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By Asumani Balwaana Kaama
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has of late been telling anyone that would care to listen that he would like to meet with His Majesty, the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. Mr. Museveni mistakenly believes that meeting with the Kabaka of Buganda will somehow disentangle him from the political mayhem he has caused in Buganda and Uganda in general. However, the reported request by Mr. Museveni to hold a meeting with His Majesty is, to put it bluntly a dim idea.
Museveni's most recent problems with Buganda stem from his tabling of the ridiculous and ill-conceived Amendment Land Bill 2007, which has designs on private property and Buganda's 9000 square miles of communal land. Despite all manner of trickery there is unanimity in Buganda's hatred of the draft Land Bill.
To Museveni's dismay, the hated Land Bill which was intended to bring divisions has instead united the Baganda against this openly naked legislative attack on the right to own property. Museveni's hope that the rest of the country would rally behind him to squeeze the Baganda suffered a premature death when the rest of Uganda coalesced bar the Western region in support Buganda's position.
Faced with Buganda's rejection of his leadership and the Land Bill, Museveni sought to "consult" with the Kabaka; thinking that perhaps he may be able to force His Majesty into accepting the bill on behalf of the Baganda. When the Kabaka turned down the request to meet with Museveni, Museveni in a rather imprudent and desperate act resorted to kidnaping Buganda government officials, thinking erroneously that this would force the Kabaka's hand to meet him.
Museveni's basic problem stems from his and his political handlers inability to grasp the rudimentary understanding of how Buganda operates. He is routinely misadvised perhaps deliberately on things Buganda by renegades like Peter Muliira who knows the truth that His Majesty the Kabaka does not and will never negotiate on behalf of Buganda or the Baganda.
A cursory review of modern Buganda history bares out this fact. During the 1953 crisis when the Kabaka was kidnaped and deported to England, he refused to negotiate with the colonial British government to secure his release. It took a special committee of Mmengo ministers and chiefs, selected by the Great Lukiiko, to negotiated for Buganda and secured Kabaka's release. Even during the Lancaster House negotiations for independence, the Kabaka did not negotiate for Buganda but rather selected Buganda government officials from Mmengo.
It is therefore wishful thinking on Museveni's part that the Kabaka has the mandate or the desire to negotiate with him about Buganda's issues.
What Buganda needs and demands from Uganda is publicly known. Buganda's rights, privileges, land and properties among other things were expropriated by Uganda in broad daylight and they are documented. Therefore Mr. Museveni cannot pretend not to know what rightfully belongs to Buganda. It does not require a meeting with the Kabaka. What Buganda needs was also documented by Museveni's government when a report was submitted by the Mmengo establishment to the Odoki constitutional commission.
Since Mr. Museveni is aware of Buganda's demands, any negotiations should be on the modalities and timetable for the return of what was expropriated. These kinds of negotiations do not require the presence of Kabaka but rather a team of officials from Mmengo duly selected by the Great Lukiiko. As well, any negotiations should not be with Museveni but rather with Uganda's elected representatives in parliament.
In the effort to hog all the power in the country, Museveni made a constitution that barred Mmengo and Kabaka from involving themselves in "politics". It does not help matters that Museveni's definition of "politics" is always evolving.
In addition, Museveni has a checkered reputation when it comes to negotiations and agreements. He has been stringing Buganda along for over 20 years, negotiating and promising to do something only when it suits him. But he always conveniently has an excuse not to implement the agreement. When he is reminded of what was agreed upon, he then calls for another meeting. Only a political imbecile would believe in negotiating with Museveni. Buganda does not need Museveni or Uganda to survive. Museveni cannot have his cake and eat it too.
Asumani Balwaana Kaama,
Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje
Readers Comments:
06 Aug 2008
1.
RK,
Well done! Asumani Balwaana Kaama, Well done to you too! My question is what can we do so our people in the villages get access to RK. For instance my father stupidly dances on the NRM tune and it makes me so sad!! Meanwhile his life gets worse by the day even the one "debe" of coffee nuts he is able to have is stolen over night!
I wish you can give us an account number so we can drop in a few pennies every month end so our people can get free-for-all sort of newspapers (RK) like the ones we see in shopping malls or supermarkets in these foreign countries where we have sought refuge.
RK, one thing that makes me so sad is to see a multitude of people who are able to do their monthly groceries and pay their accounts in these foreign countries and yet our people cannot.
The saddest part for me is to realise that the multitude of people have access to flush toilets and this is just a basic!!
NRM MP's please not that the Jigger infested family sounds like a bad dream (http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190136.html) but it will soon be a reality in your houses!
2.
Editor RK
This is to thank asumani B.Kaama for his timely advice to Kabaka not to hold a meeting with M7. I support you on this.
But my concern is why have many Baganda continued to support the man who has over the years used them as ladders to achieve what he always wanted? All Ugandans who have been following the affair of our country know very well that no one who wishes to be a leader for Uganda can ever make it witout the support of Buganda. Buganda is the main key to leadership in Uganda and yet our people in Buganda have failed to use this God- given opportunity to get what they want, leave alone deny a non -cooperative leader the support he needs in order to rule Uganda.
Asumani don't you sincerely think that the problems our country has had over the years is because of the unfailing support given to M7? Who does not know that M7 is a liar? Please use all the machinery of persuasion so make Buganda deny M7 support and see whether he will come back after 2011 elections. That is a challenge to you. The rest of population is ready to cooperate.
Concerned Citizen.
09 Aug 2008
3.
Dear R.K,
I come from the North, and would wish to take exception about a comment in Asumani's piece that "Buganda does not need Museveni or Uganda to survive."
Dear Asumani, please note that it was other Ugandans, notably the Acholi Parliamentary Group, who propelled the recent successful petition for recall of Parliament from recess to debate the latest crisis between the Central Govt and Buganda Kingdom.
Dear Gwanga Mujje, united we stand, divided we fall. Let's all stand together to remove the quarter pin. Let's retool together and burry the old fashioned hatchets for the common good of the struggle. Otherwise, we shall always be at square one!
Aluta Continua!
10 Aug 2008
4.
Prof. Liar M7 Never Fulfils a Promise
By this time who does not know that M7 is the celebrated liar of our time?
In the effort to own all the powers in Uganda, M7 made a constitution that barred Mmengo and Kabaka from involving themselves in politics. It does not help matters that M7's definition of "politics" is always evolving and shifting of goal posts, from ushering in a mere change of guards in 1986 to lifting term limits up to asserting himself in simple matters of land to extra-judicial activities in the country -2008.
These kinds of negotiations do not require the presence of Kabaka but rather a team of officials from Mmengo selected by the Lukiiko (parliament of Buganda). As well, any negotiations should not be with M7 but rather with Uganda's elected MP's, but the fella wants to personalize every simple detail as treacherous commoner and hold the Kabaka to honor the kichupulitic outcomes while he M7 tactfully dishonors his part and find reason to blame the Kabaka and repeat the obote stunt.
That is why he blamed the Kabaka when he found a letter in the newspapers that he had addressed to the Kabaka, which the Kabaka publicly allowed to make it to the press, does not want such issues to be put in the newspapers, so that he dodges the hand of the press, that is another way people like Tamale Mirundi have a job in State house, just because of catching him unaware of his empty promises and quoted wordings.
In addition, M7 has a trailing history and funny reputation when it comes to negotiations and agreements, name it; "peace jokes" with Lutwa, other rebels with the amnesty bills that are never realized as most of those people have met their death in un-explained circumstances to where we are with LRA's Kony-2008. He has been backtracking Buganda along for over 21 years, negotiating and promising to do somethings only when it best suits him. But he has always conveniently had a lame excuse not to honor or even implement what has been agreed upon. When he is brought to the being on the honest side, he then calls for another meeting as a professional Kaviolist would do. Only an imbecile would actually take the negotiations with M7 as serious. Thanks for the continuous empty promises, but Buganda does not need M7 to survive. He is so predictable along the lines of a dishonest man.
My concern is that we still have many Baganda supporting the derailing system and its leader M7 the man who has over the years used Baganda as ladders to achieve what he wants? And who by this time is not aware that M7 is a celebrated liar of our time, a man who does not honor his word but keeps on shifting goal posts as it suits him.
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