Publication date: Wednesday, 28th December, 2005
|
|
Henry Mutebi Kityo |
By Henry Mutebi Kityo
Recently President Yoweri Museveni appeared on Mambo Bado, a Radio talk-show hosted on Central Broadcasting Services (CBS). This was very exemplary as a leader to dialogue and interact with the general public (the electorate).
The biggest tool in politics is the ability to dialogue and interact with the general public. It brings people closer to their leaders and creates satisfaction among the local population when the leadership, face to face, answers their queries.
The president did answer a number of questions to do with the regional tier and the controversial issue of election of the Katikkiro of Buganda through adult suffrage. I would like to emphasise that the politics around regional governments under the multiparty system of governance is that the most popular political party will win the general elections and the candidate for that party will take the chair of the regional council or parliament as the regional government may decide.
Ugandans decided to go to multiparty in a nation-wide referendum to share Ugandan power through competition under different political parties. That means that no one apart from the traditional leaders will get power except through elections.
The central government together with the Lukiiko sat at a round table and discussed the two issues and agreed, before Parliament passed the agreement and made it into law.
The Katikkiro of Buganda led the Mengo side and Hon. Amama Mbabazi led the central government side. The two sides agreed that all other regional headquarters should be municipal councils to give acceptable terms for Mengo municipality.
After the negotiations between Mengo and the central government the outcome was given to the Lukiiko of Buganda and it was that the Katikkiro would be elected. The Katikkiro also met MPs from Buganda and the agreement was passed over to us.
All the issues were well articulated to us, including the election of the Katikkiro by adult suffrage. During the Lukiiko proceedings Hon. Mbabazi was praised for being a good negotiator and it was stated that he had done better than the Baganda ministers in central government.
The agreement, signed by both parties, stated that the head of the regional tier would be elected by adult suffrage and the then Katikkiro of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, signed the agreement.
It is not good for the institution of Kabaka and Buganda as a society to bring the institution into active politics. The regional government will have political and financial accountability to the taxpayers and traditional rulers. Article 246 of the Constitution cannot allow them to be political/partisan.
The general worry of the Baganda is that a non-Muganda through any of the political parties may find his way to the chair of the regional tier. This is a genuine worry. The resolution of the heads of clans to screen candidates for the head of regional government in Buganda is very good and it should be supported by everybody.
It ensures that whoever wins the elections has his origin from Buganda and that he knows the norms and culture of Buganda. Although the resolution came after the constitutional amendment, it can be accommodated later in the first by-laws made by the regional government of Buganda.
It will not be prudent for the Kabaka of Buganda to appoint the Katikkiro in the multiparty system as the people will always trace the appointed Katikkiro back to his party and members of other parties will feel left out and may reject the appointed Katikkiro.
Since the 1900 agreement it was agreed that the Katikkiro of Buganda be elected by Lukiiko and the name be forwarded to the Kabaka for approval and acceptance. This is not going to be the first time Katikkiro is elected. Owekitibwa Michel Kintu competed with Owekitibwa Mugwanya and the latter lost.
That is why he started DP to oppose the bad policy of only Protestants taking the position of Katikkiro. Mayanja Nkangi competed and his opponent withdrew his candidature on the day of elections. It is only Owekitibwa Ssemwogerere who was appointed by the Kabaka because Uganda was under the Movement system and there were no active political parties.
There is a lot that will be achieved under the regional tier. When you follow the trend of the institution of the Kabaka since 1966 there is a gradual return of the kingdom of Buganda. We must appreciate what has been achieved and consolidate it.
There are a number of benefits, which will accrue to the people of Buganda and other regions. We shall have a head of the region and six ministers all flying Buganda’s flag. Buganda will have a municipality including all the historical sites. Kampala of central government will have permanent boundaries so that it cannot expand to include other areas of Buganda.
International cities like Washington, DC, New York etc are all like that. At the beginning of the negotiations between the Lukiiko and government, it was suggested that if there is a strong feeling that the Katikkiro be appointed by the Kabaka then the best idea is to have two councils one headed by the Katikkiro appointed by the Kabaka and the other by the politically elected chairman of the council. The cultural Katikkiro would be head of clan heads and royals and the elected political head would head the elected council. This idea was rejected.
Owekitibwa Katende who is a reknown lawyer explained very well the outcome of the negotiations to the great Lukiiko and Mengo and Members of Parliament from Buganda. We appreciated the efforts of both parties and agreed to work together and get what was remaining with the central government.
However, opposition groups camped at Mengo have continued to fuel antagonistic propaganda to deny President Museveni votes in Buganda. But people of good judgement will always see the realities of the time and give Museveni their votes for what he has done for Buganda.
This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/473033
© Copyright 2000-2010 The New Vision. All rights reserved.