Most Baganda in North America have reached one conclusion about the fire that gutted Buganda’s national shrine, Amasiro ge Kasubi, the royal cemetery where 4 late kings (Bassekabaka) and many other royals are buried. They put the blame squarely on president Yoweri Museveni and his NRM government. And their suspicions were strenghtned by reports that on Wednesday, scores of Baganda were shot by NRM military police because they gave a hostile audience to Museveni. Museveni went inspect the ashes in the place where the royal tombs once stood. Based on the emails we have received from all over the world, it appears that a huge majority of Baganda view Museveni’s visit as a case of the criminal returning to the scene of the crime.
According to the March 17, 2010 Ekiba Kibe broadcasts, Baganda held big Ggwangamujje mourning gatherings in Boston, New Jersey and Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mourning is expected to go on for sometime but no end dates have been announced. On the same program, the Chairman of Ggwangamujje Boston describes the various ways Museveni has impoverished, robbed and even killed Baganda. As examples, Mr. Mayanja mentions the young virgins of Budo Primary School who were sacrificed in a ritual dormitory fire, other school fires, the destruction of Buganda agriculture, the closure of CBS, the theft of Buganda’s native lands and the murder of ordinary Baganda. Mr. Mayanja announced more mourning meetings, indicating that in America Baganda might mourn for the Kasubi tombs for longer than the one week which Mmengo wants for Buganda.
Click on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10C and on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10D to listen to the Ekiba Kibe programs of March 17, 2010.
March 18th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
If someone ( MUSEVENI) is to kill you softly, he deprives you of your rights to exist by invading your Territory (BUGANDA) DIVIDE your Land and Peolple, lock you down ( Can’t go to Kayunga). Freeze all your sources of income (CBS)and wanting to conrol your investiments, He starts Killing all your People one by one (Mayombo) and then 30. He gives you conditions of how to be unpopular, don’t be like a king, beacuse there is a killer President, you have to be like other ordinary citizens, forgetting he is an Illegal Alien (Undocumented) a rebel and a devil worshiper (cult) who raises his Son to be like him and employes his entire Family in the state house! oh by the way also having a first lady being a Minister and MP(Degrading the flavor of being a first Lady). Well watch out! Though he tries all thatyou still have a dynasty, and recognized and it is also generating millions of shillings to your kingdom through those who appreciate your existance.!! Now like a theif, he comes in the night of March 18, to kill your People, Steal your Pride and destroy your Kingdom.
MUSEVENI is a Barbarian
“(BARBARIAN)”is a term for an uncivilized person, often used pejoratively, either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage. In idiomatic or figurative usage, a “barbarian” may also be an individual reference to a brutal, cruel, warlike, insensitive person.[1]
look out for MUSEVENISM.
JK. Boston USA
will post this on Face Book aswell.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
This mission has the finger prints of Mr. Museveni, Kayihura, Tinyefunza, Otafiire, Nyakairima, Kuteesa, Muhoonzi and Nagenda. Mr. Otafiire was once quoted saying that he will break buganda’s legs. Mr. Museveni was once quoted calling himself a (Sekabaka)or a Bugaanda King who has fallen asleep.All along, they were refering to the crime they were about to commit. Museveni stepping on the grounds of the Tombs was an insult to every Mugaanda, and the Mengo minister who went with him must be relieved of her duties immediately. We Bagaanda, we never forget era tuli kilyo kya nsujju. Bazukulu ba Nakalaama muliwa? Musitukileemu omutima gwa bugaanda bayagala gutundula mukifuba.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:23 am
Anastaseos,
Some of the undenied and undeniable evidence is reproduced here as given in the New Vision of January 09, 2010 by Kahinda Otafiire, an evil man whose face looks like a chimp. Please note while his evil utterences were intended to incite hatred and genocide against the Baganda, no government official or functionary came out to deny them, meaning that this was the official position of the government this terrorist serves:
Uganda: Mengo Betrayed Museveni – Otafiire
Moses Mulondo
9 January 2010
Kampala — TOP NRM historical and minister for tourism, trade, and industry, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, has warned Mengo against fighting President Yoweri Museveni, saying the latter would kill the kingdom if he chose to do so.
“Were Museveni to break Mengo’s legs, the legs would be so badly broken to ever be repaired by any other government. What other governments would do in that regard is to completely remove the legs,” Otafiire told Sunday Vision figuratively in an interview.
In the recent past, the hostility between the central government and Buganda kingdom has worsened leading to the recent Buganda riots and the closure of CBS radio arising from government’s blockage of Kabaka’s trip to Kayunga District.
“Do you think there is anybody who will trust Mengo after they have turned against Museveni who restored their kingdom?” Otafiire wondered.
An olive branch was presented when the Kabaka and the President met at State House to mend the sour relationship, but the recent signing of the Land Bill by President Museveni. Mengo is strongly opposed to the new law.
Asked whether the Mengo standoff won’t cost NRM votes in the forthcoming general elections, Otafiire said, “Well, that is democracy. But will that make the other fellows win? And does Mengo think there is anybody who will ever give them political power without holding elections for the leadership of the regional government?”
Expressing his frustration, the maverick Major General reminded Buganda that it is President Museveni who restored the kingdom and, therefore, it would be like a man beating his father, for Mengo to fight him.
“If a man can beat his father, it would be easy for him to beat his uncle or his foster father. I am sure that any other government will look at them with suspicion,” Otafiire argued.
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On his recent remarks that Obugabe supporters should be stoned, which have been perceived as inciting violence, Otafiire said: “I did not say it. I only said those who do things on behalf of other people without their consent could be lynched in public places. I want to put it categorically clear that I never said it. Instead, I said, you will one day be stoned.”
He promised he would back Prince Barigye’s drive for the restoration of Obugabe in Ankole if majority of the Banyankole support the idea.
“Let Barigye go around looking for support. It is a democratic right that he should go around convincing his people to support the project. I am not one of those who would intimidate Barigye against doing that. I don’t belong to the school of thought that says it (Obugabe) should not be talked about,” Otafiire
Gusinze ayi Ssabasajja Kabaka Mutebi!
March 19th, 2010 at 4:57 am
Muzaana wa Kabaka Nankindu,
This is the full interview text by Mr. Otafiire K. on the intentions of Mr. Museveni to “break Mengo’s/Buganda’s legs” as happened on Tuesday, 03/16/10:
Museveni still young’ – Otafiire
Otafiire campaigns for the post of NRM secretary general at Mandela National Stadium Namboole in 2005
NATIONAL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT bush war historical and minister of tourism, trade, and industry, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, has described Buganda kingdom’s demands as unreasonable and illegitimate. Moses Mulondo talked to him on the restoration of kingdoms, internal wrangles in political parties and affairs in his ministry. Below are excerpts.
Q: During the recent Buganda riots you made remarks that implied you regret why your government restored kingdoms? What makes you regret?
A: Because instead of being grateful for what we did, the Mengo people are agitating for what is unreasonable and illegitimate. We thought it would be a win-win. Some of us are regretting because of what these people are doing.
What is illegitimate about what Mengo is demanding?
The demand for exercising political power outside the ballot box is illegitimate. When you start demanding for political power outside the constitutional provisions, then your demand is illegitimate.
The Constitution says power belongs to people and if majority want federalism under that arrangement, isn’t that democracy?
Federalism is different from what is being demanded by Mengo. Federalism entails voting for a federal government. What Mengo is demanding for is not a democratically elected government. Consider what chaos Mengo supporters caused involving the destroying people’s property and putting people’s lives at risk. That is violation of people’s human rights and freedoms
But before that happened, the Kabaka’s right and freedom of movement had been violated when the Government blocked his trip to Kayunga. What do have to say?
Do you compare it to destruction of people’s lives and property? Can you compare political action to the sanctity of property and life? In any case, his visit was contentious.
Now let us turn to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Don’t you think this would be the right time for President Yoweri Museveni to step down and another person like you takes over?
Do you have a father?
He died
Did you kill him?
No.
Why should Museveni step down when he is still useful? He is still young. He is a middle-aged person. We came to power when we were still young. I became minister when I was only 34 years old. I turned 59 the other day.
NRM MP Henry Banyenzaki says you older people should step down for the young to takeover
Let them come out and compete. Our party is democratic.
Do you also have ambitions of becoming president?
Even if I had, there can only be one at a time and if there is one and he is still doing well, why should my ambitions disturb order in the party that believes in teamwork.
There is an argument that NRM would be defeated in the absence of Museveni as the flag bearer?
Well, you are now defeating your argument. You are contradicting yourself. If you know he is very powerful, why should we then get rid of him? That is the reason why we still want him to lead us.
But supposing he was not available?
The NRM would still survive and remain in power. Museveni is in a team but he is not the team. Otherwise, if Museveni was NRM, there would be no NRM then. Know it that we are a team with different players and our team trusts him as our captain.
Aren’t you afraid that one of your other team players the Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, is contemplating retiring from politics this year?
He has not told me so. I have only seen it in the press. But I don’t think he is retiring soon as the media reports allege. You pressmen are known for speculation
Is it true you told The Observer that you are not bothered about Bukenya if he chooses to retire?
How could I say that when I didn’t have information that he was retiring? That is their rubbish. I have just come back from my constituency, where did The Observer find me? Are they part of the people I represent?
They said they had a telephone interview with you?
Nobody called me. That is a lie. I also just read it in their paper and I got surprised.
Recent reports say you threatened to stone Ankole kingdom supporters. Why stone them?
I did not say it. I only said those who do things on behalf of other people without their consent could be lynched in public places.
I was cautioning the district councils to be careful not to do things that could cause problems in society. The problem with the press is that you people always want to sell your newspapers and thus end up putting words in our mouths. I want to put it categorically clear that I never said it. Instead, I said, you will one day be stoned.
There are reports that Prince Barigye is now going village after village canvassing for support, what will you do about that?
That would be the most legitimate thing which he should have done longtime ago. Let him go around looking for support. I would be very glad. I am not afraid of ideas. If people are convinced and support him, it’s okay. It is a democratic right that he should go around convincing his people to support the project. I am not one of those who would intimidate Prince John Barigye against doing that.
So, will you support the Obugabe if it is endorsed by people?
I don’t know what is wrong with you. What I meant is that if majority of the people of Ankole support him, I will go along with him. Barigye is a Munyankole. It is Prince Barigye’s legitimate right to seek support for the Obugabe (the kingdom of Ankole). I don’t belong to the school of thought that says it should not be talked about.
Back to NRM, what are the causes of internal squabbles within the party?
They are the same factors that cause squabbles in other political parties. Who said internal squabbles are the preserve of the NRM. Just recently the DP members were fighting each other at the court and the UPC officials have been at each other’s necks. Disagreements will always be there, but what matters is ensuring that they are principled disagreements.
You are known for being a pragmatic person, how would you handle the current challenge of corruption if you were the President?
Everyone has his leadership style. For instance, Museveni takes long to act on people accused of corruption because he does not believe in punishing people presumed innocent by law and I think that is the correct approach because if you don’t handle power with care and compassion you can do irrational things.
For instance, I have been accused of corruption, but my accusers have never produced any iota of evidence. Corruption has to be proved not perceived. There have been instances where buildings and property whose whereabouts I even don’t know have been attributed to me. I think the President’s method of using commissions of inquiry is the correct way. Of course there is a danger that those commissions can be compromised, witnesses can be intimidated, and documents lost, but there is nothing else the Government can do without hurting the innocent.
Do you still have a bone to pick with Amama Mbabazi?
Did I ever have a bone to pick with him? We disagreed on the method of work because we are in the same team which has to keep winning. If you are players on the same team and your colleague is not doing his part well, you have to tell him to do his bit so that at the end of the race you get victory for the team. If a player fails to do what is expected of him, you substitute him for a better one so that you have a victory for the team.
What wasn’t Mbabazi doing well?
These are internal matters. Why should I tell you what happens in our kitchen?
If you were the team coach, would you have substituted him by now?
I have no comment on that.
Why?
Anyway, his position is elective and you know NRM is a democratic party. When the time for party elections comes and members decide that he should be substituted, that is what will happen
Will you stand against him like you tried in 2005?
I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
What became of the Nagulu-Nakawa land satellite city project which you had spearheaded?
I am no longer the Minister of Local government. Go and ask the current local government minister.
Why were you against the using of the Bible during swearing-in?
I have never been opposed to it. Why don’t you people do research? When I was swearing in, what did I use? Didn’t I use the Bible? Why don’t you people write correct information? I was only opposed to the act of Christianising Parliament. I was opposed to the act of separating into groups of those who are Christians and those who are not.
Why should someone distribute Bibles to MPs at Parliament? What happens to the Muslims, the Hindus, what about the NRM because to some of us NRM is our religion? I consider these to be sectarian tendencies which should be discouraged.
Did I get right that NRM is your religion?
Yes, to some of us it is our religion. As far as Parliament is concerned, NRM is our religion. It is our tribe, and it is our kika (clan)
But aren’t you aware that Uganda is a Christian nation?
Who told you?
It is because nearly 80% of Ugandans confess to be Christians
That is your belief. My argument is that religious matters should be removed from Parliament.
Is that the reason that compelled you to drop your Christian name of Phillip?
Why should I have a European name? Have you heard of Europeans called Kahinda? Do I need to have a European name to be able to go heaven? I am an African.
But the name Phillip is from Israel which is Asia not Europe
But still it remains foreign, it is not from Africa. All these names of Phillip, Muhammad, etc are foreign. The British colonised India for over 500 years, but how many Indians do you know that have British names?
But what religion are you?
Why are you bothered about that, do you want to take me to heaven. Will my religion make Uganda any better? When I go to my constituency, will I only seek votes from members of my religion?
Businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba recently said you helped him acquire the Nakasero market land title; did you do that in a proper way?
I don’t think Basajjabalaba meant what you understood. What he meant is that we helped him plead his case but the title was given to him by KCC. That transaction was done by John Ssebaana Kizito’s KCC government. We only helped him obtain what was duly his.
Won’t the hostility that has emerged from Mengo in the recent past cost NRM of votes in 2011?
Well, that is democracy. But will that make the other fellows win? And does Mengo think there is anybody who will ever give them political power without holding elections for the leadership of the regional government. Do you think there is anybody who will trust Mengo after they have turned against Museveni who restored their kingdom?
I am sure that any other government will look at them with suspicion. Were Museveni to break Mengo’s legs, the legs would be so badly broken that they could never be repaired by any other government. What other governments would do in that regard is to remove the legs once and for all. Can a man beat his father? If a man can beat his father, it would be with easy for him to beat his uncle or his foster father.
Are you saying Museveni is the father of the Buganda Kingdom?
I am just using it as a metaphor because it is Museveni who led the war that led to the restoration of the kingdom
But many Baganda made tremendous contribution to the success of the war. Not so?
Yes they did, but they did not participate in the struggle to bring back the kingdom. Do you know what Colonel Sserwanga Lwanga’s views were? He said: ‘If I had known we were fighting for the return of kingdoms, I would not have participated in the struggle.’
What exactly happened in the Army Council’s discussion on restoration of kingdoms?
I did not attend, by that time I was abroad. Of course I dramatised it when I said the President went to his knees pleading for the restoration, but it was not easy for him to convince the rest.
But in a democratic government, shouldn’t it have been Ugandans to decide on that other than the army?
Of course by that time, it was still the army and NRC that were in charge of making national decisions.
Do you think Besigye can make a good president?
Well, you can try him.
Will your NRM government accept to hand over power, if you are defeated in the 2011 presidential elections?
We shall not lose, so that question does not arise. Who told you we shall lose?
Just in case it happens, would you hand over power?
Who said we cannot hand over power if we are defeated? Uganda is not our estate.
Now to your ministry as the trade minister. What measures are you considering to tackle the problem of the influx of fake commodities onto the Uganda market?
That problem requires a multi-sectoral approach. It involves the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the Ministry of Health, the URA as well as law enforcing authorities like the Police and others. Those fake commodities come through many ways like smuggling, collaboration and of course internal counterfeiting by people who produce copycat-products of the original products.
But what measures has your ministry undertaken?
We have increased surveillance and gotten law enforcement agencies to act swiftly.
You recently disbanded the administration of the UNBS, do you think that will help?
I hope it will work. To treat an illness, you keep trying different measures.
What benefits should we expect from the recently signed East African Common Market Protocol?
We expect all Ugandans to by now be knowledgeable about the benefits of the East African Common Market like the advantage of enjoying a bigger market. We expect you to know the benefits of economic integration and political integration. I am surprised you are still asking such questions. These things should by now be obvious to many people.
Ugandan manufacturers are afraid that since the industrial sector is still in its infancy, they might be out-competed by for example Kenyan products.
You cannot be a child forever. It is actually competition that will make Uganda’s industries grow.
Does that mean the Government will not offer any protection to Uganda’s infant industry?
The Government will offer some bit of protection where necessary like on production variables like electricity, transport, etc. We shall help them with things beyond their control.
Published on: Saturday, 9th January, 2010
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Long live His Majesty Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II.
March 19th, 2010 at 5:19 am
Tara,
We can still find some more clues on the intentional destruction of Buganda in the following interview as given by G. Bukenya, the regime’s vice president:
Deputy Dictator; Bukenya during the interview
VICE-president Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya has said the challenges facing Uganda necessitate President Yoweri Museveni to have another term in office. Moses Mulondo interviewed him about the land bill, CHOGM probe and the recent Buganda riots.
Q:Why did the National Resistance Movement push and pass the Land Bill when the talks between the President and the Kabaka were still going on?
A: That Land Bill which has been passed is the most significant decision the Government has ever made in addressing the problem of evicting poor people and to stabilise them on their land. There should not be any regret over the Bill. I am actually jubilating that it was passed. It is a win for the poor people, especially in Buganda. In my area, Kakiri, a landlord was trying to evict a whole parish in Mpegwe with over 300 people. Uganda politicians should avoid wasting time on sentimental politics.
Does it mean the talks between the President and the Kabaka have collapsed?
No. They are always on telephone. The talks are going on smoothly. There should not be cause for alarm because the one-on-one relationship between the two gentlemen is back to normal. We should stop speculating. Buganda kingdom and the Central Government are back to a normal relationship
You are accused of being one of the people who caused the nation to lose money in the course of awarding CHOGM contracts. What do you have to say?
I do everything for the sake of Uganda and to save as much money as possible. If I ever caused any loss, let someone come out and accuse me.
I was doing my work diligently and effectively and in consultation with the President. There is no single decision I ever made alone. All the CHOGM decisions I made were after consultation and approval by the President. You cannot make such decisions without the knowledge of the President.
The President had full knowledge and backing of everything I did on behalf of Government. In addition, I want to remind people that CHOGM was a project and projects have a limited time of implementation. It was a very important event for Uganda and it made our country shine in the whole world.
CHOGM ‘09 was hailed to be the best ever prepared in the recent decades. My job was to make sure that there is zero failure.
We had many people including, Nandala Mafabi who wanted CHOGM to fail. They even sent groups to London de-campaigning Uganda as unfit to host the event. We defeated all those dissenting views and we held a very successful well-organised conference that made black Africa shine. I am very proud of it.
But what about the argument that you halted the tendering process and awarded the contract to a company in which foreign minister Sam Kutesa has shares?
That is not my problem. I was not awarding contracts. That is the mandate of the accounting officer. My job was to provide a policy guideline. Procurement or awarding contracts was not my job. And my policy guideline was that we should not go for outright purchase of cars but resort to leasing of cars and the owners can take them away after the event. This would save a poor government maintenance costs. Countries like Malta and Nigeria also used the same method.
But the Auditor General’s report indicates that the leasing costs were inflated?
That is for the accounting officer to explain. My business was on policy guidelines. Procurement and negotiation is a responsibility for the accounting officer. But in any case, even if the price was inflated, it was cheaper to lease cars than buying and maintaining them.
What did you make of the Buganda riots that originated from Government’s blockage of the Kabaka’s trip to Kayunga?
I want to ask a question, what was the cause of those riots in Buganda? Was it the issue of the Kabaka or deprivation or lack of employment? Was it a ploy by some people to use the crisis to achieve what they wanted or was it love for the Kabaka?
In my view, it was a signal of unemployment and deprivation leading to hatred. Otherwise, why would someone rioting steal an iron bar from a hardware store, why burn a grader repairing your road or break into a supermarket and vandalise it?
How did you feel when you watched soldiers and policemen clobbering people? Don’t you think by such acts, people’s human rights were violated?
When expression of dissatisfaction turns away from peaceful demonstration to violent deadly riots involving breaking into people’s shops, throwing dangerous objects, killing people, targeting of a certain tribe and destruction of people’s property, that means danger and that the human rights of the rest of the people are at stake, how do you expect the Government to handle the situation?
You know that it is the responsibility of the Government to make sure that the freedom, lives and properties of all Ugandans are secure.
Was there any justification for the Government to block the Kabaka from going to Kayunga?
That is debatable. But I see no reason why the Kabaka of Buganda could not inform the President so that they reach an agreement on that simple matter. But if the whole issue is managed in a confrontational way, then reactions like those that happened are likely to take place.
But the Kabaka had not confronted Museveni and the reason given by the Government for blocking the trip was security not the failure of the Kabaka to inform the president.
Whenever there are two parties in a dispute, they must be brought together for a discussion and come up with an amicable solution. In this case, it was the Banyala and the Mengo leadership. Unfortunately, such a call for discussion was turned down.
Was it justified for the Police and the army to shoot live bullets at the unarmed civilians?
This is not the first country where such a thing has happened and neither is it the first time it has happened in Uganda. Even some sections of the UN convention allow the right to shoot in self-defence or when the rioters threaten to cause death. This is what the Police assessed and acted accordingly. I would wish that the human rights groups would also sensitise people on how to carryout peaceful demonstrations as a preventative measures other than wait for things to go wrong and then criticise.
Reports indicated you supported the proposal for the closure of CBS radio?
It is not a matter of support. It is a matter of weighing between peace and violence. Since CBS was inciting people to unleash violence, that was enough to cause the medium to check itself. And for me as a peace-loving Ugandan, a lover of national unity and an admirer of what NRM has done in bringing about change in Buganda and Uganda, I had no alternative but to support the closure because it was about to take us back to the 1966 crisis which I witnessed.
But why has the Government refused to give Buganda federalism?
No, we have not refused. If the central government surrenders power to regions to manage education, health, road networks, culture, agriculture etc, this is a good beginning and regions can ask for more in the future after proof of efficiency and effective management.
Drawing a lesson from the riots, what advice do you give to your fellow Baganda and the rest of Ugandans?
We, the Baganda, must know that we live in Uganda with other people who have the same rights. When we demand, they also have a right to demand. When we destroy their properties, they also have a right to do so. Let us stop inciting hatred and confrontation. When one draws the gun, what happens? The innocent suffer and even die. In whatever we aspire to achieve, we must be supported by other Ugandans. We cannot work in isolation.
As Mahatma Gandi once said, ‘I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporal; the evil it does is permanent.’ Dear Ugandans, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit and intent on purpose of developing our motherland. Or consider the wise words of Mother Theresa who said, ‘If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”’
Don’t you really think it was a political miscalculation for you to block the Kabaka’s trip to Kayunga? Won’t it cost the NRM in the 2011 elections?
No. I don’t think it was a miscalculation. Rather, it was affirmation of the rule of law which has been the pillar for the people of Uganda.
What law did the Kabaka break by deciding to go to Kayunga?
Refusal to discuss matters of national unity, Mengo officials inciting people into violent riots and the use of language that promotes tribalism like tugyakukuba abalina enyindo empanvu (we shall beat up long-nosed people). If people talk that way, then you are creating tribal conflicts among Ugandans. As for me, I can never support such tendencies.
But those statements were made during the riots after the Kabaka had been refused access to Kayunga?
It should be known that in Uganda there is a government. Its president is Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He has a mandate to lead as he wishes because he was elected by all Ugandans to do so.
If the President complains about lack of information about where you want to go and the stability of the people that he was mandated to manage, that is dangerous enough. And for me, that is the mistake Mengo committed because they would have agreed.
But it is also argued that Sabanyala Kimeze is a government set-up.
If Kimeze is a government set-up, who then is not a government set-up? Wasn’t the return of Kabaka fully managed by President Museveni? So, wasn’t that a government set-up.
Would that mean you also support the creation of other kingdoms within the Buganda?
Nobody supports the creation of kingdoms within the kingdom of Buganda. But I support the creation chiefdoms that pay their loyalty to the king of Buganda.
But if such chiefs are set against their king, how do you expect Mengo to react to that?
That is not true. How about Kamuswaga of Kooki? How did his creation come about? Disagreements emerged and the two parties had to get at the table to discuss the way forward.
So, is your government treating Kimeze as a chief or as a king?
We regard him as a cultural leader of the Banyala and our Constitution allows it.
But Mengo recognises Nyonjo as the cultural leader of the Banyala.
The Constitution states the people who practice a particular culture have the legitimacy to ask for a cultural leader and it also mandates them to use their traditional ways to come up with a cultural leader. That exercise is not for the central government, Museveni or even Mengo.
Is the proposed law to regulate the activities of cultural leaders necessary?
It is a very important constitutional procedure. You know the Constitution makes a statement; it does not elaborate on how it will work. The law will specify what a cultural leader is supposed to do by defining his upper and lower limits in order to create clarity of cultural work versus political work. It should also create punitive actions to be undertaken in case there is a dispute.
When the law is passed, will the Kabaka be barred from making political statement?
Absolutely and it will create peace and that is what we require.
But the Constitution doesn’t stop the Kabaka from making political statements; it only stops him from engaging in partisan politics?
When you make a comment on political issues, your statement is likely to lean either on the side of the ruling party or on the side of opposition parties since we are in a multiparty political system.
What if the Kabaka makes a political statement in the interest of defending the integrity or interests of his kingdom?
Whatever the reason, if that law is enacted and he makes any political statement, he will be in trouble because his kingdom is a cultural kingdom not a political kingdom.
What if Mengo accepts the regional government you are granting it, won’t the Buganda kingdom have become a political institution?
If Buganda wants to advance in a democratic era, it is not a matter of Mengo accepting or not accepting. It is a matter of understanding the future of Uganda. And the future of Uganda lies in consolidation of a democratic process. There is no more time for undemocratic systems of government in Uganda. Choosing a person without going into one-person one-vote is no longer acceptable.
Therefore, Buganda and its cultural leadership must now begin to recognise legitimately elected members of their society like the President, MPs, district chairpersons, councillors, and other local government leaders.
Don’t you think it is time for Museveni to step down from power and give way for another person?
No
Why?
There is now one pending issue that must be solved by President Yoweri Museveni in the next term of office.
What is that issue?
That is the issue of building national unity which includes the harmonisation of the Uganda people and their cultural leaders.
Can’t another person like you solve that as Museveni plays an advisory role the way Nelson Mandela does in South Africa?
President Museveni is the only man who has the ability of building up this harmony in the next five years. You know there are issues for which offering advice is applicable and some sensitive matters for which you need the direct participation of some unique person if you are to have effective results.
This thinking is based on the uniqueness of Museveni’s ascension to leadership and his uniqueness in building a big bank of experience in handling national matters.
Doesn’t that confirm what President Yoweri Museveni said that he does not see yet any person in the NRM with the ability to replace him?
No, no. I don’t even think he ever said it. Will there be no Uganda in 300 years from now? Will Museveni still be alive and won’t that Uganda be presided over by a president? Everybody has his time and this is time for Museveni.
So for how long do you then think Museveni should be in power?
You will ask me that question towards the end of the next term of office in 2015.
Museveni still has some important issues to resolve before he steps down from power.
But if he has not been able to solve those issues in 25 years how sure are we he will solve them in the next five years?
People who ask such questions are myopic. By the time Museveni came to power, this country was in a shambles, which took about 10 years to bring back to progress.
The economy has tremendously improved from 215% inflation to a single-digit inflation. He brought peace and respect for human rights and democracy. He has even finally ended the northern war.
Although some people think that war came with him?
That is not a fair assessment. There have been many wars in Uganda since 1966. Did they come with Museveni?
Published on: Saturday, 26th December, 2009
Omuganda agamba nti “kamwa kabi kassa siloganga”!
Waangala nyo ayi Baffe Ccuucu Maggulunyondo Empologoma ya Buganda Ssabasajja Kabaka!