 a.m., security personnel had surrounded the premises following intelligence reports that a group of youth planned to storm the headquarters and cause chaos. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson, described the joint operation as a routine measure aimed at maintaining public order.
“We received intelligence indicating that a group of youth were planning to storm the headquarters to cause chaos,” Hakiza said in a telephone interview. He urged members of the public to refrain from any acts that could disrupt peace and warned that security forces would take appropriate action against anyone found engaging in disorder.
The deployment comes amid longstanding leadership tensions within the Kingdom. Last week, Chief Prince (Okwir) Fred Mugenyi Ruchunya of the Babiito clan, the ruling clan of Bunyoro Kitara, issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister (Omuhikirwa) Andrew Byakutaga Ateenyi to vacate office. Ruchunya maintains that Byakutaga’s term expired and that previous extensions were unlawful. He has previously threatened to mobilise subjects to force a handover if the Prime Minister does not step down voluntarily.
In a statement, the Kingdom confirmed it had received a security briefing about alleged plans by unknown individuals to attack its facilities. Byakutaga said the relevant security agencies deployed personnel as a precautionary measure to protect Kingdom assets, officials and the public. He stressed that all Kingdom offices remain open and continue to operate normally.
Similar security deployments have occurred in the past during disputes over the premiership. In earlier incidents, groups of youth and clan leaders opposing Byakutaga’s continued stay in office attempted to access or occupy Kingdom premises, leading to arrests and confrontations involving both police and UPDF personnel.
Residents and passers-by in Hoima City reported increased patrols and restricted movement near the palace and administrative offices. Business activity in the immediate vicinity was largely unaffected, though the visible military and police presence heightened local awareness of the internal Kingdom dispute.
Police have not released further details about the specific group allegedly planning the protest or the exact nature of the intelligence received. Authorities continue to call for calm while monitoring the situation.
The Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, one of Uganda’s traditional cultural institutions, has for several years grappled with internal disagreements over leadership succession and administrative control, particularly regarding the office of the Omuhikirwa. Previous court rulings and clan interventions have failed to fully resolve the impasse, periodically drawing in state security agencies when public gatherings or protests are anticipated.
As of Monday afternoon, the sealed-off area remained under tight security, with officers maintaining a visible presence. Kingdom officials reiterated that day-to-day operations continue, while police emphasised that the measure is temporary and solely intended to prevent potential unrest.
The situation remains fluid, with both Kingdom leadership and security agencies monitoring developments closely. No injuries or arrests related to the current deployment have been reported so far.