Tooro Kingdom has unveiled a new set of priorities under Omukama Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo I, with clearing long-standing staff arrears and restoring financial discipline among the key issues on the administration’s agenda.Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki said the kingdom had accumulated staff arrears over several years, creating an obligation that the new administration must urgently address.Rwomiire said the kingdom was looking for a sustainable way to clear the outstanding payments while establishing stronger systems to prevent similar financial challenges from happening again.
He said kingdom employees play an important role in keeping the institution running and therefore deserve to have their outstanding obligations addressed.“Our staff keep the Kingdom functioning, and we must find a sustainable way of dealing with these obligations while putting better systems in place to prevent such problems from recurring,” Rwomiire said.The Prime Minister made the remarks after meeting Omukama Nyabongo and presenting him with a list of priorities for the new administration.Rwomiire said the Omukama carefully reviewed the proposals, agreed with them and instructed his administration to begin putting them into action.His continued appointment as Prime Minister comes as Nyabongo moves to reorganise the kingdom’s administration and establish his own leadership structure.
Rwomiire said his retention should not be viewed as a personal entitlement but as another opportunity to serve the Omukama and the people of Tooro.Financial management is expected to be one of the areas receiving increased attention, with the administration promising stronger accountability in the use of kingdom resources.Rwomiire said every programme would be expected to have clear responsibilities, proper supervision and measurable results.He said the kingdom must ensure that its resources are directed towards their intended purposes in order to improve public confidence in the institution.The administration also plans to strengthen internal structures by developing clearer policies, procedures and systems while continuing to respect Tooro’s cultural norms and traditions.Youth empowerment has also been identified as another major area of focus under Nyabongo’s administration.The kingdom intends to complete youth incubation hubs designed to give young people opportunities in skills development, enterprise and agriculture.Rwomiire said Omukama Nyabongo is expected to visit and inaugurate the hubs during his upcoming Masaza tours.The kingdom is also considering leasing some of its land to organised youth groups for commercial agricultural activities.
According to Rwomiire, the proposed arrangements would be guided by legal safeguards to ensure that kingdom land is protected while young people are given opportunities to earn a living.He said productive use of kingdom land could create employment, increase incomes and reduce the risk of land being encroached on or misused.Agriculture is also expected to become a major pillar of the new administration’s development programme.Rwomiire said Tooro plans to expand existing agricultural initiatives, increase production, improve market access and encourage value addition.He added that he had discussed the plans with Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze, who had offered support in areas including seedlings and fertilisers.The administration is also working towards completing the remaining Masaza Cup matches and adopting a comprehensive strategic plan to guide the kingdom’s activities.
Rwomiire said the Queen’s Girls for Girls mentorship programme would also remain part of the kingdom’s priorities.The kingdom further intends to strengthen cooperation with the central government by engaging ministries, departments and agencies to support programmes in youth empowerment, agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, infrastructure, cultural heritage and enterprise development.Beyond development, however, Rwomiire said reconciliation would be one of the most important responsibilities of the new administration.He said Tooro needs healing following tensions that emerged around the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and the transition that followed.“Tooro needs healing. Tooro needs peace.
Tooro needs harmony,” Rwomiire said.He added that the kingdom could not achieve meaningful development while its people remained divided.The Prime Minister also issued an apology over mistakes he said he made in the period following the death of Omukama Oyo.Rwomiire acknowledged that some of his actions, decisions or omissions may have created misunderstandings and said he accepted responsibility for his part in the situation.He called on elders and kingdom leaders to properly induct new office bearers so that they understand their authority, responsibilities and the institutions they are expected to serve.Rwomiire said the kingdom should now move away from blame, speculation and division and concentrate on rebuilding trust and strengthening unity.He also disclosed that he would soon present his proposed team to Omukama Nyabongo as the new administration continues to take shape.
