Uganda’s vice president, Dr. Gilbert Bukenya has told Kabaka Mutebi and his subjects to forget about  the Federo, which they are agitating for.  Bukenya is supposed to have made these statements in an interview that is published in government owned and controlled Sunday Vision of September 6, 2009. Bukenya was echoing the statement made by president Museveni, during a July 12, 2009 public debate On WBS TV, where he (Museveni) declared: “I can never allow Federo for Buganda”.

August 16, 2009 Bukenya attended the Coronation Anniversary celebrations in Lubiri where Omutaka Nakirembeka chided the vice president and other Baganda members of the NRM government for  parroting their anti-Buganda bosses. Kabaka Mutebi , in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Museveni’s TV declaration, made clear that Buganda would not tolerate any more double-talk on Federo. The Kabaka said: “When we hear some people saying that they don’t know what Federo means, I think they have failed to understand what we mean. You should reply to them that Federo is all about justice and truth, and this is what we demand.”

On his part, Bukenya told Kabaka Mutebi and the tens of  thousands of Baganda present that:  ”Buganda’s Federo concerns are genuine and we need to talk about them seriously. I will make sure to recommend to the appropriate authorities that they be handled.”  Apparently  Bukenya  chose the newspaper interview format to inform  Kabaka Mutebi and his subjects to forget Federo, only saying, “We are giving them a regional government.”

Below is what Bukenya told Moses Mulondo of the new vision in response to a question on Federo. According to our sources in Ugandan media, Bukenya and Uganda state house were involved in composing both the question and the answer . Moreover, Bukenya’s answer was first  shown to the Uganda state house, by Robert Kabushenga, before publication. Therefore, all the vagueness (kavuyo) it contains is intentional.

Question: Do you think Buganda’s demands on federalism are genuine?

Answer: Lets  first of all make this very clear. Long time ago when the Europeans came to the centre of Africa here, there was an absolute monarchy. All the power and the leadership was enthroned in the king of that kingdom. He would even order for the killing of a person if he wanted. When the British came in they started taking away power from the king and giving it to the chiefs.

That was the beginning of process of reducing absolute monarchism. By 1950 monarchism was beginning to die out because the colonialists had introduced elections. Once they introduced the system of one  man one vote, democracy began to take over from the monarchy. Today you would be wasting time or dreaming if you thought of going back to the absolute federalism of the monarchy we used to have before the colonialists

But the Buganda kingdom is not demanding for the federalism it had before colonialism, rather, it is demanding for the federalism it got in 1962 after we had acquired independence

But the 1962 federalism is what we are giving them. We are giving them a regional government. They told you to manage many things; I do not know what they were told to manage in 1962. However, I want this to be re-emphasised for it seems to be our major disagreement. In a democratic arrangement you cannot expect that there will ever be a leader of a government without their being voted for by the population. It’s not possible.

That is why we have been saying, ‘why we don’t dissolve some power by creating regional governments whose leaders will be voted for by the people?’ The central government can give some power and you can call that federalism. But the previous federalism of an absolute monarchy is gone forever.

The full interview is available in the Interview sections of the Sunday Vision at www.sundayvision.co.ug.

On August 16, 2009, Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II excited Baganda all over the world when he made it clear that, despite president Museveni thinking that Federo is out of question, Buganda will continue her fight for self-determination and ultimately win. Kabaka Mutebi was addressing tens of thousands of Baganda who turned up at Lubiri to celebrate the 16th anniversary of his coronation onto the Namulondo of Buganda.

Kabaka Mutebi, who returned from a 3 day tour of his Buvuma county during the middle of last week, drew thunderous cheers when he said: “When we hear some people saying that they don’t know what Federo means, I think they have failed to understand what we mean. You should reply to them that Federo is all about justice and truth, and this is what we demand.”  The Kabaka made it clear that Federo, with some powers leaving the center and going to regional governments like Buganda, is essential for Uganda to be stable and grow. And he lamented the fact that, even the colonialists practiced more justice than seen today. He told his attentive audience: “If someone is fighting for what has been stolen from him, you may not be able to stop him. It may be impossible for you to make him forget his cause. Whenever our people talk about Federo, what they mean is ‘we want justice’.”

Before the Kabaka spoke, the Chairman of Abataka Abakulu b’Ebika, Omutaka Nakirembeka, Alan Waliggo, told the mammoth crowd of Baganda that President Museveni’s claim that Buganda will never get Federo should be a warning to us, to be careful about voting for non-Baganda leaders.  He said: “We are fed up with being used and abused. We shall remain in constant tears until we are in charge of what we get instead of letting others decide.”

The crowd broke into extended laughter when Kabaka’s Minister of State for Information, Medard Lubega Sseggona, told President Museveni’s vice, Gilbert Bukenya: “Please go and educate you friends on how to be loyal to the Kabaka of Buganda.” According to our sources in Mmengo, Bukenya takes full advantage of his very close and long friendship with Katikkiro JB Walusimbi to get himself invited to virtually every public event attended by Kabaka Mutebi.

While it is too early to tell, reports from around Kampala, Mukono and Entebbe, as well as emails from Los Angeles, London and Nairobi, suggest that Baganda here and overseas are very pleased by the Kabaka’s performance. One short email from London fairly represents the general pleasure expressed by Baganda we have heard from: “Nakato: I don’t know if you guys are reporting the news from Kampala about Kabaka’s and Omutaka’s statements in Lubiri. Emplogoma ebogodde! We feel much better after the weak and safe voices of the last 10 days. Awangaale Ssabasajja!”.

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Makerere: Messages on Kabaka’s Coronation Day

Ssebo Editor,

Mpereeza obubaka bwange eri Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, Magulu Nnyondo, Cuucu, Liso Lyoogi, Musota ku lunaku lwa matikira (Coronation Day annivesary).

Baffe, nkukulisa nnyo okutuuka ku lunaku luno wadde nga waliwo abizibu bingi nnyo. Naye ekikulu Ssabasajja kiri nti abantu bo tukooye nnyo, nnyo okuzinira ku ntoli za basajja bano. Buli mbuzi ede ku nkondo yaayo.  Ssabasajja bangi tulinda bulinzi kufuna mawulire nti nawe okooye.

Wangala nnyo Ssabasajja!

Musajjawo Musa Sebuyira Mutatyassasi – Za Mbogo!!!!
Village: Makerere
Ggomboloa: Mukulu wa Kibuga
County: Kyadondo
Country: Buganda