Baganda Demand Kampala
Jan 28, 2003
The documented views, proposals and aspirations of the Baganda were yesterday presented to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) amidst flair and pomp.
By Josephine Maseruka and Steven Candia
The documented views, proposals and aspirations of the Baganda were yesterday presented to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) amidst flair and pomp.
No wonder the CRC chairman, Professor Frederick Edward Ssempebwa, in his closing remarks said, “Obviously, we have never had such a big number of people coming to give their views. We are overwhelmed.â€
The five points which were unanimously agreed upon by the baganda were a federal system of governance which they want to be embraced by all people in Uganda who cherish it, Kampala to be included in Buganda, return of the 9,000sq. miles of crown land to the Kabaka, review of the 1998 Land Act and the immunity and privileges of traditional leaders.
A multitude of excited young and old federo supporters poured into Kampala city to escort Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogerere to take Buganda’s demands to the CRC at the International Conference Centre.
Ssemwogerere was riding in a white open-roof Toyota Land Cruiser that was heavily shielded by the kingdom security personnel.
Close to him was a briefcase containing the 161-page document with aspirations of the Baganda, which they expect to be incorporated in Uganda’s constitution.
The crowds voiced their demands in chants such as, “Ffe twagala federo, federo, federo adde e Mengo†(we want federo back at Mengo).
At one point, the procession stretched from Kitante road to beyond Nakulabye trading centre, a distance of about three kilometres. By 9:00am, another crowd had gathered at the International Conference Centre.
However, most of the people did not witness the handing over of the document to Ssempebwa and his 18-member team as they were barred from entering the already-packed-to-capacity main hall.
Present were central government ministers, MPs, Buganda kingdom royals and officials, religious leaders, local council leaders, youths from tertiary institutions and school children.
In his opening remarks, Ssemwogerere demanded for the federo system of governance and Kampala to be included in Buganda, saying this time, they did not expect
what he called a raw deal from the government, referring to the omission of their demands in the 1995 constitution.
“To our shock, chagrin and disappointment, the 1995 Constitution did not reflect these views. Instead, it put in place the unitary system of governance. After the 1995 Constitution, the people of Buganda lost faith in the process of constitution review exercises,†the Katikkiro said.
He said although Baganda had shown scepticism about the CRC, thinking their views would not be respected again, he encouraged them to give in their ideas since the commission was a reaction to the inability of the 1995 Constitution to accommodate the wishes of the people.
At 11:53am, Ssemwogerere handed over a copy of the proposals to Ssempebwa, saying, “We now present this to the CRC and wait to see the outcome.†The audience laughed and giggled at the statement.
Katende, the chairman of the 10-member Buganda constitutional review committee, said the Baganda within and abroad agreed on the proposals.
He said the Baganda should have their assets returned as was the case with the Asians.
He said Baganda should have the 9,000sq. miles back, arguing that former President Milton Obote just grabbed it from them.
He said Buganda’s most cherished cultural sites were in Kampala and it was unfair to have the city out of Buganda.
Katende said the NRM government and President Yoweri Museveni were not bad but they were using a bad system, the unitary system, which he compared to a ramshackle car driven by a good driver.
He said since the unitary system was introduced in Uganda, there has been anarchy and retarded development because people have been fighting for the few posts at the centre.
He said in a federo system, people who know better their regional priorities can easily develop their areas.
Ends
The documented views, proposals and aspirations of the Baganda were yesterday presented to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) amidst flair and pomp.
No wonder the CRC chairman, Professor Frederick Edward Ssempebwa, in his closing remarks said, “Obviously, we have never had such a big number of people coming to give their views. We are overwhelmed.â€
The five points which were unanimously agreed upon by the baganda were a federal system of governance which they want to be embraced by all people in Uganda who cherish it, Kampala to be included in Buganda, return of the 9,000sq. miles of crown land to the Kabaka, review of the 1998 Land Act and the immunity and privileges of traditional leaders.
A multitude of excited young and old federo supporters poured into Kampala city to escort Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogerere to take Buganda’s demands to the CRC at the International Conference Centre.
Ssemwogerere was riding in a white open-roof Toyota Land Cruiser that was heavily shielded by the kingdom security personnel.
Close to him was a briefcase containing the 161-page document with aspirations of the Baganda, which they expect to be incorporated in Uganda’s constitution.
The crowds voiced their demands in chants such as, “Ffe twagala federo, federo, federo adde e Mengo†(we want federo back at Mengo).
At one point, the procession stretched from Kitante road to beyond Nakulabye trading centre, a distance of about three kilometres. By 9:00am, another crowd had gathered at the International Conference Centre.
However, most of the people did not witness the handing over of the document to Ssempebwa and his 18-member team as they were barred from entering the already-packed-to-capacity main hall.
Present were central government ministers, MPs, Buganda kingdom royals and officials, religious leaders, local council leaders, youths from tertiary institutions and school children.
In his opening remarks, Ssemwogerere demanded for the federo system of governance and Kampala to be included in Buganda, saying this time, they did not expect
what he called a raw deal from the government, referring to the omission of their demands in the 1995 constitution.
“To our shock, chagrin and disappointment, the 1995 Constitution did not reflect these views. Instead, it put in place the unitary system of governance. After the 1995 Constitution, the people of Buganda lost faith in the process of constitution review exercises,†the Katikkiro said.
He said although Baganda had shown scepticism about the CRC, thinking their views would not be respected again, he encouraged them to give in their ideas since the commission was a reaction to the inability of the 1995 Constitution to accommodate the wishes of the people.
At 11:53am, Ssemwogerere handed over a copy of the proposals to Ssempebwa, saying, “We now present this to the CRC and wait to see the outcome.†The audience laughed and giggled at the statement.
Katende, the chairman of the 10-member Buganda constitutional review committee, said the Baganda within and abroad agreed on the proposals.
He said the Baganda should have their assets returned as was the case with the Asians.
He said Baganda should have the 9,000sq. miles back, arguing that former President Milton Obote just grabbed it from them.
He said Buganda’s most cherished cultural sites were in Kampala and it was unfair to have the city out of Buganda.
Katende said the NRM government and President Yoweri Museveni were not bad but they were using a bad system, the unitary system, which he compared to a ramshackle car driven by a good driver.
He said since the unitary system was introduced in Uganda, there has been anarchy and retarded development because people have been fighting for the few posts at the centre.
He said in a federo system, people who know better their regional priorities can easily develop their areas.
Ends