THOSE AGAINST IT
Feb 18, 2003
WHILE the Baganda sang, danced and took their proposals to the Constitutional Review Commission, most people from other areas of the country wondered what kind of stupidity had befallen the Baganda.
By Joshua Kato
WHILE the Baganda sang, danced and took their proposals to the Constitutional Review Commission, most people from other areas of the country wondered what kind of stupidity had befallen the Baganda.
“The Baganda are just myopic, for they should have known that making these demands is useless since they cannot get all of them,†James Okello of Makerere said. He could, however, not satisfactorily explain why he did not want the Baganda to get these demands: “They will become too proud of themselves. They are a very proud lot,†is all that he said. Okello said that he comes from Omoro County, for which Jacob Oulanyah is Member of Parliament (MP). Oulanyah was among the first MPs to call Buganda’s demands “wild dreams.â€
“Asking for Kampala is the most outrageous nonsense I have heard in my life,†Edward Tumusime, resident in Kampala but from Mbarara Municipality, says. He added that the pride that the Baganda have, which burns like hot coal, cannot be tolerated: “How can they propose for all of us? Who are they to propose for Uganda as a whole?†He was swinging his hands to and fro. His face was twitching with anger.
Samson Bautu, a Musoga, does not want federo because he thinks that the King of Buganda will govern all of Uganda: “For them to say that we should be governed by their Kabaka is ridiculous,†he says. He added, “They are making a lot of demands. The are the type who cannot appreciate the many things they have been given so far,†he rumbles on. Bautu comes from Kigulu and his MP is Dr. Wandira Kazibwe. Last week, she called the Baganda proposals acts of over-asking.
To some, the fear of being chased away from Buganda makes them hate the Baganda proposals: “It is probable that I might lose my land if Buganda gets federo,†says Joseph Byamugisha, a teacher in a leading Kampala school.
“I know the Baganda and land are inseparable. Once they get federo, they will seek to chase all of us away,†he says.
“I will lose my job. There is no doubt about it,†says Godfrey Tumuhimbise, who works in the engineering department of Mpigi district. “Once the Baganda get their federo, they will seek to employ only Baganda. We shall lose our jobs. This will happen,†he says.
Paddy Musana of Nansana wonders why we should seek ethnic establishments at a time when we should be fighting for unity: “Federo is divisive,†he says with a snarl. He wonders why the Baganda should not look at the phrases, “United, free for liberty, together we will always stand.â€
Gilbert Were, a teacher in a Kampala school, explained that he does not hate the federo proposal, but rather the Baganda’s belief in themselves: “The Baganda are a very proud lot. I fear that if they are granted federo, they will become even more proud of themselves. That is my only fear,†he says.
Steven Oluoch, who says he hails from Eastern Uganda, points out that the Baganda can ask for everything else, but not for Kampala: “I have been in Kampala for so many years. There is no way I can leave this city, yet I fear that if Kampala is given to the Baganda, they will chase us away,†he says.
Of 15 non-Baganda talked to by this reporter, only one said he wants federo for Uganda. The rest said no. Ends
WHILE the Baganda sang, danced and took their proposals to the Constitutional Review Commission, most people from other areas of the country wondered what kind of stupidity had befallen the Baganda.
“The Baganda are just myopic, for they should have known that making these demands is useless since they cannot get all of them,†James Okello of Makerere said. He could, however, not satisfactorily explain why he did not want the Baganda to get these demands: “They will become too proud of themselves. They are a very proud lot,†is all that he said. Okello said that he comes from Omoro County, for which Jacob Oulanyah is Member of Parliament (MP). Oulanyah was among the first MPs to call Buganda’s demands “wild dreams.â€
“Asking for Kampala is the most outrageous nonsense I have heard in my life,†Edward Tumusime, resident in Kampala but from Mbarara Municipality, says. He added that the pride that the Baganda have, which burns like hot coal, cannot be tolerated: “How can they propose for all of us? Who are they to propose for Uganda as a whole?†He was swinging his hands to and fro. His face was twitching with anger.
Samson Bautu, a Musoga, does not want federo because he thinks that the King of Buganda will govern all of Uganda: “For them to say that we should be governed by their Kabaka is ridiculous,†he says. He added, “They are making a lot of demands. The are the type who cannot appreciate the many things they have been given so far,†he rumbles on. Bautu comes from Kigulu and his MP is Dr. Wandira Kazibwe. Last week, she called the Baganda proposals acts of over-asking.
To some, the fear of being chased away from Buganda makes them hate the Baganda proposals: “It is probable that I might lose my land if Buganda gets federo,†says Joseph Byamugisha, a teacher in a leading Kampala school.
“I know the Baganda and land are inseparable. Once they get federo, they will seek to chase all of us away,†he says.
“I will lose my job. There is no doubt about it,†says Godfrey Tumuhimbise, who works in the engineering department of Mpigi district. “Once the Baganda get their federo, they will seek to employ only Baganda. We shall lose our jobs. This will happen,†he says.
Paddy Musana of Nansana wonders why we should seek ethnic establishments at a time when we should be fighting for unity: “Federo is divisive,†he says with a snarl. He wonders why the Baganda should not look at the phrases, “United, free for liberty, together we will always stand.â€
Gilbert Were, a teacher in a Kampala school, explained that he does not hate the federo proposal, but rather the Baganda’s belief in themselves: “The Baganda are a very proud lot. I fear that if they are granted federo, they will become even more proud of themselves. That is my only fear,†he says.
Steven Oluoch, who says he hails from Eastern Uganda, points out that the Baganda can ask for everything else, but not for Kampala: “I have been in Kampala for so many years. There is no way I can leave this city, yet I fear that if Kampala is given to the Baganda, they will chase us away,†he says.
Of 15 non-Baganda talked to by this reporter, only one said he wants federo for Uganda. The rest said no. Ends