Mengo attacks govt over Kabaka tour
Oct 08, 2008
MENGO officials have protested the Government’s decision to stop the Kabaka’s visit to Nakasongola district headquarters yesterday.
By Josephine Maseruka
MENGO officials have protested the Government’s decision to stop the Kabaka’s visit to Nakasongola district headquarters yesterday.
Kabaka Ronald Mutebi had travelled to the area on Tuesday to launch a community service project, dubbed Bulungi Bwansi, which would coincide with the kingdom’s 46th independence anniversary celebrations.
But he returned to Kampala the same night following a communication from internal minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
The minister said the function had been disallowed “in view of the imminent security threats on the ground and the consequent chaos that is likely to occur in Nakasongolaâ€.
The Baruuli people, a minority group resisting the Kabaka’s supremacy in the area, had threatened to demonstrate despite the Police ban.
Katikkiro (premier) JB Walusimbi yesterday accused the Government of siding with illegitimate minority groups.
“It is a pity that the Government is bent on splitting Uganda and dividing its people into smaller ethnic units, yet at the same time singing the rhetoric of regional integration.â€
Walusimbi said he would meet government officials over the matter to see how to bring back the break-away groups for the development of Buganda.
Mengo information minister Charles Mayiga said there was no insecurity in the areas visited by the Kabaka.
He accused the Government of creating Ssabaruuli, the cultural institution of the Baruuli, to weaken Buganda.
Buganda’s Attorney general, Apolo Makubuya, noted that the Baruuli received the Kabaka warmly wherever he went and he donated 60 mattresses and wheelchairs to Nakasongola Hospital, on top of repairing 12 rural roads.
“The Kabaka is the king of all Baganda and the supreme cultural leader. Anyone else, including the Ssabaruuli Ssalongo Mwogeza Butamanya and the Ssabanyala, are his subjects. It is ridiculous to expect the Kabaka to beg for permission from the Ssabaruuli to visit the area,†he said.
Medard Lubega, Buganda’s information minister, accused the Government of siding with criminals to block a lawful activity.
“The heavy deployment of Police and the army was to block and frustrate the Kabaka from visiting his subjects,†he said.
On Tuesday, the Kabaka in his address at Migyera asked the people to shun opportunists who want to create disunity. “I appeal to you to guard against people who come to you with divisive messages. They purport to have come to help you, yet they are targeting personal benefits. We shall not progress when our people are divided,†he said.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd, he added that the mere existence of the Kabakaship was not enough. Restitution, he said, meant tackling big challenges, including restoring the kingdom’s past glory. The Government’s policy is to recognise all minority groups within Uganda.
MENGO officials have protested the Government’s decision to stop the Kabaka’s visit to Nakasongola district headquarters yesterday.
Kabaka Ronald Mutebi had travelled to the area on Tuesday to launch a community service project, dubbed Bulungi Bwansi, which would coincide with the kingdom’s 46th independence anniversary celebrations.
But he returned to Kampala the same night following a communication from internal minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
The minister said the function had been disallowed “in view of the imminent security threats on the ground and the consequent chaos that is likely to occur in Nakasongolaâ€.
The Baruuli people, a minority group resisting the Kabaka’s supremacy in the area, had threatened to demonstrate despite the Police ban.
Katikkiro (premier) JB Walusimbi yesterday accused the Government of siding with illegitimate minority groups.
“It is a pity that the Government is bent on splitting Uganda and dividing its people into smaller ethnic units, yet at the same time singing the rhetoric of regional integration.â€
Walusimbi said he would meet government officials over the matter to see how to bring back the break-away groups for the development of Buganda.
Mengo information minister Charles Mayiga said there was no insecurity in the areas visited by the Kabaka.
He accused the Government of creating Ssabaruuli, the cultural institution of the Baruuli, to weaken Buganda.
Buganda’s Attorney general, Apolo Makubuya, noted that the Baruuli received the Kabaka warmly wherever he went and he donated 60 mattresses and wheelchairs to Nakasongola Hospital, on top of repairing 12 rural roads.
“The Kabaka is the king of all Baganda and the supreme cultural leader. Anyone else, including the Ssabaruuli Ssalongo Mwogeza Butamanya and the Ssabanyala, are his subjects. It is ridiculous to expect the Kabaka to beg for permission from the Ssabaruuli to visit the area,†he said.
Medard Lubega, Buganda’s information minister, accused the Government of siding with criminals to block a lawful activity.
“The heavy deployment of Police and the army was to block and frustrate the Kabaka from visiting his subjects,†he said.
On Tuesday, the Kabaka in his address at Migyera asked the people to shun opportunists who want to create disunity. “I appeal to you to guard against people who come to you with divisive messages. They purport to have come to help you, yet they are targeting personal benefits. We shall not progress when our people are divided,†he said.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd, he added that the mere existence of the Kabakaship was not enough. Restitution, he said, meant tackling big challenges, including restoring the kingdom’s past glory. The Government’s policy is to recognise all minority groups within Uganda.