Katikkiro suspends 'etoffaali' fundraising drive

The Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has suspended the ‘toffali' fundraising drive until the end of the campaigning period.

"I have suspended the drive. A number of politicians in Buganda have been riding on the drive to canvas votes from their electorate which is wrong," he noted.

Mayiga who was on his monthly inspection of the Kabaka's lake in Ndeeba, Rubaga division on Monday said the main aim of the drive is to support the kingdom's projects but not to canvas for votes.

He added that the suspension will be lifted in March after the polls.

The Kabaka's lake which is one of the largest man-made lake in Africa, was extracted on the orders of the then Kabaka of Buganda, Daniel Mwanga II, in 1886 to create a channel to enable him sail from his palace in Lubiri, Mengo, to Munyonyo.

Mayiga said the Kabaka's lake is one of biggest tourism potentials for Buganda and Uganda, thus a cause for its redevelopment.

He thanked all Ugandans who contributed towards the various kingdom projects, and asked them to give more when called upon in the redevelopment of the lake.

The public fundraising drives were started by former Katikiiro John Baptist Walusimbi, among the kingdom subjects to raise money towards the reconstruction of Kasubi Tombs.

However, the drives were popularized by Mayiga under the name ‘etoffali'.

Under the ‘etoffali' drive several projects have been accomplished. They include the construction of the 63-acre perimeter wall around the tombs, completion of Masengere (Bulange plaza) and the beatification of the royal mile.