Katikkiro resignation shocked me
Dec 26, 2005
<b>Ahmed Kateregga</b><br><br>The resignation of Katikkiro Joseph Mugwanyamuli Ssemwogerere and his entire Cabinet has shocked me. The major reason for his resignation is that he betrayed Baganda when he led a team to negotiations with central government that accepted a regional tier and an electe
Ahmed Kateregga
The resignation of Katikkiro Joseph Mugwanyamuli Ssemwogerere and his entire Cabinet has shocked me. The major reason for his resignation is that he betrayed Baganda when he led a team to negotiations with central government that accepted a regional tier and an elected Katikkiro.
Although Baganda wanted a federal government, a regional tier was a good compromise because it elevated Buganda from the status of a province and a region previously granted by the 1900 Agreement and the 1962 Constitution respectively.
On the issue of an elected Katikkiro, this has been the practice since 1954 and it was entrenched in 1955 Agreement and the 1962 Constitution.
Katikkiros Mikayiri Kintu and Mayanja Nkangi were elected by the Lukiiko in 1954 and 1964 respectively. By then we were following the Westminster system where the party with the majority seats in the National Assembly or Lukiiko could form the government.
After Obote bought off both Parliament and Lukiiko, we rejected electoral colleges and opted for direct elections as entrenched in the 1995 Constitution. If a President, an MP, a District Chairperson, Mayor and even lower LC chairpersons are directly elected, how can a regional premier (Katikkiro) be appointed by the Kabaka in the way the Queen of England used to appoint the Governor when Uganda was still a British protectorate?
Appointing the Katikkiro would make the Kabaka partisan, which was one of the reasons Sir Edward Muteesa was exiled in 1953. According to the popular view in Odoki and Sempebwa reports, the Baganda wanted a federal status and an elected Katikkiro and Lukiiko.
Mengo had the same stand in its 1993 document titled, “Buganda Weeyimiridde (the stand of Buganda).†This was communicated to all aspiring CA delegates in Buganda. It was more articulated by clan representatives led by Dan Muliika.
Those in charge of Buganda should know that with the ratification of district councils, the regional governments of Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro, Acholi and Lango will commence on July 1, 2006. The Electoral Commission will be notified to announce a programme for election of regional premiers and assemblies.
We are watching with interest if and when after Buganda has elected its Katikkiro and Lukiiko, they will be denied access to Bulange premises and whether the Kabaka will be advised to decline to give him Damula, the instrument of power.
History has it that the Kabaka is the most influential in Buganda. If anybody is favoured by the Kabaka he will be voted in and if he tries to be disloyal to the Kabaka he will be forced out.
The resignation of Katikkiro Joseph Mugwanyamuli Ssemwogerere and his entire Cabinet has shocked me. The major reason for his resignation is that he betrayed Baganda when he led a team to negotiations with central government that accepted a regional tier and an elected Katikkiro.
Although Baganda wanted a federal government, a regional tier was a good compromise because it elevated Buganda from the status of a province and a region previously granted by the 1900 Agreement and the 1962 Constitution respectively.
On the issue of an elected Katikkiro, this has been the practice since 1954 and it was entrenched in 1955 Agreement and the 1962 Constitution.
Katikkiros Mikayiri Kintu and Mayanja Nkangi were elected by the Lukiiko in 1954 and 1964 respectively. By then we were following the Westminster system where the party with the majority seats in the National Assembly or Lukiiko could form the government.
After Obote bought off both Parliament and Lukiiko, we rejected electoral colleges and opted for direct elections as entrenched in the 1995 Constitution. If a President, an MP, a District Chairperson, Mayor and even lower LC chairpersons are directly elected, how can a regional premier (Katikkiro) be appointed by the Kabaka in the way the Queen of England used to appoint the Governor when Uganda was still a British protectorate?
Appointing the Katikkiro would make the Kabaka partisan, which was one of the reasons Sir Edward Muteesa was exiled in 1953. According to the popular view in Odoki and Sempebwa reports, the Baganda wanted a federal status and an elected Katikkiro and Lukiiko.
Mengo had the same stand in its 1993 document titled, “Buganda Weeyimiridde (the stand of Buganda).†This was communicated to all aspiring CA delegates in Buganda. It was more articulated by clan representatives led by Dan Muliika.
Those in charge of Buganda should know that with the ratification of district councils, the regional governments of Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro, Acholi and Lango will commence on July 1, 2006. The Electoral Commission will be notified to announce a programme for election of regional premiers and assemblies.
We are watching with interest if and when after Buganda has elected its Katikkiro and Lukiiko, they will be denied access to Bulange premises and whether the Kabaka will be advised to decline to give him Damula, the instrument of power.
History has it that the Kabaka is the most influential in Buganda. If anybody is favoured by the Kabaka he will be voted in and if he tries to be disloyal to the Kabaka he will be forced out.