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I find President Museveni's recent remarks accusing Mengo of inciting ethnic hatred far fetched . His views involved confusing tribalism with ethnic nationalism.
Tribalism can be a mental concept, it has basis in tradition and persisting cultural differences and it has been given new forms and attached to it are new interests and loyalties. A good reader of History can find H.F Morris' work on Buganda and Tribalism cited in Gulliver's edited Tradition and transition in East Africa interesting. The current wave of discontent in Buganda cannot be understood as tribalism but rather as ethnic nationalism. This may not go well with some sections but academically Buganda appears to satisfy the main attributes of a nation. The "nation" question was a subject of debate in the 1960s and i find it valid to help explain the present relations between Mengo and the centre. According to Uganda's histriography, Buganda had for many centuries remained a sovereign state before she accepted the protectorate treaty of 1900.
One must contend that Uganda is not a nation except in the sense of which 18th century European diplomats spoke of the Turkish nation to embrace Greeks and Serbs that is to say all people owing allegiance to a common sovereign and in that instance the ottoman empire.
Buganda's institutions namely the language, common identity, loyalty to the cultural institutions of leadership tantamount not only to the definition of a tribe but a nation in the European sense of the word.
As far as size and wealth are concerned, Buganda does not appear insighnificant say if compared to Estonia or Latvia or the Irish republic. Yet the creation of these states on the principle of self-determination and nationalism was heralded as laudable, progressive by the very circles that worked to condemn Buganda 's nationalism and self-determination brushing it off as reactionary and tribal. The post-colonial regime has maintained the rigid postion of the Crown towards Buganda 's grieviances denouncing Mr Kyanjo's ideas as treasonous and radical. What is more treasonous that supporting the seccesion of Southern Sudan from the Centre in Khartoum?
Buganda Vs Uganda 's nationalism
It is no exaggeration that the degree of loyalty the people of Uganda have to the state is only intellectual and in speeches lacking emotional roots. Ugandans attach much significance to their cultural and ethnic distinction than to the colonial creation Uganda. Uganda's nationalism has been hurt by self-seeking politicians. For example no nationalist politician or leaders can allow public services to be populated by people from one region like the case in Uganda today. So long as the Baganda were satisfied with the policies pursued by the colonial government, they were prepared to give it their loyalty. Baganda were loyal to the state before the fallout between the centre and Mengo over policies that Buganda felt were to undermine its institutions. In the clash of interests therefore one would be inclined to opt to their family, their clan and nation.
Buganda's demands backward
There is a tendency to discredit nationalist sentiments as backward, the Crown applied the tactic against the Irish. Buganda 's demands have been down played as backward, revanchist and detached from the realities of the 21st century conditions. But this backwardness has involved a criticism of its cultures, history and institutions and the Kabaka not spared. One needs to consider that even in the developed West where people have struggled to achieve nationalism or preserve their identity tends to contain a large element of nostalgia for the past (backwardness). Historical exploits both factual and legendary is what nationalism feeds on. In such a condition traditional leaders come to prominence to give the nation its traditional element however backward they might seem but even then someone must have noted the increasing number of elite clan leaders in Buganda, can we classify them as backward?
Change of tone and language Mr Museveni's recent tone of language confirms impatience. How the repeated use of "backward", "collaborators", "feudalism", "landlords" and recently Kamanyiiro seen in speeches in reference to Mengo have been added to his granary is suspect.What inspired His excellency to work with people he knew who harboured intrigue and "kamanyiiro" in the Liberation war? Is this the payment for the support the backward people gave to the revolution? How about their children who died while his current cronies in the regime were enjoying luxuries in Europe? Is the president re-echoing Milton Obote's K.A.B.A.K.A and the fight against feudalism? In 1966, Milton Obote revealed that he had exclusive evidence that Muteesa had ordered arms from a British firm Gailey& Roberts to overthrow. During that time it was the highest crime to contest a government sanctioned by the West equalled to today's war on terror, the Weekly observer (a credible paper) recently ran a story that there was a conspiracy to connect Mengo to Alqaeda and to arrest the Kabaka. Is Uganda prepared for a repeat of 1966?
Moses Kalanzi
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Looking for Mr Right (7)
When the white man came to Africa, Baganda were quick to adopt to good European cultures to fit in the new world in What other tribes up to now think we were favoured,or collaboration, NO------- it was the brain power.
Because of our good history , We love Buganda at all cost. In Europe the English people love their country and there are not proud but civilised. Culture is dynamic you can adjust your culture and fit in the new world other than fighting others also to be uncultured ...