Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Tamale Mirundi Junior, son of the late outspoken political commentator Tamale Mirundi, is embroiled in a family conflict after opposing his relatives’ decision to reconcile with the Buganda Kingdom.
The dispute has escalated to the point where Junior faces potential banishment from his clan for publicly rejecting the family’s apology to the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Charles Peter Mayiga.
The conflict traces back to the late Tamale Mirundi Senior’s long-standing and often controversial criticisms of the Buganda Kingdom, particularly his relentless attacks on the Katikkiro (Prime Minister) and the monarchy. His outspoken views created lasting tensions between the Mirundi family and loyal supporters of Buganda’s leadership.
Despite his passing, the legacy of Mirundi Senior’s harsh rhetoric continued to strain relations between the family and the Kingdom. In a bid to mend these ties, the Mirundi family recently extended a formal apology to the Buganda Kingdom, seeking to reconcile past differences. On September 25, 2024, they met with the Katikkiro at Bulange, Mengo—the Kingdom’s administrative hub—and expressed remorse for previous disputes.
During the meeting, the Katikkiro, representing Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, graciously accepted the apology, emphasizing the importance of unity and urging Ugandans to avoid using social media as a platform for personal attacks—a subtle reference to the late Tamale Mirundi’s fiery public commentary.
However, Tamale Mirundi Junior publicly opposed the family’s move, criticizing their decision to apologize. He argued that his father’s criticisms of the Kingdom were justified and that the reconciliation was a betrayal of his father’s principles.
This opposition has deepened the rift within the family and sparked talk of Junior’s possible banishment from the clan, as tensions remain high.
In a video statement, Tamale Mirundi Junior declared that he supports his father’s stance, stating, “Whatever my father said or did was true, and I won’t apologize to anyone.” He argued that since he did not speak out against the Kingdom himself, he sees no reason to apologize for his father’s actions. “The person who criticized the king is no longer here, so why should I, the child, apologize for what I didn’t do?,” he asserted.
Junior firmly believes that offering an apology for his father’s remarks is unnecessary, emphasizing that the focus should instead be on showing appreciation to those who supported his father during his life and illness. He remarked, “I didn’t see any need for me to go to Mengo to apologize because I didn’t do anything to him.”
Additionally, Junior criticized the clan leaders for their decision to apologize, arguing that they failed to consider the long-term consequences of such an action. He concluded by stating that he would have only gone to Mengo if his father had explicitly asked him to do so while he was still alive.
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The family dispute intensified over the weekend when Tamale Junior was summoned to a clan meeting. Elders, hoping to align him with the family’s decision, tried to counsel him on the importance of reconciliation and the apology to the Buganda Kingdom.
However, Junior, standing firm in his opposition, attempted to justify his stance but was denied the opportunity to speak, prompting him to storm out of the meeting.
His defiance frustrated the clan elders, who were angered by what they perceived as a lack of respect for their authority and the family’s wishes. Despite their efforts to reason with him, they felt Junior had disrespected both the family and the clan by publicly opposing their decision.
As a result, the elders decided to cut ties with him, issuing a formal threat of banishment due to his perceived insubordination.
This fallout leaves Tamale Mirundi Junior isolated in his defense of his late father’s controversial legacy, while his family moves forward in seeking to mend their strained relationship with the Buganda Kingdom.
