Buganda raps govt on chiefs within kingdom
Nov 06, 2008
BUGANDA clan leaders have criticised the Government for recognising other cultural leaders in the kingdom, who claim to be independent of the Kabaka.
By Francis Kagolo
BUGANDA clan leaders have criticised the Government for recognising other cultural leaders in the kingdom, who claim to be independent of the Kabaka.
Addressing journalists at the kingdom’s seat in Bulange yesterday, the 52 leaders said this was intended to cause rivalry in the kingdom.
“We oppose the idea of creating small chiefdoms within Buganda. Leaders like the Ssaabaruuli, Ssaabanyala and others have no root in Buganda’s culture. They cannot be recognised,†the Bataka (Buganda elders) said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the leaders said acknowledging other people in Buganda as traditional leaders was detrimental to the kingdom and the country’s unity and development.
“It is illegal to create new chiefdoms which never existed before the coming of the Constitution. When will the Government stop undermining the Constitution?†the leaders wondered in the statement, read by chairman Allan Waliggo.
They decried “the continuous politicising of the kingdom’s cultural issues†by the Government and vowed to fight any plans aimed at splitting the monarchy.
The Bataka also attacked the Government over a proposal to rename Buganda area as the “central regionâ€.
The group further condemned blocking Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from visiting some of “his†counties and vowed that: “This will not be tolerated.â€
The Central Government last month blocked Mutebi from launching Bulungi Bwansi (communal work) programmes at the Nakasongola district headquarters, citing security threats in the region.
The clan leaders urged security operatives to arrest local leaders and a group of youth in Nakasongola who threatened to lynch the Kabaka if he went to the area.
“We want peace and development in the country. We hate the divide-and- rule politics,†the statement said.
BUGANDA clan leaders have criticised the Government for recognising other cultural leaders in the kingdom, who claim to be independent of the Kabaka.
Addressing journalists at the kingdom’s seat in Bulange yesterday, the 52 leaders said this was intended to cause rivalry in the kingdom.
“We oppose the idea of creating small chiefdoms within Buganda. Leaders like the Ssaabaruuli, Ssaabanyala and others have no root in Buganda’s culture. They cannot be recognised,†the Bataka (Buganda elders) said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the leaders said acknowledging other people in Buganda as traditional leaders was detrimental to the kingdom and the country’s unity and development.
“It is illegal to create new chiefdoms which never existed before the coming of the Constitution. When will the Government stop undermining the Constitution?†the leaders wondered in the statement, read by chairman Allan Waliggo.
They decried “the continuous politicising of the kingdom’s cultural issues†by the Government and vowed to fight any plans aimed at splitting the monarchy.
The Bataka also attacked the Government over a proposal to rename Buganda area as the “central regionâ€.
The group further condemned blocking Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from visiting some of “his†counties and vowed that: “This will not be tolerated.â€
The Central Government last month blocked Mutebi from launching Bulungi Bwansi (communal work) programmes at the Nakasongola district headquarters, citing security threats in the region.
The clan leaders urged security operatives to arrest local leaders and a group of youth in Nakasongola who threatened to lynch the Kabaka if he went to the area.
“We want peace and development in the country. We hate the divide-and- rule politics,†the statement said.