Mengo wants peace with government

Jan 01, 2009

BUGANDA Kingdom leaders have decided to stop any more confrontation with the central government. A top official said all Ugandans should embark on developmental issues this year.

By Josephine Maseruka
and Eddie Ssejjoba


BUGANDA Kingdom leaders have decided to stop any more confrontation with the central government.

Katikkiro (premier) J.B. Walusimbi, in his New Year message yesterday, said all Ugandans should embark on developmental issues this year.

“As for the relationship between Mengo and the central government, we should avoid any more confrontation because we are all Ugandans who must learn to amicably solve our differences,” Walusimbi advised.

He said the arrest of the kingdom ministers peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega Segona and its official Betty Nambooze were regrettable.

“Worst of all was the barring of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from touring one of his traditional counties of Buruuli in Nakasongola district last October.”
He said such confrontations should be avoided for the smooth running of the country.

Mayiga, the kingdom’s minister for information and cabinet affairs, also called for a meaningful relationship between Mengo and the central government.

He said this could only be attained through genuine negotiations aimed at specific goals.

He further said Mengo wanted to normalise the relations in the interest of Buganda, Kampala and the nation at large so that people embark on developmental projects.

“Let us have less politics in 2009 and be more practical, specifically and the central government and all the people must genuinely fight against corruption.”
Apollo Makubuya, the kingdom’s attorney general, said 2009 should be for peace and resolving differences in a civilised way.

He said challenges must never be resolved by force or by suppressing legitimate concerns such as those Buganda pointed out in the Land Amendment Bill and the Baruuli and Banyala issue.

Addressing a huge crowd at the new year’s Nkuuka annual show at Mengo palace, Walusimbi said they would dedicate 2009 to fighting poverty in rural areas and improving the welfare of the ordinary people.

He appealed to the people of Buganda to double their effort. He also pledged to protect Buganda’s property and continue lobbying for its interests.
“The year 2009 should a special one where we need to double our efforts to work on issues that made the previous year a problem. We need the effort of everyone,” he said.

The show, which was graced by Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, marked the climax of the Luganda language competition, Entaanda ya Buganda.

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