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 A group of young Ugandans going by the name of Uganda Federal Confederates organised a federal conference in London on 11th June where they invited several guest-speakers from Uganda. Among those to make the journey from Uganda was Owek. Dan Muliika (ex-Katikkiro of Buganda), Hon Nandala Mafabi (Leader of Opposition in Parliament), Hon John Ken Lukyamuzi (Lubaga North MP), Hon Betty Kamya (President of Federal Alliance) and Hon Salaam Musumba (FDC vice president). Olala Otunnu (UPC leader), Nobert Mao (DP Leader) Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA leader), Erias Lukwago (Kampala Lord Mayor) and Betty Nambooze (DP member of parliament) spent a half day in a studio in Kampala waiting for a connection to talk to the conference but the IT audio failed them despite being visible on the Video-Link.
The conference was held at the University of East London, Docklands Campus (located on the banks of river Thames) directly opposite City of London Airport. The conference was attended by many Ugandans from all over the world and some Kenyans. The dress code was impressive, with many turning up in colourful smart traditional attire.
In the keynote speech the conference was tasked with six objectives:
- To advance the current struggle to take back ownership of the country and its destiny
- To consult and agree a way forward for Ugandans to pursue different political associations
- To be updated on the ongoing struggles against a reckless dictatorial system of government
- To move away from the politics of personalities to one of policies
- To organise the expertise in the Diaspora to feed identified actors on the ground with information that challenges the validity of the pretenders; and
- To rid the country of the colonial legacy and give voice to the right to self-determination.
Owek. Dan Muliika urged politicians to work together and vigorously campaign for a federal political system of governance. He said the unaccountable unitary system of governance together with autocratic leaders is the main cause of Uganda's problems. "The Unitary system of governance does not take into account the role of traditional nations such as Bunyoro, Acholi and Buganda among others in building a coherent lasting peace. The 15 nations that make up Uganda are not always consulted by central government on policies or bills and hence this causes friction between traditional nations and central government," was how he described the Uganda situation of conflict politics.
As expected, Hon Nandala Mafabi the Leader of Opposition in Uganda's parliament and former Parliamentary Accounts Committee chairman accused the government of misusing tax payers' money. He revealed that fraudulently use of tax payer's money to buy votes for Museveni during the recent elections was the order of day. And while this fact is well known there is nothing in the unitary constitution to enable the country to take the President to task instead the constitution created an absolute dictator who has the last word on everything. To challenge his powers is to invite a charge of treason. The unitary system is thus an absolute nightmare for the democratic process.
Meanwhile Hon Ken Lukyamuzi was unhappy with Beti Kamya's message that Museveni was not a problem for Uganda and accused her of hoodwinking Ugandans that she is opposing government. He contended that Museveni is the problem and that unless Uganda installs a federal system there is no hope for self-determination. He argued that federalism causes compromise instead of conflict and that we must acknowledge that every area in Uganda is unique and needs to be preserved that way instead of turning the country into a uniformity that does not address the needs of the people. He was insightful in highlighting that federalism depends on circumstances at the practical end hence what takes place in Nigeria or South Africa will not mirror federalism in Uganda because every set of circumstances or history is unique to a country while the federal principles that inform the various federal structures are universal.
Dr Muwanga Zake, a senior lecturer at Greenwich University in London, opined that Buganda has been unfortunate in attracting the ire of Ugandan dictators who carefully circumvent the Buganda question because the answer to that question posits de-facto federalism and democracy. He argued that Buganda is a multi-tribal nation yet whenever someone wants to damage the federal debate, they scare people with tales of Buganda chauvinism. Subsequently Buganda has been made a scapegoat of Uganda's disunity.
Hon Beti Kamya was adamant that Uganda is ready for federalism. She was urged to come up with a programme that will lead us into federalism. She was clear that politicians need to engage the grassroots and come off the high horse of deliberating on federalism at conferences. Ms Kamya says that the current unitary constitution addresses consequences instead of dealing with causes.
Hon Salaam Musumba told the conference that she has lowered her expectations so much that because she wants to see a handing over of power she will even accept Museveni handing over to his son and will deal with the consequences later. She vowed that she will not go into any future elections under the current constitution because that all we do is to legitimise a unitary dictatorship.
Ambassador Oporia Ekwero cited a specific example where the unitary government of Uganda has sought to divide people instead of uniting them. He told conference how President Museveni has managed to set the Itesot against the Japadholas. He contended that Uganda needs a system where each nationality does not feel threatened by her neighbours.
Dr Godfrey Ssekweyama bore witness to the fact that the federal system meant that each traditional nation could locally pick her best students for further education. Those students would later returned to serve their communities and that was why at independence each of the founding districts in Uganda had its stars serving both at the centre and locally. Today scholarships are the property of the President to award his supporters in return for loyalty to him rather than the country.
Dr Rashid Kasaato spoke for the youth and opined that in the NRM and the unitary system they see a country not at peace with itself. Dr Vincent Magombe argued conference to make greater use of the media. He found it unacceptable that none of the opposition parties had a ‘facebook' and have to wait for permission from the NRM to have their message published. Ms Birabwa, daughter to Kirunda Kivejinja advised conference to look to mathematics to solve Uganda's problems. There were many other contributions, which we can't recall because one had to take breaks and didn't have an assistant to take notes in ones absence from the floor of the conference. And there you have it.
We learnt that this will from heron become an annual event and that next year's conference will be over two days 2 - 3 June 2011. The organisers promised that on that occasion they will hold elections for the office holders of the Uganda Federal Confederates. We were promised to receive nomination papers in December 2011.
At the end of the speeches we were entertained to a fashion show by a young Ugandan designer. This was followed by live music from Sylver Kyagulanyi, who excited the audience with his latest hits and great vocals. There were the young traditional dancers and ones so young they put the father generation to shame. We were then introduced to the Ngoma Radio family, a collection of young voices with a keenness to serve the community. At its head is Mustapha Semanda who thanked everyone for their support and proposed a toast for our safe journey home.
The author left a few minutes to midnight but understands that dancing went on until two in the morning. In all it was a great day and we left invigorated ready to take the federal gospel on the road.
For a chance to see the photos taken at the conference, please click on the link below
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.245100028835439.73311.142635482415228&closeTheater=1
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