A leadership dispute has emerged within the Basongora Cultural Institution after Apollo Bwebale, the son of the late Omukama Rwigi III Bwebale Rutakirwa, declared himself the rightful heir to the throne, a claim rejected by the institution’s current cultural leader, Daniel Ndahura II Kashagama.
The disagreement has divided sections of the Basongora community, with both sides insisting they are the legitimate custodians of the kingdom’s cultural leadership. Rwigi III Bwebale Rutakirwa served as the head of the Busongora Cultural Heritage Kingdom from his coronation in July 2012 until his death in April 2015 after suffering complications related to kidney and liver failure.
He had previously battled prostate cancer for three years. His coronation ended a 49-year leadership vacuum following the death of Princess Kogyere II Ikamiro. According to Bwebale and his supporters, he was designated Crown Prince following his father’s death. However, at the time, he was serving as the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Nakasongola and did not assume leadership of the cultural institution.
His rivals argue that because he did not take up the role, the Council of Elders appointed an active minister within the institution to oversee its affairs before eventually installing Daniel Ndahura II Kashagama as the cultural leader. Speaking to supporters, Bwebale said he is now ready to lead the Basongora community into what he described as a new era founded on transparency, faith and development.
He pledged to steer the institution away from practices he described as witchcraft and instead focus on community empowerment and socio-economic transformation. His appointed Prime Minister, Jacob Muzoora, declared Bwebale the legitimate cultural leader of the Basongora and promised programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of community members.
Muzoora argued that Daniel Ndahura II Kashagama previously served as Minister for Palace and Constitutional Affairs during the reign of Rwigi III and questioned how he later assumed the throne.
However, Daniel Ndahura II Kashagama dismissed the claims, insisting that he became king through established customary procedures. He said that following the death of King Rwigi III in 2015, the kingdom experienced a leadership vacuum, which was resolved by the Council of Elders in accordance with Basongora tradition. Ndahura maintained that his installation followed all the required cultural processes and that he remains the legitimate cultural leader of the Basongora.
He advised Bwebale to pursue his claim through the recognised traditional process by petitioning the Council of Elders if he wishes to ascend to the throne. Ndahura said only the elders have the authority to determine succession and legitimise a claimant to the kingship.
Meanwhile, Alice Kabarwani called upon the Council of Elders to resolve the leadership dispute by organising a process that would determine and install what she described as the rightful heir to the late Omukama Rwigi III Bwebale Rutakirwa-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
