Lukiiko unfair to central govt
Feb 15, 2006
THE Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) recently rejected the proposed regional tier, saying it was poisonous and not the federo cherished by the Baganda. I have been in Mengo for a long time. I served as Minister of Health and I was Secretary General for the Lukiiko. It hurt me so much to see that the new
By Robert Ssebunya
THE Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) recently rejected the proposed regional tier, saying it was poisonous and not the federo cherished by the Baganda. I have been in Mengo for a long time. I served as Minister of Health and I was Secretary General for the Lukiiko. It hurt me so much to see that the new regime at Mengo has just thrown away what was negotiated over a period of years.
In my opinion, it is not fair to themselves, the Kabaka and the Baganda because the mandate to negotiate for what we got, which is 80%, was given by the Kabaka himself through the committee he appointed. It is not fair for Lukiiko to just reject in totality whatever was discussed. President Museveni took a lot of time chairing these 56 meetings with the then Katikkiro, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere. It pains for the Lukiiko not to recognise these efforts and they play to the whims of the parties, DP and FDC, through their agents in the Lukiiko.
The question that Baganda should ask themselves now is, “Are we turning the clock and rejecting everything and starting afresh?†Are they saying we reject everything because there is going to be a new government, probably an FDC government? The entire system at Mengo, including its media, are supporting Besigye’s team and his candidature. The Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) has come out to hit at NRM. What will happen if President Museveni again wins?
The Katikkiro, Dan Muliika, failed to guide the Lukiiko. On a Saturday we had a meeting with him and the Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, at the latter’s home and he assured the VP that Buganda is not rejecting everything in the regional government. He was backed by the Attorney General, Godfrey Lule, that a lot of things were embedded in the regional government. On Monday they turned around.
The VP assured the Katikkiro that the President was willing and ready to look into those issues, which the Baganda are not happy with. To reject what has been achieved is wrong. Some argue that we can remain as we are now, but for how long?
A lot of issues in the 1962 Constitution, which constitution we cherish most, were included in the regional government. The regional government is almost what we had in 1962. What we did not get, which was in the 1962 Constitution, was police, prisons and court. These are not necessary at this particular moment. Mengo has no limitation in creating a court for traditional cases.
It pains that FDC and DP have hijacked Mengo to use whatever shortcomings that have been there between NRM and Mengo. President Museveni has done a lot of things for Mengo. He is the one who started the process and would like to see it concluded. There is no way Baganda can allow manipulators at Mengo to favour Besigye or Ssebaana Kizito because none of them has given anything to Mengo. Mengo should look at issues intelligently.
Mengo cannot be run on sale of certificates. A structure has been created and money provided through the Consolidated Fund to run the regional government. Let us go with that while we are negotiating for the balance. Mengo should analyse the numbers for the 8th Parliament. NRM has sponsored candidates in every constituency. FDC has not even got two thirds. How are they (FDC) going to amend the Constitution?
We are not bound to take what Mengo says because Buganda is for everybody, not for individuals in Mengo. I do not see anything wrong with accepting what has been given to us as we move. We should avoid a confrontational approach. People have started to understand the contents of the regional government and a number of them are appreciating what President Museveni and the Kabaka’s team agreed on. Mengo should not misleading Baganda by misinterpreting what was achieved.
The writer is a former Minister of Health in Buganda govt
As told to Joyce Namutebi
THE Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) recently rejected the proposed regional tier, saying it was poisonous and not the federo cherished by the Baganda. I have been in Mengo for a long time. I served as Minister of Health and I was Secretary General for the Lukiiko. It hurt me so much to see that the new regime at Mengo has just thrown away what was negotiated over a period of years.
In my opinion, it is not fair to themselves, the Kabaka and the Baganda because the mandate to negotiate for what we got, which is 80%, was given by the Kabaka himself through the committee he appointed. It is not fair for Lukiiko to just reject in totality whatever was discussed. President Museveni took a lot of time chairing these 56 meetings with the then Katikkiro, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere. It pains for the Lukiiko not to recognise these efforts and they play to the whims of the parties, DP and FDC, through their agents in the Lukiiko.
The question that Baganda should ask themselves now is, “Are we turning the clock and rejecting everything and starting afresh?†Are they saying we reject everything because there is going to be a new government, probably an FDC government? The entire system at Mengo, including its media, are supporting Besigye’s team and his candidature. The Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) has come out to hit at NRM. What will happen if President Museveni again wins?
The Katikkiro, Dan Muliika, failed to guide the Lukiiko. On a Saturday we had a meeting with him and the Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, at the latter’s home and he assured the VP that Buganda is not rejecting everything in the regional government. He was backed by the Attorney General, Godfrey Lule, that a lot of things were embedded in the regional government. On Monday they turned around.
The VP assured the Katikkiro that the President was willing and ready to look into those issues, which the Baganda are not happy with. To reject what has been achieved is wrong. Some argue that we can remain as we are now, but for how long?
A lot of issues in the 1962 Constitution, which constitution we cherish most, were included in the regional government. The regional government is almost what we had in 1962. What we did not get, which was in the 1962 Constitution, was police, prisons and court. These are not necessary at this particular moment. Mengo has no limitation in creating a court for traditional cases.
It pains that FDC and DP have hijacked Mengo to use whatever shortcomings that have been there between NRM and Mengo. President Museveni has done a lot of things for Mengo. He is the one who started the process and would like to see it concluded. There is no way Baganda can allow manipulators at Mengo to favour Besigye or Ssebaana Kizito because none of them has given anything to Mengo. Mengo should look at issues intelligently.
Mengo cannot be run on sale of certificates. A structure has been created and money provided through the Consolidated Fund to run the regional government. Let us go with that while we are negotiating for the balance. Mengo should analyse the numbers for the 8th Parliament. NRM has sponsored candidates in every constituency. FDC has not even got two thirds. How are they (FDC) going to amend the Constitution?
We are not bound to take what Mengo says because Buganda is for everybody, not for individuals in Mengo. I do not see anything wrong with accepting what has been given to us as we move. We should avoid a confrontational approach. People have started to understand the contents of the regional government and a number of them are appreciating what President Museveni and the Kabaka’s team agreed on. Mengo should not misleading Baganda by misinterpreting what was achieved.
The writer is a former Minister of Health in Buganda govt
As told to Joyce Namutebi