The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has denied claims that it withdrew the Tooro Royal Guards from the palace or placed members of the Royal Family under lockdown.
The UPDF says the Royal Guards are still at the palace and have instead been reinforced with additional security personnel to deal with the large crowds and possible security threats during the mourning of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The clarification follows a September 10 statement attributed to Tooro Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, which raised concerns about the security situation at the palace.
The Queen Mother alleged: “Now, three days to my son’s burial, Gen. Kayanja Muhanga came to the Palace and removed the royal guards without notice, and troops were deployed around the Palace. They took the Musuuga away to a location we were not told.”
Kemigisa said the deployment had restricted the family’s movement and ability to receive mourners.
“And now, with the security deployment around the Palace, we cannot leave or receive people freely. We are under house arrest. I appeal to Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, UPDF leadership, and the president to allow our family the freedom and dignity to mourn and bury King Oyo in peace.”
But the UPDF says the situation should not be interpreted as a military takeover or restriction of the Royal Family.
Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, said the UPDF is not involved in the succession processes currently taking place in Tooro Kingdom.
He said the decision to increase security was instead based on the large number of people gathering around the palace, the scale of the ongoing events and the Kingdom’s proximity to security threats from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
As a result, the army says movements around the palace are being closely monitored, with people entering the area subjected to searches and other security checks.
The UPDF says these measures are intended to protect everyone at the palace and surrounding areas and do not amount to a lockdown or house arrest.
The army has also explained the recent visit to the palace by the Commander Land Forces, Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga.
According to Magezi, Muhanga went to the palace to pay his last respects to the fallen King and also inspected UPDF engineering works at the Royal Tombs.
The works include roads leading to the burial site and other rehabilitation activities being carried out ahead of the King’s official burial.
The UPDF says Muhanga was satisfied with the progress and is confident the Engineering Brigade will complete the works in time for the burial.
The army has meanwhile assured the Royal Family, mourners and the people of Tooro that it will continue working with other security agencies to maintain calm and protect people during the mourning period.
It also extended condolences to Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, the Royal Family and the people of Uganda and the region following the death of King Oyo.
