Kamuswaga, Mengo in row over property, recognition
Sep 14, 2014
The fight for properties and recognition is soiling the relationship between the Kamuswaga of Kooki and Mengo.
By John Semkula
KAMPALA - The fight for properties and recognition is soiling the relationship between Kamuswaga Apollo Ssansa Kabumbuli II of Kooki and Mengo.
It is understood that the Kamuswaga is extremely bitter with Mengo for refusing to return 13 land titles belonging to Kooki and failing to accord him the respect he deserves.
Sources say the Kamuswaga has decided to distance himself from Mengo and ally with other aggrieved chiefs in the kingdom, such as Ssabanyala Baker Kimeze.
The land titles in question are part of the bulk the central government returned to Mengo recently, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the cultural institution last year.
Kamuswaga’s spokesperson Stanley Ndawula told Saturday Vision that they were surprised that Mengo chose to retain the 13 titles that belong to the Kamuswaga and Kooki.
“Since the agreement between Mengo and the Government states that areas with cultural institutions should retain their administrative units, I don’t see the reason why Mengo should keep our land titles,” Ndawula said.
He added that they want Mengo to respect the agreement, even if it has some bitter pills.
But Buganda spokesperson Sengendo Walusimbi said the Kamuswaga should direct his grievances to the central government, not Mengo.
“The titles which were returned had been confiscated by the Obote’s government from Buganda, not Kooki,” Sengendo said.
The tension is reportedly fuelling secession sentiments in Kooki, although Ndawula said the issue could not cause a break-away.
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Kamuswaga of Kooki, Apollo Sansa Kabumbuli (far right) attending the 6th coronation anniversary of Sabanyala Maj. Kimeze at Kayunga. PHOTO/Enock Kakande
Kamuswaga of Kooki, Apollo Sansa Kabumbuli (far right) attending the 6th coronation anniversary of Sabanyala Maj. Kimeze at Kayunga. PHOTO/Enock Kakande
On September 1, Kamuswaga, the Ssabanyala and Ssabaruuli Constantine Butamanya Mwogeza petitioned the Government against the planed handover of 84 other properties to Buganda.
The handover was supposed to take place last week, but was postponed on grounds that President Yoweri Museveni, who wanted to grace the function, was committed.
The Kamuswaga is also reportedly unhappy with the way Mengo officials treat him. Ndawula noted that whereas the Kamuswaga is an independent cultural leader in Buganda, like the Kabaka, he is being treated like a county chief.
“The Kamuswaga is supposed to have an official chair in Buganda’s parliament. That provision has never been implemented by Mengo, leaving him with no representation in the Lukiiko,” Ndawula said.
He added that after the installation of the Kamuswaga, a supporter bought him a special chair to sit on during the Lukiiko, but some officials in Mengo blocked him from using it.
“Some people in Mengo do not want to recognise the ‘Kamuswagaship’, but we are not going to allow that,” he said.
Kooki became part of Buganda Kingdom in 1896 following an agreement between then Kabaka Mwanga and Kezekiah Ndahura, the then Kamuswaga.
Ndawula explained that in the agreement, the Kamuswaga remained a hereditary cultural leader, who is not appointed by the Kabaka, like the other 17 county chiefs.
But Sengendo maintained that Kamuswaga is a county chief, citing the Constitution of Uganda, which states that Kooki is part of the kingdom.
He advised Kamuswaga’s officials to read the 1896 agreement, which the then Kamuswaga signed with Buganda. “The Kamuswaga gave the county to Buganda and that was all.”