Why and how Baganda worked with Museveni to restore the Buganda Kingdom

By Kavuma-Kaggwa

On September 16, 2020, I wrote an article in the New Vision appealing to the Baganda to vote for President Yoweri Museveni in 2021, "because he restored Buganda kingdom." 

If there is any Muganda who opposes or does not agree with what I wrote, let him come out and tell his story in the newspapers.

Since the time I wrote that article, I have met many people in different areas. Many of them thanked me and others asked me why we chose to work with Museveni. Today, I have written, mainly to tell the young generation, why and how we worked with President Yoweri Museveni to wipe out all the tyrannical regimes, which had gripped Uganda since May 24, 1966. 

I did not go to the bush, but I was fully involved in the whole operation from the beginning to the end because I was a member of the Original Professor Y.K Lule "Think Tank" in Nairobi from April 1980.

The other members were the late Dr Andrew Lutakome Kayiira, the late Bernard Kibuuka Musoke, the late Balaki Kirya. Prof. Y.K. Lule was its chairman and I was the secretary.

In Buganda, we were connected to Abataka, the late Paul Kavuma who was the Katikkiro of Buganda (1950-1955), the late Prince Badru Kakungulu and the late Bishop Yokana Mukasa formerly of Mityana

When the Buganda Kingdom was restored on July 31, 1993, together with other Kingdoms in Uganda, the Baganda started to celebrate that day every year. It is only this year that the celebration was counselled because of the Coronavirus     

It is now official on Buganda Kingdom calendar that the Baganda celebrate, in great triumph, the Coronation Anniversary of the Kabaka of Buganda Sabasajja Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.

The Coronation was on July 31, 1993, at Naggalabi Buddo following the restoration of the Monarchy in Buganda and other Kingdoms in Uganda by the NRM Government.

The restoration of the Buganda Kingdom followed by the July 31, 1993, Coronation, was as a result of the bitter five-year liberation war which President Museveni and thousands of Baganda fought in Luweero to wipe out the tyrannical regimes which started on May 24, 1966.

The tyrannical regimes had destroyed Buganda's "economic power and political power" and the Baganda could not tolerate it anymore and the solution was to fight it militarily, and thank God they won.

I remember meeting people in Kampala some time back who asked me: "You Kavuma-Kaggwa and Prof. Lule why did you bring this man Yoweri Museveni?"

I gave a very clear answer to those people and they went away satisfied.

Today I would like to give the same clear answer to the Baganda, especially the young generation so that everybody will know why the Bataka in Buganda allied with President Museveni to fight Milton Obote.

In April 1979, we removed Idi Amin militarily assisted by the Tanzanian armed forces. We installed Professor Y.K. Lule a Muganda as President.

President Lule was going to restore the Buganda Kingdom and the Federal system of government. Lule was removed by the UNLF/UNLA and the NCC after 68 days in office.

President Binaisa was installed and later removed by the same people after one year in office.

What followed next? Dr. Milton Obote came back on May 17, 1980 and in December 1980 Paul Muwanga, who was Chairman of the then ruling Military Commission installed him as President after the disputed General Elections.

Omutaka Paul Kavuma, who was at one time Katikkiro of Buganda and was the leader of Buganda at that time, Prince Badru Kakungulu and Bishop Mukasa formerly of Mityana wisely decided that military action was the only answer.

Initially, they formed and founded a small fighting force of young Baganda, but later on they decided to approach Yoweri Museveni to help them form a big force to fight Obote.

The Bataka decided to work with Museveni because according to "the politics of the day at that time" he was the only man who had "the correct military muscle" to form an army to fight Obote.

He was the Minister for Defence and Deputy Chairman of the Military Commission and he had full control on the Kabamba Military Barracks. 

They gave him 40 young Baganda, who had been recruited by the late Sam Njuba and he trained them at Kabamba. 

He started the war with them in February 1981. The other factors are secret. Fighting went on for five years until victory on January 26, 1986. 

The actual date of capturing Kampala was January 25, 1986, but President Museveni changed the date to January 26 because January 25 was coinciding with January 25, 1971, when Amin overthrew Obote.  

In July 1981, Museveni and his people travelled to Nairobi where he met Prof. Y.K. Lule and his people who had formed UFF after the collapse of UFM and they agreed to work together and they formed a big fighting force of NRM/NRA.

The Baganda should know that they could not have restored the Buganda Kingdom if it had not been for President Museveni to assist them. President Museveni restored the Buganda Kingdom.

The biggest achievement on the side of the Baganda out of the "Luweero Liberation War" was the Restoration of the Buganda Kingdom.

It brought peace throughout the country and created an atmosphere where people nationally are working hard to progress economically, educationally and socially.

We are lucky to have Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. 

He has a clear and wonderful vision for economic development and prosperity. He has a vision for educational and social development of his people. 

He is a man of his people, who has set up several development projects in Buganda and he has the will and plans to do more for the people.

Whatever the Kabaka tells the people, it has a very deep meaning and it is for developing Buganda and Uganda. 

The Government has maintained peace and stability in the country. 

"Arua Park" in Kampala is booming with all kinds of business to different parts of Uganda, including Southern Sudan, Eastern Congo and Rwanda.

The Baganda have built schools, universities, hotels and lodges, factories, industries, commercial buildings in Kampala and other towns. 

People have built new towns like Ndeeba on Masaka road and other areas of Buganda and Uganda. They have also built fabulous and permanent living houses in the villages. 

Supermarkets are springing up on all roads into and out of Kampala. The Freedom City on Entebbe road is a very good example of what the Baganda have done in economic development.

The Baganda have made tremendous progress since 1986 under the leadership of the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. With the Kabaka at the helm, we have full confidence in the economic future of Buganda and Uganda as a whole.

The writer is an Elder from Kyaggwe in Mukono District