President Sends Helicopter for Ailing Bunyoro King

The Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Dr. Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, has been airlifted to Kampala for medical treatment. The king, who departed from Booma grounds in Hoima, was flown aboard a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) helicopter to receive further medical care in the capital.

A large crowd gathered at the grounds, observing as palace staff and close family members escorted the Omukama to the helicopter. He was lying on a mobile bed and accompanied by the Omugo, Margret Karuga Adyeeri, and Prince Richard Kitahimbwa, the King’s principal private secretary.

The exact health facility where the Omukama was admitted has not yet been disclosed, though he was reportedly admitted at around 12:30 PM. Palace sources did not provide further details on his condition, but the public has been assured that he is receiving appropriate care in Kampala.

In a statement released by the Kingdom’s prime minister, Andrew Kirungi Byakutaaga, it was confirmed that the Omukama is currently in Kampala for treatment. Byakutaaga further revealed that on October 14, 2024, President Yoweri Museveni had dispatched his personal doctor to assess the king’s condition. The doctor’s report indicated that the Omukama was stable but suffering from flu and a cough. However, conflicting reports from within the palace suggested the Omukama’s health had worsened.

Fred Rucunya Mugenyi, the chief prince (Okwiri) of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, stated that the king’s deteriorating condition had prompted President Museveni to order the helicopter evacuation. “Our king’s health is not well, and we have made all the necessary arrangements to have him taken to Kampala for further treatment,” Mugenyi said. He also confirmed that a doctor from the State House had been at the palace the previous day to examine the Omukama’s condition.

Members of the Bunyoro Kingdom have expressed hope that the king’s transfer to Kampala will provide him with the medical care needed for his recovery. Some onlookers at Booma grounds voiced optimism that the evacuation would ensure better treatment for their monarch.

In recent months, there has been growing concern within the ruling Babiito clan about the Omukama’s health. The Bunyoro Kingdom’s leadership has been advocating for specialized treatment abroad. In fact, the Hoima High Court recently ruled in favor of evacuating the Omukama for treatment overseas. Judge Jesse Byaruhanga of the Hoima High Court issued a directive for the immediate evacuation of the king for medical care abroad.

This court decision followed a 2014 application filed by Prince Apolo Kisoro, a former Bunyoro Kingdom Minister for Tourism and Personal Assistant to the King. Prince Kisoro’s application highlighted the Omukama’s worsening health and expressed concern that those responsible for the king’s care were not doing enough to address his condition. Kisoro requested that the king be taken to India for treatment, citing his deteriorating health.

Following the court ruling, Prince Kisoro welcomed the decision, stating that arrangements should be made to ensure the Omukama receives the necessary treatment. He disclosed that he had secured appointments with hospitals in New Delhi, India, and had already mobilized sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of the king’s treatment, travel, and accommodation for attendants.

In his ruling, Justice Byaruhanga emphasized the Omukama’s right to health care, regardless of his current condition. The judge ordered that the king be given a medical examination and, if necessary, further management of his health should be carried out. Prince Kisoro further assured the court that all expenses related to the king’s medical treatment would be covered, with no risk of the king being stranded in a foreign hospital.