Mutale sensible on White Paper
Nov 26, 2004
SIR— I particularly liked the coverage of presidential adviser on political affairs Kakooza Mutale’s presentation to the parliamentary committe on legal matters on the White Paper.
SIR— I particularly liked the coverage of presidential adviser on political affairs Kakooza Mutale’s presentation to the parliamentary committe on legal matters on the White Paper.
His presentation actually made sense in most respects, especially the suggestion to shelve the matter of federo until the full details of what the parties want are known and fully debated by the entire country. When in 1966 the old federo was abolished, all Ugandans suffered for over 20 years, many losing their lives. It is not only Buganda but the entire country that is affected.
But I think Mutale is wrong in considering sovereignty and federo as incompatible. We should not be confused by foreign terminologies. What we are trying to do here is to preserve our cultural heritage within the new idea of a State. The two-tier idea is attractive in many senses as it shields the traditional ruler from politics.
Francis Ssekandi
Columbia University
His presentation actually made sense in most respects, especially the suggestion to shelve the matter of federo until the full details of what the parties want are known and fully debated by the entire country. When in 1966 the old federo was abolished, all Ugandans suffered for over 20 years, many losing their lives. It is not only Buganda but the entire country that is affected.
But I think Mutale is wrong in considering sovereignty and federo as incompatible. We should not be confused by foreign terminologies. What we are trying to do here is to preserve our cultural heritage within the new idea of a State. The two-tier idea is attractive in many senses as it shields the traditional ruler from politics.
Francis Ssekandi
Columbia University