Sad News! Another King Reportedly Very Sick as Babiito Clan Seeks Financial Help for His Treatment Abroad

The Babiito clan of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom has appealed for financial support to facilitate specialised medical treatment abroad for Omukama Dr Solomon Gafabusa Rukirabasaija Agutamba Iguru I, amid growing concerns about his health.

Chief Prince (Okwir) Fred Mugenyi Rucunya said clan members and elders agreed during a meeting held last Sunday that the king should be taken abroad for specialised medical attention.

Rucunya called on Babiito clan members, government institutions, kingdom subjects and well-wishers to contribute towards the proposed treatment. However, he did not reveal how much money would be needed to cover the medical expenses.

He said efforts to mobilise funds had been affected by what he described as a lack of recognised leadership in the kingdom. According to Rucunya, the leadership uncertainty, which he said had lasted about three years, had weakened the institution and contributed to divisions among kingdom subjects.

Bunyoro Kingdom Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga confirmed that Omukama Iguru was unwell and receiving treatment. However, he did not disclose the nature of the king's illness or where he was currently being treated.

Rucunya recently expressed concern that the king's condition had deteriorated, saying he had been confined to the palace and was unable to fully perform his royal duties. He also appealed to Banyoro and other Ugandans to pray for the monarch and support efforts to secure specialised treatment.

The king's health has previously attracted public attention. In October 2024, he was airlifted to Kampala in a military aircraft and admitted to Ruby Hospital after his condition reportedly worsened. Hoima High Court had earlier ordered that he be taken to India or another hospital with the necessary facilities for specialised treatment.

The latest appeal comes amid a continuing leadership dispute within the kingdom. Rucunya and sections of the Babiito clan have challenged Byakutaga's continued tenure as prime minister, arguing that his term has expired. They have given him until mid-October 2026 to leave office, while Byakutaga remains in the position following his appointment by the king in January 2018 and a subsequent extension of his tenure by the royal commission in June 2024.