Kabaka's power sharing remarks draw mixed reactions

By Josephine Maseruka

A cross-section of people yesterday expressed mixed reactions on Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s demand for power sharing, with some calling for the re-tabling of the federo debate in Parliament.

The Vice-President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, who attended the opening of the 19th Lukiiko at Bulange Mengo on Monday where the Kabaka made the remarks, said there was nothing wrong with the message.

“I heard what His Highness the Kabaka said. It was all about sharing power between the central government and the regional governments,’’ Ssekandi said.

“I think we should meet and discuss these issues in detail and I do not want to pre-empt future deliberations,” he added.
President Yoweri Museveni recently appointed Ssekandi, a two-time Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bukoto Central, to be in charge of Buganda kingdom issues.

The Kabaka on Monday called for power sharing as a way of developing the kingdom and the nation.

Asked why the Government insists on the regional tier system of governance which the Mengo establishment unanimously rejected in 2006 as being ‘poisonous’, Ssekandi said: “Perhaps some people did not understand the system or perhaps it had some weaknesses. What we need is to scrutinise all these issues and see how best to move ahead in order to develop our country.”

The Catholic church publicist, Msgr. Wynand Katende, said the Kabaka’s message was timely since the debate on federo has not been resolved.

Katende also argued that both the regional tier and decentralisation do not sufficiently devolve power to lower governments.
The Minister for the Presidency, Kabakumba Masiko, however, advised the Kabaka to internalise the national laws.

“I think it is important for His Highness the Kabaka to first internalise our laws because they are very clear on who does what,” Kabakumba said.

Information minister Mary Karooro  Okurut added that the Government had not received any official communication from the Kabaka on the matter of power sharing.

She, therefore, declined to comment on the matter basing on media reports.

The acting chairman of the Buganda caucus, Latif Ssebaggala, commended the Kabaka for a very good speech, saying the issue of federo needed to be brought back on board so that legislators “discuss it when they are sober”.

“We need to discuss with the Government on how best power sharing can be down with other regional governments, especially Buganda.”

Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago said the Kabaka made a valid statement since most power is concentrated in the Presidency.

‘Federalism is the best solution given the country’s background where we have a multiplicity of ethnic groups and it can check the glaring corruption,” Lukwago said.

He also said the regional tier system failed because it was difficult to implement.