Ugandan tribal head restored as king

Kampala - One of Uganda's biggest ethnic groups installed its traditional leader yesterday, the fourth tribal ruler crowned since a ban on the country's hereditary kingdoms was reversed in 1993.

Henry Wako Muloki was reinstalled as Kyabazinga (king) of Busoga at a ceremony at Bugembe, 60 miles east of Kampala before thousands of his subjects.

President Yoweri Museveni, who allowed the restoration of tribal leaders 26 years after they were abolished by then president Milton Obote, attended the ceremony.

Mr Muloki, 74 and an agricultural economist, was restored to his former tribal office which he held until its abolition in 1967. At the ceremony he swore to uphold his kingdom of 2 million Busoga people.

The kings no longer have the political powers they once enjoyed and act only as social leaders. But Mr Museveni is facing strong demands for the restoration of their former powers.