The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda
27 March 2008
analysis
Was the Libyan leader's visit to Buganda Kingdom orchestrated to 'back stab' and embarrass his host, President Museveni? There are indicators that the eccentric Col. Muammar Gaddafi decided to visit Museveni's apparent political foes to get back at him for not supporting the colonel's plan to form one African government.
The relationship between Museveni and Gaddafi has taken a nosedive since 2005 when the former reneged on supporting the latter's campaign for one African government. President Museveni instead backed South African President Thabo Mbeki's view of forming an economic union first.
The Weekly Observer exclusively reported about this disagreement in the story, 'Angry Gaddafi Refuses to Give Museveni $5m Campaign Money,' on January 19, 2006.
Since then, the relations between the two heads of state have not been the same.
Indeed, Gaddafi snubbed Museveni's swearing-in ceremony in May 2006 and has turned down several invitations after that.
Gaddafi's return to Uganda this month was generally seen as a sign that the relations had warmed up, but it appears Gaddafi hasn't forgiven, let alone forget.
The Libyan leader who was in Uganda from March 16 - 20 to close the Afro-Arab youth festival and open a mosque built with his money at Old Kampala, unexpectedly drove to Bulange (administrative seat of Buganda) for a 37-minute meeting with kingdom officials.
Visiting Bulange per se was not strange because Gaddafi has shown interest in Ugandan traditions before, particularly his friendship with the Toro kingdom.
What surprised observers was instead the timing of his visit, and the likelihood that it may not have been sanctioned by his host. Museveni and Buganda are currently not seeing eye-to-eye as a result of sharp differences on the government's proposed amendments to the Land Act 1998.
President Museveni says the law will stop illegal mass evictions, but Buganda insists it's a ploy to grab the kingdom's vast land.
It was therefore inconceivable, political observers say, for a high profile guest of the President to call on the kingdom that is now increasingly viewed as being hostile to the regime.
At first it was thought that Museveni wanted to use Gaddafi to mend his relations with Buganda, but the fact that he arrived without any government official, unannounced, has discounted this thinking.
Instead, reliable sources have told The Weekly Observer that Gaddafi intended to embarrass, or even annoy, his host.
According to these sources, Gaddafi had initially planned to meet some leaders of the opposition, but he was advised against it. Eventually Buganda was agreed on as a less 'lethal' weapon of his revenge.
Sources at Mengo have intimated that the Kabaka, who was in the UK at the time, was at first uncomfortable with the meeting, but decided to endorse it to get at Museveni as well.
Only Nagginda knew?
Although the visit was a surprise to many at Mengo, more so in government, reliable sources have told The Weekly Observer that at least one Mengo official had prior knowledge of it. It is suspected that this official was Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, the Kabaka's wife.
According to our sources, Hajji Habib Kagimu, a friend to Gaddafi and interpreter during the Bulange meeting; who was behind the Nnabagereka's visit to Libya some time back, was the architect of this surprise meeting.
After addressing women at the Serena International Conference Centre on March 18, Gaddafi was expected to travel to State House Entebbe for dinner with other heads of state he invited to Uganda. Instead, Gaddafi drove to Bulange.
Sources at Bulange have told The Weekly Observer, that even the Katikkiro, John Baptist Walusimbi, had not been updated about the visit. He was only informed on phone.
In fact, most officials and staff at Bulange got wind of Gaddafi's arrival after security officials descended on Bulange and Lubiri like bees, two hours before the controversial visit. No Uganda government official was present during the brief visit.
Gaddafi plans
During a private meeting with the Katikkiro, Gaddafi reportedly told his host that he prefers to work with traditional establishments like Buganda to realise his African Union dream.
He said, according to our sources, that the African Union is being frustrated by the colonial structures of 'presidents'.
This statement could be interpreted as a criticism of Museveni who refused to back Gaddafi's United States of Africa vision.
Gaddafi feels betrayed by the majority of African leaders who don't support his African dream, and is keen to take his message to the African peoples themselves.
Our sources at Mengo said officials there complained to the Libyan leader about the government's refusal to hand over their property.
Ironically, Gaddafi who now professes love for traditional establishments deposed King Idris in a 1969 coup d'etat and abolished the kingdom.
As if to strengthen his new found love, Gaddafi invited the Kabaka and his ministers to Libya to sign a memorandum of understanding on trade and business.
At the end of the meeting he was presented with two portraits of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi and his wife Sylvia Nagginda. He was also given a royal drum and spear.
Raison d'etre
Buganda's Minister of Information and Cabinet Affairs, Charles Peter Mayiga, declined to comment on the controversial visit when approached this week.
But the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, who chaired the Gaddafi visit organising committee, said the visit was not part of his programme because it was "private". Buturo however insisted that government knew about it.
The President's Press Secretary, Joseph Tamale Mirundi, on the other hand, downplayed the friction between Museveni and Mengo.
"President Museveni is not at war with Mengo. His concerns are the lies and arrogance of Mengo. Mengo as the biggest landlord has a right to express itself on the Land Bill," he said.
Besides, Tamale argued, Gaddafi was not a prisoner who could be confined to one place.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Weekly Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
