Anthony Bugembe
20 July 2008
Kampala — Reknowed political scientist Ali Mazrui has commended President Yoweri Museveni for restoring cultural institutions.
"Uganda is the only African country which abolished its monarchies and then restored them," said Mazrui, the chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
The professor made the remarks while presenting a paper, "Buganda Between Modernisation and Globalisation," during a conference orgnanised by Mengo at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Friday.
Mazrui observed: "Another major historic shift in Uganda's orientation is from narrow Ugandan nationalism in the 1950s and 1960s to the new Pan Africansim era of Yoweri Museveni."
He urged Buganda Kingdom to blend traditionalism and modernity.
"Mutesa II was trained to be a Euro-modern king, reigning in the 20th century. His leadership encouraged the pursuit of western techniques in the ganda spirit. Because of this, Buganda became the most developed part of the country."
Mazrui said modernity could also be achieved through making the kabaka sacred, but not the divine authority.
"This has helped kingdoms to avoid the problems that come with divine authority. That is why the kingdom remains a progressive section of the Ugandan society. I hope Buganda will continue blending traditionalism and modernity in this era of globalisation," Mazrui said.
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