FORT PORTAL UGANDA: Calvin Armstrong, the former Prime Minister of Tooro Kingdom during the reign of the late King, His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has been retained by the new King, His Majesty King Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo I.
Armstrong has condemned what he described as division and disunity in the Tooro Kingdom. Armstrong, who was appointed on Monday, had the privilege of meeting His Majesty King Edward on Monday and presenting to him the priorities that he believes the administration must address.
“I am grateful that His Majesty considered these priorities, agreed with them and instructed me to ensure that they are implemented.”While delivering his speech, Armstrong outlined a ten-point programme, saying that the Kingdom cannot build a stronger future if its people remain divided.
He appealed to leaders, clans, institutions and all the people of Tooro to put aside their differences and find a way to work together.On a personal note, Armstrong acknowledged that, especially following the passing of the late King Oyo, he got some things wrong.
He said some of his actions, decisions or omissions may have caused misunderstandings, adding that he takes responsibility for his part in those matters and offers a clear and unreserved apology to those who were affected.
“I will not hide behind excuses or shift blame. I am committed to correcting what needs to be corrected, rebuilding trust through action and ensuring that the lessons of the past help us to serve the Kingdom better.”
First and foremost, I thank Almighty God for the gift of life, His grace and His guidance.I am deeply humbled and honoured by the decision of His Majesty King Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo I to retain me as Prime Minister of the Tooro Kingdom.
I thank His Majesty for the privilege, the honour and, most importantly, for the confidence and recognition he has placed in me.I accept this responsibility with humility. I do not see it as a personal entitlement, but as a renewed call to service—service to the King and service to the people of Tooro.
I also wish to recognise and thank the team with whom I have had the privilege of working. We have worked through difficult circumstances, learned many lessons and, together, laid foundations upon which we can now build.
I also pay tribute to the memory of our late King, His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. His passing brought an important chapter of our history to a close, but it must not bring an end to the work he began.
I believe we now have an opportunity to honour his memory by continuing his legacy, completing the work he started and building a stronger, more united and more prosperous Tooro.
I had the privilege of meeting His Majesty King Edward on Monday and presenting to him the priorities that I believe we must address as an administration. I am grateful that His Majesty considered these priorities, agreed with them and instructed me to ensure that they are implemented.
Our Ten PrioritiesOur first priority is our people.We need to address the outstanding staff arrears at Muchwa that have accumulated over the years.
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.
Our second priority is to strengthen the systems and structures of the Kingdom.We need clear policies, procedures and systems to guide how the Kingdom operates.
We must also ensure that our cultural norms, traditions and established ways of working are properly understood and respected.This will give the Kingdom a stronger foundation and help us work in a more organised, professional and accountable way.
Our third priority is to complete the youth empowerment incubation hubs.These hubs are intended to create opportunities for our young people and communities. We must ensure that they become productive centres for skills, enterprise, agriculture and economic opportunity.
His Majesty has agreed that this should be an immediate priority and intends to visit and inaugurate the hubs during his forthcoming Masaza visits.
Our fourth priority is the Masaza.His Majesty must be able to visit his people, meet them in their communities, listen to their concerns and understand their needs and aspirations.We will organise and support the Masaza visits as an important way of connecting the King with his people and strengthening the role of the Masaza in the development of the Kingdom.
My administration will also engage with the Ministry of Gender to explore how we can strengthen these important roles and better facilitate their work, including transport and welfare.Our fifth priority is our youth and the productive use of our land.
Our people are our greatest asset, and our young people are the majority. Our land is also one of our greatest resources, yet much of it remains underused.
I have therefore proposed to His Majesty that we explore, with the necessary legal advice and proper safeguards, how our young people can organise themselves into associations and access Kingdom land through appropriate lease arrangements for productive agriculture.
This can create employment and income for our young people and communities, increase agricultural production and help protect Kingdom land from encroachment and misuse.If we organise our youth well, these associations can also become platforms for other areas of development beyond agriculture.
Our sixth priority is agriculture.We must move beyond talking about agriculture and create practical opportunities for our people to earn from it.
We will build on the agricultural programmes already underway, strengthen production, improve access to markets and encourage value addition so that agriculture becomes a stronger source of household income and community development.
I have recently engaged with Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, the line minister, and he has agreed to assist us with agricultural support, including seedlings, fertilisers and other support needed for implementation.
Our seventh priority is completing the remaining Masaza Cup games.Sport is important in bringing our people together, particularly our young people.
We should complete the competition in a manner that celebrates our Kingdom, promotes unity and gives our youth a positive platform.Our eighth priority is the Kingdom Strategic Plan.
I have proposed that His Majesty formally affirm the Strategic Plan so that it becomes a clear guide for the work of the administration.We need to know what we are trying to achieve, by when and how we will measure our progress.
The plan should not simply be a document, but a commitment that holds the administration accountable for delivery.The Queen also has a mentorship project close to her heart called Girls for Girls, and that too will be part of this transition.
Our ninth priority is stronger engagement with the Government of Uganda.We will initiate structured engagements with relevant ministries, departments and government agencies to present the Kingdom’s strategic priorities, identify areas of mutual interest and explore opportunities for project support, technical assistance and resource mobilisation.
Our intention is to strengthen coordination between the Kingdom’s development programmes and national development priorities, ensuring that government investments and Kingdom initiatives complement each other.
We will seek practical partnerships in areas such as youth empowerment, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, tourism, cultural heritage and enterprise development, with particular attention to projects that can deliver tangible benefits to our people.
By strengthening agriculture, tourism and ICT, we can increase household incomes, disposable income and purchasing power, enabling families to educate their children, eat better and access quality healthcare.
Our tenth priority is strengthening accountability and financial discipline.As we take forward these programmes, we must ensure that the Kingdom’s resources are properly managed and that every programme has clear responsibility, proper oversight and measurable results.
We must build a culture where commitments are followed by action, resources are used for their intended purpose and those given responsibility are accountable for what they deliver.
This is essential if we are to restore confidence, attract support and build a Kingdom administration that can be trusted.These priorities have been presented to His Majesty, and I am grateful for His Majesty’s agreement and direction that we should move forward with them.But there is another priority that is just as important as all the others: reconciliation.Tooro needs healing.
Tooro needs peace. Tooro needs harmony.I also appeal to our elders and leaders to ensure that new office bearers receive proper induction and guidance.Every person entrusted with responsibility must understand the institution they serve, their role, their authority and the expectations placed upon them.
We must give people the knowledge they need to do their work properly and, in doing so, avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.To the people of Tooro, this is a new chapter for our Kingdom.It is time to put aside speculation, blame and division.It is time to restore confidence.It is time to rebuild trust.It is time to unite the Kingdom.
And, most importantly, it is time to start serious work for the Kingdom.Let us work together under the leadership of His Majesty King Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo I.
As I conclude, my commitment is to continue in this office with humility, renewed energy and a clear sense of duty to ensure that we give His Majesty King Edward Nyabongo I the support he needs to lead Tooro into its next chapter.
In the next few days, I will present to His Majesty the King the team that, with the help of God, I intend to deliver this commitment with.Let us get to work.
Omukama ahangirize.
