Health 1 October 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Bunyoro Clan Seeks Funds for King's Overseas Treatment Amidst Leadership Strife
The ruling Babiito clan of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom is appealing for financial assistance to send King Solomon Gafabusa Rukirabasaija Iguru I abroad for specialized medical care. This appeal comes amidst ongoing concerns about the King's health and a persistent leadership dispute within the kingdom. Source: https://observer.ug/news/bunyoro-appeals-for-funds-for-kings-treatment-abroad
Members of the Babiito clan have convened a meeting, agreeing that their monarch, Omukama Dr. Solomon Gafabusa Rukirabasaija Agutamba Iguru I, requires specialized medical attention outside of Uganda. Chief Prince Fred Mugenyi Rucunya has extended an appeal to clan members, government entities, subjects of the kingdom, and the general public for financial contributions towards the King’s treatment.
Rucunya highlighted that efforts to gather support are being hampered by what he described as a lack of clear and recognized leadership in the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom for the past three years. This situation, he contends, has weakened the institution and fostered divisions among the kingdom’s subjects. He urged for collaborative efforts among clan leaders, government officials, and elders to resolve these leadership disagreements and re-establish stability.
Andrew Byakutaga, the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, confirmed that Iguru is currently unwell and receiving treatment, though he did not specify the nature of the illness or the location of the treatment. This confirmation arrives as public concern mounts over the Omukama’s health and his capacity to fulfill his royal duties.
Concerns about the Omukama’s health are not unprecedented. In October 2024, his health deteriorated, leading to his airlift to Kampala for hospitalization. This event followed a court case initiated by a former kingdom minister, Prince Apollo Kisoro, who sought specialized medical care for the King. A High Court judge had previously ordered that the Omukama be taken to India or another suitable hospital for treatment, affirming his right to health.
The current health concerns are unfolding against a backdrop of a long-standing leadership dispute, with Rucunya and some Babiito factions demanding that Prime Minister Byakutaga step down, asserting that his tenure has expired. Byakutaga, appointed in January 2018, remains in his position despite these challenges and an ultimatum issued for him to vacate office by mid-October 2026.
https://observer.ug/news/bunyoro-appeals-for-funds-for-kings-treatment-abroad