What Museveni told Buganda clan leaders at Entebbe meeting

MUSEVENI | CLAN | LEADERS

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has reconnected with the clan heads of Buganda (Bataka), 30 years after restoring the kingdom of Buganda in 1993.

Four years after Uganda's independence in 1962, kingdoms were abolished by Uganda's first prime minister, Apolo Milton Obote.

Nearly three decades later, in 1993, Museveni restored the monarchies, including Buganda.

Addressing the Buganda clan heads at State House Entebbe on Wednesday, Museveni said the move was opposed by some of his party (NRM) members at the time, who argued that it would escalate tribalism.

"We told them that the central government has a lot of work to do in keeping peace and developing the infrastructure, and then kingdoms would concentrate on promoting good cultures and instilling good morals in society."

The kingdom leaders were led by ICT and national guidance state minister Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo.

'We must survive'

Museveni recalled the meeting he had in August 1981 with then-Prince Ronald Mutebi and Prof. Yusuf Kironde Lule and they had agreed to restore Buganda’s status.

“On my way to Libya, I passed via London and Prof. Lule linked me up with Prince Mutebi (now the Kabaka).

The kingdom leaders were led by ICT and national guidance state minister Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo (R).

"Culture is good but it must be harmonized with modernity. This has been our message up to now and I thank Honorable Nabbosa for coordinating us,” he said, adding that the meeting with the Buganda clan heads (Bataka) is the beginning of a new chapter to have a systematic discussion of harmonizing culture and development.

“I am happy that you have come," he told them.

"We must survive in the modern world. We should desist from using tribes and religions to divide Africans because we need to rebuild our economy. We need a bigger market both in Uganda and East Africa and Africa to become prosperous.

"We don’t want cultures that take us back."

The President gave an example of the people in Ankole.

“In Ankole, people used to take milk which is not boiled, and it was normal, but we later told them it’s not as healthy and they changed. If a girl menstruated, among the Banyankore, it was a sign that she was ready for marriage, but this was wrong."

On her part, minister Nabbosa said the mid-week meeting crucially help mend the relationship between Mengo and Museveni.

“The Bataka (clan heads) are very important people in Buganda in instilling good cultures, discipline and promoting development,” she said.

Some of the clan heads of Buganda (Bataka) on their arrival at State House Entebbe.

'No problem at all'

Samson Nabbimba Lukabya, the leader of Kinyomo clan expressed dismay over dismissal of about 85% of their land in Kyasa by the National Forestry Authority yet the land initially belonged to the Kinyomo clan.

He appealed for Museveni's intervention.

“Our people have been arrested several times. Our appeal as Kinyomo clan is, let there be a mechanism to let us keep that land for cultural purposes as we preserve the environment."

The President responded: "With discussion, the clans can get permission to go and do their cultural activities without any problem. The forest and culture are not in conflict. There’s no problem at all."

Museveni promised to set up a liaison office to help coordinate and receive feedback from the Buganda clan leaders.

“Mr. President, we thank you for the peace in Uganda. For all these years you have been in power we have not witnessed any war, especially in Buganda,” said Walusimbi Mbirozankya, the head of Ffumbe clan.

He appealed to the President to help them secure the two-and-a-half acres of land near Bulange Mengo, which they need to set up their offices and other developmental ventures to benefit the kingdom.

Museveni promised to look for $2.5m (sh9.5b) this July and buy land for them.