Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni has warned the Baganda to stop using the Kabaka to fight the NRM Government, according to a press release from State House.

"I would strongly advise you to stop using His Highness the Kabaka to fight political battles against the NRM," Museveni said.

"We are experienced people. We shall defend ourselves."

Museveni made the remarks on Saturday during an eight-hour meeting on the proposed land bill with members of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus at State House, Entebbe.

During the meeting, the President blamed opposition politicians for the frosty relationship between his government and the Buganda kingdom.

Their reasoning, he pointed out, was that if the two worked closely together, the Movement and its leaders would entrench themselves in power.

Museveni told the Baganda MPs that when the Government and the Mengo establishment agreed on the regional tier, two individuals warned the Kabaka that if the tier was implemented, the Movement Government would not leave power.

Mengo should not underestimate the Baganda, the President said. "What I know about the Baganda is that they are good people and the peasants are very reliable. If Mengo continues underestimating the Baganda, it will boomerang."

The President also criticised Mengo for undermining elected Baganda leaders, the way the former chief justice, Ben Kiwanuka, was frustrated by the same people.

He said Mengo should support the young Baganda leaders who have been groomed by the NRM rather than undermining them in their constituencies.

He reiterated his stand that the Katikkiro (Buganda Prime Minister) should be elected. This, he pointed out, had been agreed with Buganda's negotiators.

"What I have seen is that they are unreliable and do not keep their word. When they change their position, they do it in a manner intended to undermine the NRM."

Museveni defended his tough language against religious leaders, whom he warned to keep out of politics. He said some of them were using their position to create confusion.

"There are many ways of removing a government. We have tamed the army and introduced democracy. But somebody can use inciting statements to create instability", he said.

If religious leaders had complaints, they should forward them to him privately, the way the late Cardinal Nsubuga used to do, he advised.

Responding to complaints that senior army officers were involved in land evictions, the President promised to remove military bodyguards from army officers.

When the population sees these army officers carrying out their private business, they mistakenly think it has been sanctioned by the army, he observed.

"I am going to talk to the Army Commander to remove military guards from army officers."

Since the country is peaceful, army officers, including the President, can use Police escorts, he added.

He was reacting to concerns raised by Balikuddembe Mutebi, the MP for Busiro South, who cited 120 cases in his constituency, from Kajjansi up to Kitubulu, where the army had participated in evictions.

Even a stone's throw from State House, at Bunono, the army had evicted residents, Balikuddembe had complained.

Museveni rejected suggestions to delay the land bill to allow for more consultations. He said the law was urgent because of rampant evictions and accusations by MPs that the evictors were untouchable and relatives of the President.

"Without this law, I would have to talk informally to these people you have described as untouchable. The law will make my work easier. These powerful people fear to go to prison", Museveni said.

Asked by opposition MP Beti Kamya if there was need for a new law, Museveni stressed that the earlier law considered evictions as civil matters whereas the new one would criminalise evictions.

Kamya reportedly joked with Museveni over her recent court charges. She told the President that if he had always taken time to discuss with them various issues, their wrangels would not have reached this stage. Amused with her comments, Museveni promised to meet her for discussions.

Most MPs hailed the meeting, which they called an eye-opener. John Baptist Kawanga, the chairperson of the caucus technical committee, said it was very fruitful. He appealed to the Baganda to have trust in the Buganda caucus which he said was committed to harmonizing the relationship between tenants and landlords.

State minister for youth James Kinobe said the meeting resolved that all caucus members would continue with consultations in constituencies, after which they would meet Mengo and the president. He added that all MPs agreed that the bill should not be delayed.

In a related development, Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi yesterday urged the Baganda to support the proposed land amendments and advised them to take their grievances to parliament.

He also attacked Mengo's Attorney General, Apollo Makubuya, for mobilising the Baganda against him.

The Prime Minister was speaking at Namirembe Cathedral where special prayers were held for the new Katikkiro.

"A Bill is not a law. If the Baganda are dissatisfied with the bill they should make positive amendments by presenting their views to the parliamentary committees," he said.

He advised them to study the bill first and make specific comments. "You should not just talk flat that it is a bad bill when you can not point out which clauses are bad," he told the congregation.