Police clear Kabaka’s Wakiso visit
Sep 16, 2009
THE Police have assured the public of security when Kabaka Ronald Mutebi visits Wakiso district tomorrow, to celebrate the Buganda kingdom’s annual health day.
By Josephine Maseruka and Ali Mambulwe
THE Police have assured the public of security when Kabaka Ronald Mutebi visits Wakiso district tomorrow, to celebrate the Buganda kingdom’s annual health day.
The event will take place at Wakiso Health Centre IV. Police chief Major General Kale Kayihura yesterday said the Kabaka was free to tour the district. But he warned hooligans not to try to use the tour to cause chaos.
Last week, the Police stopped the Kabaka from visiting Kayunga district where he was supposed to open the youth day, citing security reasons. The Police action sparked violent protests in the city and some towns of Buganda, killing at least 15 people and landing some 500 suspects in jail.
The decision came after the Banyala, an ethnic group which lives in Kayunga, protested against the Kabaka’s tour. Kayihura, however, explained that if the Wakiso visit had been problematic, the force would have stopped the Kabaka from visiting.
“In this case, there are no conflicting interests as was the case in Kayunga where Banyala and Baganda are conflicting,†Kayihura told The New Vision.
The Kabaka, Kayihura added, was free to tour his kingdom. The Police, he said, were coordinating with the organisers to ensure peace.
The Wakiso visit will be the Kabaka’s first public ceremony since the riots erupted last week. He is also scheduled to preside over the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Kitovu Catholic cathedral on Sunday.
Sources said yesterday the Police had deployed in Wakiso and Masaka ahead of the Kabaka’s tour. “The deployment made in Wakiso when the riots erupted has not been scaled down. Instead it will be beefed up,†a top security source said.
Masaka Police chief Moses Mwanga yesterday visited the cathedral. Buganda prime minister JB Walusimbi urged all the Kabaka’s subjects to turn up in big numbers.
He also appealed to them to be peaceful as a way of respecting the Kabaka. Kabuuza Mukasa, the minister of royal tours, said the Kabaka’s visit had been jointly planned with the Wakiso resident district commissioner and other political leaders.
Nelson Kawalya, the Mengo minister of health, said the Kabaka would participate in the immunisation of the children. “Health issues are not political and don’t favour any religion or tribe. I don’t foresee any problem that would disturb the function,†he said.
Kawalya added that Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, who is also the area MP, would inaugurate the health centre at 2:00pm today. Kawalya’s comments seemed to echoe those made by President Yoweri Museveni when he addressed Parliament on Tuesday. He said cultural leaders should rally their people on cultural issues and leave political matters to elected leaders.
Meanwhile, Katikkiro Walusimbi has commended Mulago Hospital doctors for working hard to save dozens of the injured in last week’s riots. Walusimbi was shocked by the sight of the injured wriggling in pain when he visited them at the hospital on Tuesday. Most patients said they were shot by security operatives.
Dr. Iga Matovu, the acting executive director of the hospital, said five of the 80 injured people had died. Another 55 were discharged and 20, who sustained severe multiple injuries, were still struggling for dear life.
“We were overwhelmed by the large number of the casualties. But our team worked tirelessly,†Matovu told Walusimbi. The Katikkiro consoled the patients and wished them quick recovery.
He urged the people of Buganda to be peaceful and guard against similar riots.
(By Francis Kagolo and Richard Kayiira)
THE Police have assured the public of security when Kabaka Ronald Mutebi visits Wakiso district tomorrow, to celebrate the Buganda kingdom’s annual health day.
The event will take place at Wakiso Health Centre IV. Police chief Major General Kale Kayihura yesterday said the Kabaka was free to tour the district. But he warned hooligans not to try to use the tour to cause chaos.
Last week, the Police stopped the Kabaka from visiting Kayunga district where he was supposed to open the youth day, citing security reasons. The Police action sparked violent protests in the city and some towns of Buganda, killing at least 15 people and landing some 500 suspects in jail.
The decision came after the Banyala, an ethnic group which lives in Kayunga, protested against the Kabaka’s tour. Kayihura, however, explained that if the Wakiso visit had been problematic, the force would have stopped the Kabaka from visiting.
“In this case, there are no conflicting interests as was the case in Kayunga where Banyala and Baganda are conflicting,†Kayihura told The New Vision.
The Kabaka, Kayihura added, was free to tour his kingdom. The Police, he said, were coordinating with the organisers to ensure peace.
The Wakiso visit will be the Kabaka’s first public ceremony since the riots erupted last week. He is also scheduled to preside over the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Kitovu Catholic cathedral on Sunday.
Sources said yesterday the Police had deployed in Wakiso and Masaka ahead of the Kabaka’s tour. “The deployment made in Wakiso when the riots erupted has not been scaled down. Instead it will be beefed up,†a top security source said.
Masaka Police chief Moses Mwanga yesterday visited the cathedral. Buganda prime minister JB Walusimbi urged all the Kabaka’s subjects to turn up in big numbers.
He also appealed to them to be peaceful as a way of respecting the Kabaka. Kabuuza Mukasa, the minister of royal tours, said the Kabaka’s visit had been jointly planned with the Wakiso resident district commissioner and other political leaders.
Nelson Kawalya, the Mengo minister of health, said the Kabaka would participate in the immunisation of the children. “Health issues are not political and don’t favour any religion or tribe. I don’t foresee any problem that would disturb the function,†he said.
Kawalya added that Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, who is also the area MP, would inaugurate the health centre at 2:00pm today. Kawalya’s comments seemed to echoe those made by President Yoweri Museveni when he addressed Parliament on Tuesday. He said cultural leaders should rally their people on cultural issues and leave political matters to elected leaders.
Meanwhile, Katikkiro Walusimbi has commended Mulago Hospital doctors for working hard to save dozens of the injured in last week’s riots. Walusimbi was shocked by the sight of the injured wriggling in pain when he visited them at the hospital on Tuesday. Most patients said they were shot by security operatives.
Dr. Iga Matovu, the acting executive director of the hospital, said five of the 80 injured people had died. Another 55 were discharged and 20, who sustained severe multiple injuries, were still struggling for dear life.
“We were overwhelmed by the large number of the casualties. But our team worked tirelessly,†Matovu told Walusimbi. The Katikkiro consoled the patients and wished them quick recovery.
He urged the people of Buganda to be peaceful and guard against similar riots.
(By Francis Kagolo and Richard Kayiira)