By Hillary Nsambu

A PROMINENT city advocate, Peter Mulira (left), has resigned from the Buganda Kingdom cabinet and Lukiiko over “serious” disagreements with the establishment over the proposed regional government.

Mulira tendered in his resignation to Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogerere yesterday and asked Kabaka Mutebi to accept it.

In a seven-page statement titled “Buganda at the cross-roads”, Mulira accused unnamed Mengo officials of intolerance to divergent views. “I found that my views are in conflict with those of the Mengo leadership, on many issues,” Mulira said.

The resignation letter was copied to the Kabaka’s Private Secretary and the Speaker of the Lukiiko.

Mulira was a minister for special duties in the office of the Katikkiro.

Mengo information minister Charles Peter Mayiga declined to comment.
Mulira said prominent Mengo chiefs were intolerant of divergent views on federalism.

Mulira said he had been accused of confusing the Kabaka by arguing that Buganda should opt for devolution like Scotland in the United Kingdom.

“Some people seem to think that federalism and federo are synonymous and that devolution is bad. Therefore some of those who support devolution out of reality of our situation are looked at as deviants,” said Mulira.

Mulira disagrees with the regional government law which gives the bataka (landlords) the power to vet candidates to become the Katikkiro and instead of the Kabaka.

“Katikkiro is an official of the Kabaka. If there is need to vet candidates for this office, why should it be done under the bataka’s aegis and not Kabaka’s? I can see the bataka encroaching on the Kabaka’s space,” Mulira said.

He said the new system might re-awaken historical rivalries between the bataka and the Kabaka. He said the bataka could countermand the Katikkiro and that they had formed a committee which want them to take precedence over ministers at official functions.

Mulira warned against turning the Lukiiko into a cultural council but that it should have controlled legislative powers.

“We should separate culture from the legislative function of the Lukiiko. Our forefathers must have had a reason when they did this,” said Mulira.

Mulira wants the regional tier to be headed by a chairman who will ensure Buganda attains full federo with its own constitution.