By Spy Investigations Desk
Fort Portal: The long-standing dispute over the management of the royal estate of the late King, Omukama Rukira Basaija George David Kamurasi Rukidi III of Tooro has finally reached its climax after the High Court of Uganda in Fort Portal threw out an application by Engineer Gilbert Mujogya Atwooki and Frankline Jocelyn Kato Rukidi seeking to renew their powers as administrators of the late king’s estate.
In a landmark ruling delivered by Hon. Justice Vincent Wagona on August 18, 2025, the court dismissed the application and instead ordered the duo to file a comprehensive account and inventory of all estate properties and financial dealings spanning from 13th November 2006—when they were granted letters of administration—to date.
“The Application for the extension or renewal of the letters of administration is hereby dismissed,” ruled Justice Wagona.
“The Applicants, Gilbert Mujogya Atwooki and Frankline Jocelyn Kato Rukidi, shall file with this court a full and true account of their administration from 13th November 2006 to date, together with a full and true inventory of all assets and liabilities of the estate within forty-five (45) days.”
He further ordered them to hand over all estate documents, land titles, and records to the Deputy Registrar for safekeeping pending the appointment of new administrators, and instructed that the family of the late king should choose new administrators under the guidance of the Administrator General.
A Major Setback for Mujogya and Katto
This ruling marks a major defeat for Mujogya and Katto, who for nearly two decades managed the royal estate. Justice Wagona’s findings portray an administration riddled with inconsistencies, unaccounted for properties, and what he termed “a profound breach of fiduciary duty.”
He criticized the applicants for filing two conflicting inventories — one in December 2023 indicating that all 51 properties had been distributed, and another in April 2025 claiming that over 1,800 hectares of land were still undistributed.
“This fundamental inconsistency raises serious concerns about the true status of the estate,” Justice Wagona observed.
“By presenting two different and contradictory inventories, the administrators have failed to provide a full and true account of the estate as required by Section 273 of the Succession Act.”
The Judge noted that the duo had taken 17 years to file their first inventory — and even then, without court permission — describing it as a serious dereliction of legal duty.
Royal Family Revolts
According to affidavits before court, the royal family had unanimously rejected the extension of Mujogya and Katto’s mandate during a family meeting held on 5th June 2025 at Princess Margaret Komubaizi’s residence in Kitukutwe, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, a Kampala Surbab.
In that meeting, sixteen family members, including Crown 👑 Prince David Kiijanangoma Araali, Princess Daisy Kankya, and Grace Ochola, accused the duo of mismanaging the estate, concealing transactions, and failing to account for billions allegedly received as government compensation for Kilembe Mines shares.
They also accused the duo of swimming in family wealth while their very own Prince David Kiijanangoma is still struggling with throat cancer medical bills. “These people are so heartless, Araali is fighting for his life with cancer medical bills at Nakasero Hospital yet these uncles of his who are supposed to be the care takers of the family are just buying new monster cars, building private mansions, spending holidays in Spain with their families ets,this is injustice to the family,” noted one of the members on phone with our Spy last week.
“The trust relationship between the administrators and the beneficiaries has been irrevocably broken,” the Judge held.
“It is against the interests of justice and the welfare of the estate to force the beneficiaries to continue with the same administrators.”
Lavish Lifestyle Amid Allegations
Family sources claim that Engineer Mujogya used proceeds from the estate to fund an extravagant lifestyle — including acquiring luxury apartments in Kampala, a hotel in Fort Portal (Njara Suites, Njara-Boma), and a brand-new SUV that he cruises around the city, and travel holidays in Spain and other European countries.
Princess Mabel Komuntale, who has lived in exile in London since the 1999 killing of her cousin Prince Happy Kijanangoma, expressed outrage when contacted by Spy Uganda.
“I got nothing from all the billions they received, yet my mother was the official wife of King George Kamurasi, together with Princess Elizabeth Bagaya and David Olimi Kaboyo,” she said bitterly.
She accused Mujogya’s team of pocketing her share of the Kilembe mines compensation, adding that she has “never benefited a coin from her father’s estate.”
Possible Seizure of Private Properties
Legal observers warn that if the administrators fail to produce a credible inventory within 45 days, the court may order attachment of their private properties suspected to have been acquired using funds from the royal estate.
“If the inventory fails to reconcile, the court could direct for confiscation or tracing of proceeds,” a Fort Portal legal analyst told Spy Uganda. “That’s how serious this ruling is.”
The Rukidi Dynasty: Kings of Tooro Since Inception
The Tooro Kingdom broke away from the Bunyoro-Kitara Empire in the early 19th century under Prince Kaboyo Olimi I, a rebellious son of King Nyamutukura of Bunyoro. Below is the lineage of Tooro’s monarchs in sequence:
1. Rukirabasaija Kaboyo Olimi I (1822–1861) – Founder of Tooro Kingdom, seceded from Bunyoro to establish an independent Tooro state.
2. Rukirabasaija Kazana Ruhaga I (1861–1862) – Son of Kaboyo I; his short reign ended violently.
3. Rukirabasaija Kyebambe Kamurasi II (1862–1865) – Also known as Kato Rukidi II; maintained fragile peace amid Bunyoro hostilities.
4. Rukirabasaija Nyaika Kasunga Kyebambe I (1865–1871) – Oversaw turbulent years marked by succession wars.
5. Rukirabasaija Rukidi II (1871–1872) – Brief reign interrupted by Bunyoro invasions.
6. Rukirabasaija Kyebambe III (1872–1875) – Reigned during conflict with Buganda-backed factions.
7. Rukirabasaija Kato Rukidi III (1875–1877) – Temporarily restored order but faced internal rebellion.
8. Rukirabasaija Kasagama Kyebambe IV (1891–1928) – Reestablished the kingdom under British protection; modernized Tooro’s administration.
9. Rukirabasaija Sir George David Kamurasi Rukidi III (1928–1965) – Knighted by the British; expanded Tooro’s influence regionally.
10. Rukirabasaija Patrick David Matthew Olimi Kaboyo II (1965–1995) – Restored Tooro’s cultural prominence after independence.
11. Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV (1995–present) – Ascended the throne at age 3; currently reigns as the 11th Omukama of Tooro.
The Court’s Final Orders
Justice Vincent Wagona’s ruling concluded as follows:
1. Application dismissed – No renewal or extension of the letters of administration.
2. Accounting ordered – Mujogya and Katto to file a full and true account of the estate from 13th November 2006 to date.
3. Document handover – All estate records and titles to be delivered to the Deputy Registrar within 45 days for safe custody for the next honest administrators
4. New leadership – Beneficiaries to select new administrators under supervision of the Administrator General’s Office.
5. No order as to costs.
“The Applicants have not demonstrated diligence in their duties, and most importantly, the extension would not be in the best interest of the beneficiaries,” Justice Wagona ruled.
With this decisive judgment, the curtain has closed on Mujogya and Katto’s long grip over Tooro’s royal estate. But as the court now awaits their full accounting, all eyes in Tooro are fixed on whether justice — and the kingdom’s lost wealth — will finally be restored.
READ FULL RULING HERE BELOW 👇
In the matter of application for extension of letters of administration by Mujogya and others 2025 UGHC 774 (18 August 2025)
