|
From Gloria Kuliva in Kampala
Kampala City came to a standstill Tuesday when thousands of jubilant supporters of the recently elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mukono North, Betty Nambooze Bakireke, flocked to the Uganda Parliament to witness her swearing-in ceremony.
Nambooze, who has been referred to as Uganda’s ‘hero’ as well as a ‘freedom fighter’ was escorted by a large and often vociferous convoy from Mukono which prompted Kampala traffic officers to stop her proceeding to Kampala using the Jinja -Kampala road.
Ms Nambooze MP, passed via the Northern by-pass to Kalerwe-which is along Kampala –Bombo road to Wandegeya, where thousands lined up alongside roads shouting: “No CBS Radio, No NRM” in the 2011 forth coming elections adding that whether President Yoweri Museveni, the Ugandan leader, likes it or not, he has to allow the reopening of the Buganda Radio Station which he closed in September last year after riots by Buganda Youths when the Kabaka was refused to tour Bugerere, part of his kingdom. The jubilant crowd kept shouting that with Nambooze in parliament, the Radio had to be reopened. Her convoy then proceeded to Old Kampala and then to Bulange Mengo, where she meet Buganda’s prime minister (Katikkiro) Eng. J.B Walusimbi.
“We want peace in the country,” the crowd shouted. “We are tired of the humiliation and oppression from the NRM government led by the dictator as well as a mafia who had left us with nothing. It is time for the Baganda to start fighting for our freedom and advocating for what belongs to us.” In this meeting, Prime Minister Walusimbi revealed that Buganda does not support any political party or even participate in politics but it welcomes everyone and wishes well whoever wishes Buganda well. The Katikkiro noted: “You should be very humble and calm while in parliament if you wish everything to move smoothly. Just know that all people’s eyes are on you to see the changes you are going to impact in your constituency and Uganda at large,”
Before being swearing her in, the Speaker, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, advised her to work effectively on behalf of her people, not forgetting the laws that govern Uganda by putting them into practice. The speaker also went ahead and congratulated her for passing through such a tight election.
Since the September 09 riots that ended up with at least 27 people killed and over 500 behind bars, there has continued to be bad relationships between the Central Government and Mengo (the headquarters of the Buganda Government. The Baganda have also not been amused by the creation of small chiefdoms within Buganda by the central government, a move seen by Buganda royalists as a way of weakening the monarchy. This has created an ideology among people to only vote for those who respect their king and this turned out in Mukono North.
After being sworn in, Nambooze noted that her big challenge she is likely to face is that the electorate are seriously demanding Buganda issues whereby they have expressed their position that the NRM government has treated Buganda unjustly especially in regard to the continued denial of the federal system in Uganda and the refusal to fully grant Buganda what is rightfully hers (Ebyaffe).
The unconvincing explanation to the closing of CBS sent prejudicial connotations especially as it seemed that the institution has to suffer for the sins of individuals. It is noted that the government closed CBS radio on allegations that it was inciting the public to cause violence during the September 2009 Buganda riots.
The Land Act and many other laws have been seen by many as unpopular as they infringe on the freedoms of Mukono and Uganda at large. People in Mukono North Constituency said they were not satisfied that the law would protect them effectively, despite the fact that the president earlier on while in Kyampisi sub county campaigning for NRM’s looser Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, noted that Nambooze’s opposition to the land act clearly indicated that she is a ‘terrorist”. Mainly re-opening of CBS radio, federal, and respect towards the King. On top of that, she is going to monitor all the government money extended for the constituency’s development. It should also be noted that Ms Nambooze has opened a new chapter in the politics of Uganda where nobody, even President Museveni, has ever received support from Ugandans in the manner in which Ms Nambooze received it.
Nambooze’s supporters were stopped from entering the parliamentary gallery. The few who tried were forced to withdraw posters and also put off her budges. In this struggle, Nambooze’s supporters remained calm, however. Many said that such oppression would force them to suppress the NRM government out of power by showing them that ‘votes are stronger than guns’.
After the mobile police patrol unit blocked Nambooze’s supporters from entering the parliament, they started singing peace demanding songs like Akaalo ka Buganda, singer Ronald Mayinja’s Landlord- a song containing words of encouragement and hope to the king and Buganda at large, Twagala Mirembe- we want peace (which was usually sang during NRM 1986 Liberation war) and on top of shouting the Buganda anthem.
During these elections, everything has been rotating on Buganda kingdom, turning it to be the main campaign issue. While campaigning, Me Museveni expressed his love for the King and the Baganda at large noting that he is the only president in the world who had ever restored a kingdom in 1993, while voters were urging to vote for someone who will request the king to tour their constituency, which they saw in Nambooze because her opponent Bakaluba, came from the NRM party, well-known by the people for containing leaders who disrespect their king.
|
NEW LOOK WEB HOMEPAGE!!! (8228)
