Mayiga should redirect Buganda efforts, set new Kingdom agenda

By Jim Mugunga

About 20 years ago at the then popular hang-out spot Kitobelo which was located along the then Kitante Road, I had the opportunity [most evenings] to “dine and wine” with two budding proprietors and professional business partners.

Charles Peter Mayiga was one of them the other being Francis Buwule. Our common after office evening topics were mainly current affairs and, of course, sports. In my view, Kitobelo may have truly been among the very first typical destinations for sports enthusiasts, which in today’s talk may be referred to as a “sports bar.”

On the Menu were key attractions; luwombo, muchomo or is it nyama choma, boiled cassava, gonja and yes believe it, omubisi (banana juice not banana alcohol). This traditional or local food ensemble; therefore, made Kitobelo the destination of choice for the astute middle class. It was, therefore, not so uncommon to find Mayiga or partner Buwule managing the parking lot while their respective spouses took charge of the goings on in kitchen in order to deliver the befitting service.

A year later, of course Kitobelo moved places but what remained a constant was the predominantly Buganda food menu. If food was the sign of Mayiga’s commitment to his culture and kingdom, then I missed it. However, with hindsight, Mayiga has all along put his signature of love for Buganda and the Kabaka all over the place. One has to merely profile “the man” and it will all come to light.

Mayiga’s appointment as Katikkiro is a pointer of telling similarities between the President Museveni and the Kabaka in their approaches to resource and people management during seemingly challenging times. The two will move with precision to reassert their control as soon a level of uncertainty is exhibited. They have the eye for “talent” from quarters least expected and of most recent; they both have opted to increasingly position carders and trust the youth to run the affairs of the state and kingdom respectively.

While Mayiga has over the years been carefully groomed and could be easily referred to as a cadre, his elevation to the top most public service office of Buganda Kingdom was a surprise. For insiders, he may have been among the loyalists with “potential” but definitely hardly any would have placed an ambitious bet on the timing for his appointment. He, therefore, comes on board with hardly any “skeletons” to look out for in as far as running the affairs of Buganda is concerned. He is a great opportunity to fully embrace.  

The new Katikkiro’s work is cut out. He nevertheless has the challenge and opportunity to evolve a new agenda for Buganda and set a fresh tone to achieving the greater Buganda that is so desired. For example, over the years, Mayiga has exhibited real steel and has remained steadfast in pushing for the Buganda demands. He has, however, not radicalised his approach and hence is seen by many as a mature voice of reason who can ably engage at State level. His challenge, therefore, is to reign in others to adopt a lot more soft power in the push in this direction. This does not make him a softie but rather endear him among those with opposing opinion.

There examples world-wide where a radical approach to monarch and or kingdom issues in states that are predominantly controlled by elected governments have failed. There are equally many examples where a lot more “board-room” style negotiations and soft power approach have yielded un-expected concessions to protagonists on either side. Case in point are modern day challenges in Britain, Cambodia and Thailand which threatened the monarch but were ably scaled following well orchestrated often off-the-radar talks. The potential by new Katikkiro to redirect Buganda effort, therefore, is unlimited and it is his to maximise as well as Bulange and Kabaka’s to fully support.

Mayiga’s second option is to turn Buganda into a formidable enterprise and its vast kingdom resource into a cash cow. The starting point would be with those already in the possession of Buganda. I have had the opportunity once to present what I believe is a viable option that Buganda may take to develop some contested prime pieces of lands while retaining a relationship with Institutions of the Government and other tenants to an audience that included the new Katikkiro. I still believe this is a win-win option that does not disenfranchise the central government, tenants nor “rob” Buganda of its rightful ownership of the assets. It ensures that development acts as a catalyst for a common benefit and future after-all it is the cornerstone of yearnings of both Buganda and the Central Government.

For example, what would be so fatal, if both Buganda and the Central Government agree to undertake common development; through a Public Private Partnership [PPP], of a prime Gombolola Headquarters land in a vibrant commercial municipality like Masaka?

Infrastructure and other PPP projects intended to spar development and modernisation of both Buganda as well as enable the Central Government to deliver services would provide that meeting of minds that has eluded the two sides for many years. Across the border in Kenya, word is that for peaceful elections to take place, there was recognition among warring parties that they had to protect the business/development interests that the parties would have potentially put at risk. It is said that it was clear for all this time around that the commercial-cum-development interests on either side were so intertwined that the obvious choice was to push for a peace transition. They had obviously learnt lessons from the past violent elections.

In the developed world and indeed other stable democracies; the middle class and business interests play the undisputed significant role in determining the direction of kings and rulers. Yes these countries have their challenges but the pre-occupation of the citizenly is not who is waiting to bump off the other, come regime change, but how to tap into the many business opportunities that are created by the synergies arising out of co –existence of the kingdoms and the central government.

I, therefore, see the youngest Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, refocusing kingdom energies to prove to all that an enterprising modern day Buganda is a lot more relevant and sensitive to today’s challenges and needs of its subjects. It should and indeed must be under the youthful Mayiga that the various projects that potentially can take place in Buganda should be implemented. The Olubili is such a prime development opportunity that is waiting to happen in as long as the new Katikiiro gains requisite support to deliver it from those, who, under the guise of “protecting ebyaffe”, have. over the years, frustrated all efforts while fast eroding the olubili value.

I see the new Katikkiro setting up a merit-based competitive systems of government at Bulange capable of promoting kingdom interests at the global stage. This government should be able to attract investments and turn hitherto untapped potential into the spring board for a modern kingdom to thrive. The belief that mwana wattu is best suited to work and serve “free of charge” the kingdom does not necessarily interpret into better returns for Buganda and or its king.

To achieve the above therefore, the new Katikkiro may also consider opening up Buganda Kingdom Public Service to competitive recruitment and place employees under established contracts and competitive remuneration. This will demystify the belief that Buganda is for Baganda as it also positions the Kingdom to reflect its true modern outlook. The move would also help Buganda tap into the growing number of non Baganda experts whose outlook in an enterprising Buganda would be business service delivery and beyond the current narrow roles driven by clans and linage biases.

Overall, turning Buganda into a modern and enterprising Kingdom away from the one that is hugely informed and influenced by yesteryears’ radical approach [without surrendering the “Bugandaness”] is one major step that the new Katikkiro could take to position Buganda for greatness and build consensus with the central Government.

A kingdom that is institutionally at par with the structures and stature of the central government will achieve the level of engagement that will deliver productive dialogue and consensus.  Katikiiro Mayiga has the insight and experience to achieve all the above and put an end to the cycle of departing Katikkiros’ all of whom have alleged sabotage from within during their handover speech. Congratulations Charles Peter Mayiga.

(Jim Mugunga, is a Communications Consultant and Media/PR Practitioner)