Buganda Prime Minister blasts saboteurs

Aug 14, 2012

The Katikkiro of Buganda, J.B. Walusimbi has blasted individuals within the kingdom plotting to sabotage his work.

By Jeff Andrew Lule      

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Eng. John Baptist Walusimbi has blasted individuals within the kingdom's establishment who are relentlessly plotting to sabotage his work.

Without specifying names, Walusimbi remarked that his saboteurs are Baganda who are posing as experts and are making unnecessary criticisms and complaints about his activities.

"Some of our own people go on radio talk shows and start criticizing and complaining about what I do. They even make such statements at various functions and surprisingly you give them audience in your areas and after that you clap when they talk.

“Is this taking us anywhere?" a clearly irate Walusimbi said during an address to members of the Buganda Lukiiko (assembly) convened Monday.

The assembly was called to receive the Kingdom's budget for the financial year 2012/2013 at Bulange, Mengo the same day.

There have been reports in the past that there are individuals in Mengo, the seat of Buganda Kingdom, bent on undermining the Katikkiro.

The Buganda PM said the kingdom has established structures where people can forward their complaints instead of going on radio stations to make statements that tarnish the monarch's image.

He likened the saboteurs to kids who engage in childish idle talk, stressing that as a busy person serving many people, he does not have time for such loose talk.

Whoever wants to advise him or has a complaint should approach his office, he advised.

He said people should stop talking but work. "Imagine out of the 54 clans, only two have contributed material needed for the reconstruction of Wamala tombs. But imagine some people were criticizing me for delaying the reconstruction of Kasubi tombs. What a shame!"

Walusimbi also warned people encroaching on the land where Buganda cultural sites are situated such as the coronation site in Budo and the Mujaguzo site in Kabowa. He said the encroachers will be evicted.

"Some caretakers and other Buganda officials have been illegally selling out land which is a taboo," revealed the Premier, warning local village leaders to stop endorsing these illegal transactions.

He said people should avoid accusing Government of being behind the burning of the cultural sites and instead focus on ways of reconstructing them. 

Walusimbi said this year's budget will mainly focus on development of land and tourism, agriculture, health and infrastructure, among other programs.

The kingdom's finance minister, Eva Nagawa presented a sh38.63bn budget for the financial year 2012/2013.

Buganda last financial year planned to raise sh28.94bn in revenue but only managed to raise sh12.26bn. A total of sh11.73b was raised from Buganda Land Board.

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