Kabaka happy with kingdom’s progress, says Mayiga
Jun 24, 2024
Mayiga also decried the current trend of politics that he said is riddled with insults. He implored the political actors to respect each other and also listen to each other even when they disagree.
The Buganda kingdom’s premier (Katikkiro), Charles Peter Mayiga, interacts with Namirembe diocese bishop Rt. Rev. Moses Banja during the reading of the kingdom’s budget for 2024/25 at Bulange in Mengo, Kampala on Monday, June 24, 2024. (Credit: Dickson Kulumba)
Farooq Kasule
Journalist @New Vision
________ Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, the kingdom’s finance minister arrives for the Buganda budget reading 2024/2025 at Bulange in Mengo, Kampala on Monday, June 24, 2024. (All Photos by Dickson Kulumba)
MENGO - The Buganda kingdom’s premier (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga has said his boss Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is happy that the kingdom's activities are going on well.
Despite his health challenges since last year, which have prevented him from officiating any events this year, the Kabaka's spirits remain high.
Speaking during the reading of the kingdom’s budget for 2024/25 at Bulange in Mengo, Kampala on Monday, Mayiga said he spoke to him on Sunday, June 23, and he is steadily recovering.
“Last evening (Sunday) at 6:00 pm, I spoke to Kabaka on the phone. He is happy that the kingdom's activities are going well. He told me to inform you that he is happy because of your resilience which has ensured the progress of the kingdom’s activities,” Mayiga said.
Mayiga also warned those he has referred to as opportunists against using Kabaka’s health to achieve their selfish interests.
“I am exceedingly happy to inform you that the Kabaka is still alive and on the throne. He is in Namibia on the recommendation of his doctors in Germany as they monitor his recovery. He will come back when his doctors tell him to do so and even when he feels ready,” Mayiga said.
Mayiga said Kabaka is also happy that his subjects have refused to be misled by opportunists who want to use his health situation as an advantage to achieve their selfish interests.
“We have opportunists who think that the Kabaka’s health situation will help them achieve their selfish interests. When they see Kabaka is here, they tell me to take him abroad for treatment. When he goes for treatment, they tell me to bring him back saying I am hiding him. I hope you see this kind of opportunism,” Mayiga told Lukiiko members.
Mayiga noted that every day and night, the opportunists are planning something and urged the Kabaka’s subjects to be mindful of them.
Mayiga said the kingdom will continue to focus on agriculture, especially coffee farming even this financial year. He urged the Kabaka’s subjects to continue growing coffee for development.
“I am happy that our people have started benefiting from coffee but we have one problem those who have got money out of coffee have turned into drunkards and buying sex workers.
The intention of the Kabaka in encouraging you to grow coffee is not to turn into drunkards but he wants to get money, to pay school fees for your children, and to build good houses among others,” Mayiga said.
Mayiga said the kingdom’s income has widened because of innovation and hard work.
Mayiga also decried the current trend of politics that he said is riddled with insults. He implored the political actors to respect each other and also listen to each other even when they disagree.
“It is very hard in politics to agree on everything but we need to play mature politics. How can you abuse your colleague, his children and his parents? Politics without sanity cannot take us far,” Mayiga warned.
The budget
Presenting the Kingdom’s sh257.4b budget for the financial year 2024/25 to the members of the Buganda Lukiiko (Parliament) for adoption, Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, the kingdom’s finance minister said a whooping portion of the budget will be spent on establishing more income generating projects to address unemployment as the kingdom earns.
“Our income has been increasing in the last five years and this has been largely because of increased partnerships, innovation and payment of arrears by the central government,” Nsibirwa said.
Nsibirwa revealed that in the previous financial year, the kingdom's earnings exceeded its budget estimate of sh209b.
The kingdom earned sh210b which was spent on several activities such as the construction of hospitals in Mityana, Masaka and Mukono district among other projects.
He said part of the kingdom’s goal is to have a sustainable income.
Nsibirwa said the kingdom’s budget is aligned with the national development (NDP) plan, East African Community Vision 2050 and African Union Vision 2063.
Notable among those present at the reading of the kingdom budget included Archbishop of the Orthodox Church Metropolitan Jeronymos Muzeeyi, Namirembe Diocese bishop Rt. Rev. Moses Banja, Deputy Supreme Mufti Sheikh Ibrahim Ntanda, Prince David Kintu Wasajja and MPs Patrick Nsanja and Allan Mayanja Ssebunya of Ntenjeru South and Nakaseke South respectively.
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