No rational report on the White Paper

Nov 14, 2004

Writing about the proposed regional tiers in the White Paper and responding specifically to the orchestrated controversy by the Mengo establishment whether there should be one or two councils have never existed in Buganda.

Semakula Kiwanuka

Writing about the proposed regional tiers in the White Paper and responding specifically to the orchestrated controversy by the Mengo establishment whether there should be one or two councils have never existed in Buganda.

Prof frederick Sempebwa is unfortunately wrong because in Buganda there is Olukiiko Lwabataka Abobusolya (cultural) and what he called the Great Lukiiko (a political Lukiiko).

Today the political Lukiiko is chaired by Katikkiro Joseph Ssemogerere and the cultural one by Omutaka Mbaziira.

The Olukiiko Lwabataka is theoretically the Kabaka’s Council and is chaired by him in his role as Sabataka. But because he cannot be there routinely, he appoints one of the clan heads as Chairman. The appointee is known as Omukulu wo Lukiiko Lwabataka. Omutaka Grace Ssemakula as well as Omutaka James Miti (deceased) were the chairmen during the late 1980s and 1990s.

The current chairman, is Omutaka Mbaziira who used to be the Secretary under James Miti’s chairmanship. I am disappointed that what should be a rational debate on the White Paper, is marred by political propaganda which totally lacks historical facts. This is true with matters which concern Buganda.

The opposition to the Movement has jumped to support any argument whether it is correct or not. For example I have heard statements that the proposal for the two Councils is intended to destroy the Kabaka and the Kabakaship.

That is an outrageous statement, because Abataka and their Lukiiko are the bedrock of the Kabakaship. How can their Lukiiko be a source of political destruction?

The pity of this is that such arguments are peddled even by people who actually know the truth and the facts.

However, if, as Sempebwa claims that the two councils have never existed, he should explain to the people the name of the bodies or organisations which Grace Semakula, James Miti and currently Francis Mbaziira used to chair and are chairing now. one often hears on Radio cbs omutaka mbaziira calling a meeting of abataka bobusolya. Sempebwa must tell the people what that meeting is.

There are two justifications for two councils driven by the doctrine of the separation of powers and functions. One justification is cultural and the other is political. Both are anchored in Article 246 of the Constitution which restored these cultural institutions.

Because the restored institutions are cultural, their activities must remain within that domain. Their theatre of activity therefore must be under a cultural Lukiiko. Yet politics must go on under the regional governments.

The governments will be run by a democratically, elected and political Lukiiko. The justification for institutionalising the cultural councils in present day Uganda, is that the Cultural Councils are the anchor of the traditional and cultural institutions.

This is because Article 246 of the Constitution established a Cultural Institutions for cultural or traditional leaders.

After the tragic events of 1966 which resulted in the abolition of all kingdoms, etc. the NRM could not repeat the mistakes of the past, once it decided to restore the traditional institutions.

They and their incumbents had to be insulated from partisan politics. The Mengo position of one council is untenable and defeats itself because Buganda today is about 50% non-Baganda.

A democratically elected political Lukiiko’s composition will be at least 40% non-Baganda.

To me and to the majority of Baganda, the best way to protect and preserve the institution of Kabakaship, is when it is looked after by the cultural Lukiiko of Abataka, who have a stake in the Kabakship.

The writer is Minister of state for Luweero

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