Regional government will not give Buganda federo
Mar 01, 2005
The agreement reached by the central government and the Kingdom of Buganda on the latter’s demand for a federal status has been hailed and sneered at by different groups.
The agreement reached by the central government and the Kingdom of Buganda on the latter’s demand for a federal status has been hailed and sneered at by different groups.
The political opposition perhaps, feeling the Government deal would deny them a passionate campaign platform for electoral advantage, says the deal is not enough. While the Mengo establishment, appreciating the circumstances under which they were bargaining, look at the deal as a starting point from which they can continue engaging the central government, while demanding more.
Buganda’s quest for a federal status is an old story. From the time Uganda was conceived by the British Protectorate Administration, Buganda enjoyed special status. This or colonial favouritism as scholars of colonial history prefer to call it, was a reward for Buganda’s collaboration with the colonial administration.
If the relevant authorities ratify this deal, it will be the fourth arrangement between the kingdom and central government on its relationship with the rest of Uganda. These arrangements are: The 1900 Agreement, which made Buganda part of Uganda; The 1955 Agreement, which made the Kabaka a constitutional monarch and the 1962 Constitution, which made Buganda a federal state. Many demands were based on their status in the 1962 Constitution although the Mengo establishment knew the demands wouldn’t be accepted. It isn’t surprising they made concessions to most of the positions of the central government.
A regional government will not give Buganda the coveted federo. Federalism is a constitutional arrangement, where lower governments enjoy autonomy from the central government. The regional government, on which the central government and the Mengo establishment agreed is administrative devoid of any political power of governance and directing its economy.
Whereas a federal government surrenders some powers to the central government, a regional government gets its powers from the central government. While a regional government is a creation of the central government, a federated state creates central governments. In a federal system, distinct units and their unique socio-cultural heritage form a federal government. However, one of the aspects the recent regional government deal shares with the 1955 Buganda Agreement is that both were held at a highly political time. The 1955 Agreement was a set of agreed terms, on which Kabaka Mutesa II would return from exiled deportation. The recent deal was reached in order to strengthen each sides political fortunes before the 2006 transition.
Ends
The political opposition perhaps, feeling the Government deal would deny them a passionate campaign platform for electoral advantage, says the deal is not enough. While the Mengo establishment, appreciating the circumstances under which they were bargaining, look at the deal as a starting point from which they can continue engaging the central government, while demanding more.
Buganda’s quest for a federal status is an old story. From the time Uganda was conceived by the British Protectorate Administration, Buganda enjoyed special status. This or colonial favouritism as scholars of colonial history prefer to call it, was a reward for Buganda’s collaboration with the colonial administration.
If the relevant authorities ratify this deal, it will be the fourth arrangement between the kingdom and central government on its relationship with the rest of Uganda. These arrangements are: The 1900 Agreement, which made Buganda part of Uganda; The 1955 Agreement, which made the Kabaka a constitutional monarch and the 1962 Constitution, which made Buganda a federal state. Many demands were based on their status in the 1962 Constitution although the Mengo establishment knew the demands wouldn’t be accepted. It isn’t surprising they made concessions to most of the positions of the central government.
A regional government will not give Buganda the coveted federo. Federalism is a constitutional arrangement, where lower governments enjoy autonomy from the central government. The regional government, on which the central government and the Mengo establishment agreed is administrative devoid of any political power of governance and directing its economy.
Whereas a federal government surrenders some powers to the central government, a regional government gets its powers from the central government. While a regional government is a creation of the central government, a federated state creates central governments. In a federal system, distinct units and their unique socio-cultural heritage form a federal government. However, one of the aspects the recent regional government deal shares with the 1955 Buganda Agreement is that both were held at a highly political time. The 1955 Agreement was a set of agreed terms, on which Kabaka Mutesa II would return from exiled deportation. The recent deal was reached in order to strengthen each sides political fortunes before the 2006 transition.
Ends