Museveni advises Buruli, Bunyoro MPs

May 20, 2005

President Yoweri Museveni has advised Bunyoro to stop referring to its former counties, now part of Buganda, as lost counties, saying Buganda and Bunyoro are integral parts of Uganda.

By Vision Reporter

President Yoweri Museveni has advised Bunyoro to stop referring to its former counties, now part of Buganda, as lost counties, saying Buganda and Bunyoro are integral parts of Uganda.

According to State House, the President explained that what was important was that Ugandans of different tribes are given their legitimate rights whenever they are in Uganda.

“These counties are in Buganda administratively but are available for the interest of all Ugandans,” a release from State House quoted the President as saying.

Museveni gave the advice while meeting MPs from Bunyoro and Buruli at State House, Nakasero on Wednesday and Thursday.

The President said some parts of Uganda were allocated to countries like Tanzania and Congo by the colonialists but instead of moaning over these territories, Uganda was championing the revival of the East African Federation.

Museveni implored the people of Buruli to remain under Buganda region. He said he appreciated their concerns.

“Let us first get married. When everybody sees that the marriage has failed, we shall opt for divorce but we should not divorce before marriage,” Museveni said.

He disclosed that when he led a team to negotiate with Buganda, he was representing the interests of the Movement, therefore, their agreement covered all the interests of the political organisation.

He said the National Resistance Movement was a vehicle of Uganda’s unity, which transcends individual or tribal interests.

Museveni said cultural leaders, including the Ssabaruli, are entrenched in the constitution.

“The Kabaka or Mengo Lukiiko has no powers over Ssabaruli. The Baruli and the central government are responsible for maintaining and recognising the Ssabaruli and other cultural leaders,” he said.

After a five-hour meeting, a resolution was unanimously passed to include Buruli in the Buganda regional tier.

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