MPs resolve to advocate for Buganda

Sep 13, 2011

Legislators from Buganda on Tuesday resolved to speak with a unified voice on kingdom issues regardless of their political affiliations.

Josephine Maseruka

Legislators from Buganda on Tuesday resolved to speak with a unified voice on kingdom issues regardless of their political affiliations.

They apologized to the Katikkiro (Premier) J.B. Walusimbi for having been divided over trivial issues to the detriment of the people in Buganda.

They promised to cooperate with the Mengo establishment to set up a viable project that will help out Kabaka’s subjects. They are to hold a retreat to study in detail the kingdom’s concern.

The commitment was made by 60 out of the 81 members of the Buganda parliamentary caucus who met the Katikkiro at Lukiiko chambers at Bulange, Mengo in Kampala.

Walusimbi who invited the MPs regretted the divisionism amongst Buganda MPs especially when it comes to decisions on Buganda issues.

“We shall never develop unless we are united regardless of our political, religious and political affiliations.

Whenever we are divided we are giving room to our detractors.”

Walusimbi noted that there has been a tendency of labeling leaders in Buganda as either belonging to Mengo or to central government which was detrimental to the unity of the kingdom.

The meeting was attended by several Mengo officials among them ministers, royals and the MPs were led by their coordinators Latiff Ssebaggala (DP) and Godfrey Kiwenda (NRM).

Central government ministers who attended included Dr. J.C. Muyingo state for Higher education, Abraham Byandala for works and Charles Bakkabulindi for Sports who pledged total support to kingdom issues.

Walusimbi regretted that the eighth parliaments faced many challenges among them the denial of Kabaka Mutebi to tour parts of his kingdom, the amendment of the Land Act, and the return of the remaining kingdom assets.

He said although Mengo and the Buganda caucus had formed a committee to coordinate the activities, it never performed.

He argued the MPs to select five officials who would work with Mengo officials namely; Peter Mayiga, Israel Mayengo and Florence Bagunywa.

Walusimbi appealed to MPs to always work for the people who trusted them into office and to specifically find solutions to the rising price commodities.

He asked them to lobby for a federal system of governance; which he said would end the imbalance in resource allocation, the return of the kingdom assets among them the 9000 square miles, wetlands and forests and rent arrears government owes the kingdom of sh20bn.

In a closed meeting with MPs, sources said that NRM and Nabilah Ssempala complained that Central Broadcasting Service, the kingdom’s radio was giving preference to a few opposition MPs.

However Kaddu Mukasa, a radio producer said that often when they invite NRM legislators to air their view, they decline saying they had not sought permission from higher authorities.
Kiwanda was chosen to coordinate the NRM MPs who want to air their views on CBS.

NRM legislators also complained that they are discriminated at kingdom functions. Others complained that Mengo de-campaigned them.

Walusimbi counseled them that they should all begin afresh in the spirit of brotherhood.


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