Angelo Izama & Gerald Bareebe
24 July 2008
Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni has been asked to "calm down" and de-escalate the current political crisis that has followed the arrest over the weekend of the three Ministers of the Buganda government.
In an emotional letter to his former boss- Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, a long-serving local government minister turned opposition politician- said the contest between Mengo and State House risks plunging the country back into the chaos which followed a similar clash 42- years ago.
"Your Excellency must avoid a repeat of the same mistakes" he wrote adding "It is not your ego at stake; not even support for the NRM in Buganda. It is the harmony and stability of Ugandans...that must take centre stage".
In 1966 a political crisis ensued when then Prime Minister Dr Apollo Milton Obote ordered a military crackdown on Mengo following a political dispute. The army commander who led the assault which exiled King Edward Mutesa was Idi Amin who later overthrew Obote and unleashed a period of terror that lasted for over a decade.
Mr Bidandi said the use of force proved to be a short-lived solution to Obote's problems and urged Mr Museveni to resolve the crisis "politically and not militarily".
In a separate letter to the Katikkiro of Buganda, Mr Bidandi said "uncontrolled inflammatory reactions" to the arrests would expose Buganda to the power of the central government.
Mr Bidandi is one of the most senior Baganda ministers to serve with Mr Museveni for most of his two-decade Presidency and became the most senior Muganda to break ranks with him in 2005 after Mr Museveni sought to lift Presidential Term Limits. He was booted from cabinet but returned to politics-as part of the People's Progressive Party where he is chairman. He is a widely respected moderate politician who wields considerable support in Buganda.
"The actions of the President or the government are not sanctioned [by the people of Uganda] to be a basis to demand Buganda breaking away" he said. Many politicians have urged calm over the arrests of the Mengo three- largely interpreted as a clash over Mr. Museveni's proposed land amendment bill.
"I am on my knees. 1966 should not happen" said former Kampala Central MP, Francis Babu yesterday. However the late Dr. Obote's wife who is also President of the Uganda People's Congress [UPC] weighed in differently saying the Uganda government had good reason to attack Mengo when it did in 1966.
"The Baganda were attacking and burning down police stations in Masaka, Kayunga, and Luweero and had blocked Jinja road. Mayiga has not attacked a police station, Ms Nambooze has not blocked any road, Lubega has not bought fire arms. Therefore they should not be in prison," Ms Miria said.
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