Incoming Tooro King Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has appointed Nyakaana Paul Businge Akiiki as his interim Principal Personal Secretary (PPS) and spokesperson, while announcing the immediate termination of all his personal official social media accounts.
In a statement dated September 15, the newly announced Omukama said Nyakaana would take charge of his communications with immediate effect.
The appointment comes amid heightened public attention surrounding the Tooro Kingdom following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and the subsequent developments over his succession.
The new Omukama said his interim PPS and spokesperson would be responsible for handling all official communications on his behalf.
“I have appointed Mr. Nyakaana Paul Businge Akiiki as my interim Principal Personal Secretary (PPS) / Spokesperson to immediately take charge of the above subject,” the statement reads.
Nyakaana will also serve as the main point of contact for communications concerning the Omukama.
Members of the public seeking official communication from the royal household were directed to contact him through telephone numbers provided in the statement, as well as his email address and social media accounts.
The statement lists Nyakaana’s X account as @NyakaanaPaul, Facebook as @Paul Nyakaana, Instagram as @nyakaanapaul and TikTok as paulnyakaanyk.
Omukama terminates personal official accounts
In the same statement, Omukama Edward announced that he had terminated all his personal official social media accounts with immediate effect.
“I hereby terminate all my personal official social media accounts with immediate effect,” he said in a statement addressed to the people of Tooro Kingdom, Ugandans generally and members of the Tooro community and allies in the diaspora.
The announcement means that communications purportedly coming from the Omukama through his former personal official social media accounts should no longer be treated as his official communication.
The appointment and social media changes come as Tooro enters a new phase following the death of Omukama Oyo, whose succession has generated competing claims and controversy within sections of the royal family and kingdom structures.
Nyakaana’s appointment now places responsibility for the new Omukama’s public communication in the hands of an identified spokesperson as the royal establishment moves to establish its official communication channels.
Meanwhile, a coronation date for new Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has been set, after Tooro’s Parliament and Muhoozi Kainerugaba approved him. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
