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From Moses Kalanzi in Kampala
The gulf between the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government and the Kingdom of Buganda is far from narrowing ahead of next years general elections with the Buganda Kingdom undertaking measures aimed at weakening the party in the region. This comes in the wake of the recent crossover of two former Katikkiros (premiers) and key Kabaka advisors to the main opposition. Former Katikkiro Joseph Mulwannyamuli Ssimwogerere and Daniel Muliika recently made known their political aspirations when they joined the opposition at a recent function.
Joseph Ssimwogerere, a former District Administrator for Masaka, was one of the longest serving Buganda Katikkiros serving for over a decade until the Kabaka replaced him with Daniel Muliika. He is best remembered for being at the helm of the regional tier debate when it became apparent that a great majority of his cabinet had been hoodwinked into accepting proposals in the regional tier package prepared by government. He lost the confidence of the population by his moderate approach towards the Buganda question which brought doubts about his allegiance to the aspirations of the Kingdom.
In a dramatic twist, the Kabaka of Buganda replaced Mulwannyamuli and a big majority of his cabinet with new appointments led by the erstwhile radical Daniel Muliika, a veteran of the Bataka squabbles of the past. The two announced that they had taken a unilateral decision to join the Inter Party Coalition (IPC) following a "well informed judgment." This was during Dr. Besigye's Buganda region mobilization campaign launch at the Pope Paul Memorial Center in Kampala. According to Ssimwogerere, the reality on the ground in the region permits an action like this. "Uganda is in need of positive and constructive change," he added. Ssemogerere, who tendered his resignation as a special advisor to the Buganda King, told the gathering that the Kabaka affirmed him in his new endeavors and had duly accepted his resignation.
Daniel Muliika on his part called upon Ugandans to massively register for the elections to change government through democratic means. We must fight to return power back to the people and establish our own system of governance that has the mandate of all people, we have been changing governments through guns and stolen votes but it is time to do it through democratic means."
Dr Besigye thanked the two former Katikkiro's for joining the struggle against bad rule and promised to grant a federal system of government to all regions of the country if elected to power in 2011. "I wish on behalf of the FDC and IPC to unequivocally pledge to pay all the outstanding debts owed to the kingdom," The FDC president also pledged to re-open the closed Kingdom radio whose closure he called ‘unconstitutional and an infringement on the freedom of speech. "I will re-open CBS and pay appropriate compensation for illegal closure by the government and ensure that the Kabaka enjoys unfettered freedom to move within his kingdom."
This is not the first time former Buganda Katikkiros are engaging in politics. Former premier Mayanja Nkangi, also a former president of the Conservative Party, served in the NRM as minister in a number of portfolios. During the 1979 ‘No Lule No Work' demonstrations, former Katikkiro Kavuma was shot in the legs as he led an angry mob which was expressing discontent over the unceremonious overthrow of Professor Yusuf Lule. The shootings were on the orders of the then Defense Minister Yoweri Museveni. The Kabaka also chose former Conservative Party president Yusuf Nsubuga Nsambu as one of the Deputy Katikkiro's which was contested by certain sections of the ruling party.
NRM spokesperson Mary Karooro Okurut, while reacting to the crossover said this confirms their fears that the Mengo establishment has always harbored veiled political ambitions and that they were not surprised by the actions of the two former Katikkiros.
However Mengo deputy information Minister Medard Lubega Sseggona rubbished the accusations of peddling in politics as idle and unsubstantiated. He however expressed support to the two former Kingdom premiers for standing by the aspirations of the Kingdom. Sseggona also said that the Kingdom would be willing to support all those who embrace the interests and aspirations of the Kingdom of Buganda, irrespective of their political inclinations.
There has been a public display of affection for the opposition coming from the Kingdom government in recent times as the clock tickles towards 2011. This follows the recent state of unrest in the Kingdom with the blocking of the Kabaka's visit to Bulemeezi and Buruuli counties, the proposed regional tier government, the arrest of kingdom ministers, the agitation against the Land Bill 2007 and the federal system of government, all of which climaxed in the September 2009 Buganda riots that left over 30 people dead and the closure of the Kingdom mouth piece, CBS Radio.
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"Speaking during the 16th coronation anniversary celebrations of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, in Hoima on Friday, Museveni warned that he “will cut off” the head of any kingdom that oversteps its mandate and takes sides in partisan politics".
Mark