Will Buganda’s renewed cry for federo be heard?
Jan 31, 2003
CROWDs of men and women moved slowly in an ocean of humanity. Some were sweating in the mid-morning sunshine, but this did not hide the determination which showed on their faces.
By Joshua Kato
CROWDs of men and women moved slowly in an ocean of humanity. Some were sweating in the mid-morning sunshine, but this did not hide the determination which showed on their faces.
The old, youth and children were walking to the international conference centre to hand in Buganda Kingdom proposals to the constitutional review commission.
Old men were dressed in long tunics (Kanzus) covered with coats, many of them old and won out.
A few wore bark-cloth, Buganda’s traditional attire. The young dressed more casually –– in trousers and T-shirts and head caps, to shield themselves from the scorching sun.
The crowd was estimated by the Police to be at close to 0.2 million. Earlier in the morning, they had set off from Bulange, Mengo on the outskirts of the city, towards the International Conference centre.
The crowd walked through Wandegeya, Yusuf Lule road to the Conference centre. However, a few of them defied the Police directive and walked through the city centre –– These were almost unnoticed.
Together, the crowd sang: “Federo eeh Federo leero tumutwala e Mengo. (We are taking Federal back to Mengo.)†The tree leaves they were waving added to the ensemble. Huge placards, that some of them carried, further explained the mission statement.
‘Federal is the answer,’ one of the placards read. ‘Federal for all,’ read another. Bring Federal for wealth,’ another read.
Buganda dance groups, perched like bats on trucks, and a brass band marching with their instruments, added colour to the procession.
In the midst of all, a lame man hopping on one leg shouted: “Singa waliwo Federo, nze tebandintemweko kugulu. (If there was Federal, I would not have lost my leg.)†I later learnt that the man is a victim of Uganda’s past turbulent times.
Ken Lukyamuzi, the Member of Parliament for Rubaga South, was having the best moment of the day. His car, an old brown Hyundai, was being pushed by the crowd. Occasionally, he could stand out and make a V-sign with his fingers.
The crowd in turn answered back waving the V-sign and thumb-sign.
The V-sign is for the opposition, while the thumb-sign is for the Movement government. The fact that both signs were appearing in the same crowd showed the unity the Baganda have over the issue of federalism.
“We are just starting the struggle,†Lukyamuzi said, struggling to talk to the huge crowd. “Federal is the answer,†he added.
The Baganda handed in five proposals to the Constitutional Review Commission. However, the federal demand is the most significant.
Other demands are: that Kampala be constitutionally made part of Buganda, the Baganda be handed back the 9,000 square miles of land, that the land act be revisited, especially on issues concerning ownership of land and that Buganda kings should be given more privileges, including immunity from prosecution and recognition on public functions.
This is not the first time Buganda is making these demands. They made similar demands during the 1995 constitutional making process, but did not have them approved.
The Baganda believe that they have not been able to get federal on previous demands, because of poor packaging. “Ensiba Mbi Edibya Muteere, (Poor packaging discourages customers,)†the Katikkiro of Buganda, Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogere said. He pointed out that this time the packaging of the proposals is superb.
“This time round we have gone to great lengths to articulate our proposals,†he said. He pointed out that the issue is not being promoted as a Baganda issue, but as a Uganda issue.
Encouraging for the Baganda is that Busoga Kingdom and West-Nile regions have also hinted on asking for federal from the Constitutional Review Commission. “It is the federal system that can be used to end all Uganda’s current problems,†John Katende, the Mengo attorney general emphasised before the commission, chaired by Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa.
According to the proposals, the Baganda have moved back from what appeared like radicalism in previous demands, to appeals that are less radical.
“The fact that in most of the cases they are ‘appealing’ rather than ‘demanding’, makes the proposals more likely to be listened to,†a political analyst said.
Until 1966, Uganda was governed through a federal arrangement. However, the system was changed after two years of feuding between the then Kabaka Mutesa II and the executive prime minister Apollo Milton Obote.
Obote attacked the Lubiri, after Buganda gave an ultimatum to the central government to leave Buganda land. A year later, he declared Buganda a republic. The Baganda have been making similar demands, whenever given an opportunity.
According to the Buganda government, 97% of all Baganda asked for federal, while 68% of people in other parts of the country asked for the same, during the Odoki commission of the early 90s. However, decentralisation was grated in favour of federal.
Will Buganda succeed now? There are several forces at play to determine this, analyst say. For example, as a concession, the movement government might decide to give the Baganda some of their demands, in return for their support for a movement candidate during the 2006 elections.
“Politics is about give and take. I have a feeling that this time round, the government will give the Baganda a few of their demands in return for support during the 2006 presidential elections,†Edward Muwanga, a lawyer and political observer says.
By getting federal and the other demands, and supporting the Movement government in 2006, the Baganda will have nothing to lose. For many years, the Baganda peasants have supported the Movement, so this will not be new.
However, other people think that the Movement no longer sees Mengo as a base of support, after what happened in the 2001 presidential elections. Most of the top officials of Mengo came out openly and supported Col. Kizza Besigye. However, Museveni won Buganda region,with support coming mainly from the peasants.
“This means that the Movement’s need for support from Mengo no longer holds, and cannot be used as a bargaining chip by the Baganda,†Muwanga says.
There are those who think that the commission is simply a Movement government tool to win over the Baganda.
“Museveni is using Baganda’s demands to divert the country’s attention to 2006. He is going to grant the Baganda some of these demands to blind-fold them into accepting his candidature in 2006,†a member of the Uganda Young Democrats said.
However, Moses Byaruhanga, President Yoweri Museveni’s assistant on Political affairs does not agree to this. “There are no hidden motives in as far as the commission is concerned. It is not only collecting views on Buganda issues alone, but also for other issues,†he said. He added that debate is very vital over these issues and the Baganda are free to debate.
“This is not a big deal. If the people of Buganda have said that this is what they want, let it be debated,†Byaruhanga said.
The federal issue aside, the Kampala issue is also very explosive. The break up of federal in 1966 is partly blamed on this same issue.
This, according to some people is more difficult to get, than even federal. “The fact that Kampala is a multi-tribal city does not help the Baganda to demand for it,†says Paul Tumushabe, a resident of Kampala. A survey showed that very few non- Baganda supported the return of Kampala to Buganda.
With the procession to the Conference Centre and the peace with which this was done, the Baganda have made a statement. With it, the long debate has began once again. No one is sure of the outcome, all can only predict.
CROWDs of men and women moved slowly in an ocean of humanity. Some were sweating in the mid-morning sunshine, but this did not hide the determination which showed on their faces.
The old, youth and children were walking to the international conference centre to hand in Buganda Kingdom proposals to the constitutional review commission.
Old men were dressed in long tunics (Kanzus) covered with coats, many of them old and won out.
A few wore bark-cloth, Buganda’s traditional attire. The young dressed more casually –– in trousers and T-shirts and head caps, to shield themselves from the scorching sun.
The crowd was estimated by the Police to be at close to 0.2 million. Earlier in the morning, they had set off from Bulange, Mengo on the outskirts of the city, towards the International Conference centre.
The crowd walked through Wandegeya, Yusuf Lule road to the Conference centre. However, a few of them defied the Police directive and walked through the city centre –– These were almost unnoticed.
Together, the crowd sang: “Federo eeh Federo leero tumutwala e Mengo. (We are taking Federal back to Mengo.)†The tree leaves they were waving added to the ensemble. Huge placards, that some of them carried, further explained the mission statement.
‘Federal is the answer,’ one of the placards read. ‘Federal for all,’ read another. Bring Federal for wealth,’ another read.
Buganda dance groups, perched like bats on trucks, and a brass band marching with their instruments, added colour to the procession.
In the midst of all, a lame man hopping on one leg shouted: “Singa waliwo Federo, nze tebandintemweko kugulu. (If there was Federal, I would not have lost my leg.)†I later learnt that the man is a victim of Uganda’s past turbulent times.
Ken Lukyamuzi, the Member of Parliament for Rubaga South, was having the best moment of the day. His car, an old brown Hyundai, was being pushed by the crowd. Occasionally, he could stand out and make a V-sign with his fingers.
The crowd in turn answered back waving the V-sign and thumb-sign.
The V-sign is for the opposition, while the thumb-sign is for the Movement government. The fact that both signs were appearing in the same crowd showed the unity the Baganda have over the issue of federalism.
“We are just starting the struggle,†Lukyamuzi said, struggling to talk to the huge crowd. “Federal is the answer,†he added.
The Baganda handed in five proposals to the Constitutional Review Commission. However, the federal demand is the most significant.
Other demands are: that Kampala be constitutionally made part of Buganda, the Baganda be handed back the 9,000 square miles of land, that the land act be revisited, especially on issues concerning ownership of land and that Buganda kings should be given more privileges, including immunity from prosecution and recognition on public functions.
This is not the first time Buganda is making these demands. They made similar demands during the 1995 constitutional making process, but did not have them approved.
The Baganda believe that they have not been able to get federal on previous demands, because of poor packaging. “Ensiba Mbi Edibya Muteere, (Poor packaging discourages customers,)†the Katikkiro of Buganda, Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogere said. He pointed out that this time the packaging of the proposals is superb.
“This time round we have gone to great lengths to articulate our proposals,†he said. He pointed out that the issue is not being promoted as a Baganda issue, but as a Uganda issue.
Encouraging for the Baganda is that Busoga Kingdom and West-Nile regions have also hinted on asking for federal from the Constitutional Review Commission. “It is the federal system that can be used to end all Uganda’s current problems,†John Katende, the Mengo attorney general emphasised before the commission, chaired by Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa.
According to the proposals, the Baganda have moved back from what appeared like radicalism in previous demands, to appeals that are less radical.
“The fact that in most of the cases they are ‘appealing’ rather than ‘demanding’, makes the proposals more likely to be listened to,†a political analyst said.
Until 1966, Uganda was governed through a federal arrangement. However, the system was changed after two years of feuding between the then Kabaka Mutesa II and the executive prime minister Apollo Milton Obote.
Obote attacked the Lubiri, after Buganda gave an ultimatum to the central government to leave Buganda land. A year later, he declared Buganda a republic. The Baganda have been making similar demands, whenever given an opportunity.
According to the Buganda government, 97% of all Baganda asked for federal, while 68% of people in other parts of the country asked for the same, during the Odoki commission of the early 90s. However, decentralisation was grated in favour of federal.
Will Buganda succeed now? There are several forces at play to determine this, analyst say. For example, as a concession, the movement government might decide to give the Baganda some of their demands, in return for their support for a movement candidate during the 2006 elections.
“Politics is about give and take. I have a feeling that this time round, the government will give the Baganda a few of their demands in return for support during the 2006 presidential elections,†Edward Muwanga, a lawyer and political observer says.
By getting federal and the other demands, and supporting the Movement government in 2006, the Baganda will have nothing to lose. For many years, the Baganda peasants have supported the Movement, so this will not be new.
However, other people think that the Movement no longer sees Mengo as a base of support, after what happened in the 2001 presidential elections. Most of the top officials of Mengo came out openly and supported Col. Kizza Besigye. However, Museveni won Buganda region,with support coming mainly from the peasants.
“This means that the Movement’s need for support from Mengo no longer holds, and cannot be used as a bargaining chip by the Baganda,†Muwanga says.
There are those who think that the commission is simply a Movement government tool to win over the Baganda.
“Museveni is using Baganda’s demands to divert the country’s attention to 2006. He is going to grant the Baganda some of these demands to blind-fold them into accepting his candidature in 2006,†a member of the Uganda Young Democrats said.
However, Moses Byaruhanga, President Yoweri Museveni’s assistant on Political affairs does not agree to this. “There are no hidden motives in as far as the commission is concerned. It is not only collecting views on Buganda issues alone, but also for other issues,†he said. He added that debate is very vital over these issues and the Baganda are free to debate.
“This is not a big deal. If the people of Buganda have said that this is what they want, let it be debated,†Byaruhanga said.
The federal issue aside, the Kampala issue is also very explosive. The break up of federal in 1966 is partly blamed on this same issue.
This, according to some people is more difficult to get, than even federal. “The fact that Kampala is a multi-tribal city does not help the Baganda to demand for it,†says Paul Tumushabe, a resident of Kampala. A survey showed that very few non- Baganda supported the return of Kampala to Buganda.
With the procession to the Conference Centre and the peace with which this was done, the Baganda have made a statement. With it, the long debate has began once again. No one is sure of the outcome, all can only predict.