Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa
2 November 2008
As 2008 draws to an end, the government's planned land reforms have remained top on the national agenda although it's temporarily over shadowed by the now infamous Temangalo-NSSF land saga.
Interestingly, the Buganda Kingdom, the key critic of the land reforms, has steadily kept her fingures crossed, a scenario that has made many to believe that the government shelved the Land Amendments Bill 2007 that seeks to amend some sections of the 1998 Land Act. This is not true; the Bill is currently before Parliament and debate is expected to start soon.
But since the Kingdom has a protracted political battle with the state exacerbated by the delayed return of her property still under the latter's custody, we have at least been of late given some drama. The dramatic arrest of three kingdom officials on July 18 and the baring of the Kabaka from touring Nakasongola on October 8 are still fresh in many people's minds and can't go without being debated.
To begin with, the arrest and later the release of the kingdom officials including Information Minister Charles Peter Mayiga, his deputy Medard Lubega and Ms Betty Nambooze, the chairperson of the Central Civic Education Committee, didn't only bring together Baganda of different political leanings but also awakened the once fading Buganda nationalism.
Even though the Police chief Kale Kayihura had at first said that the trio was to face charges relating to promoting sectarianism, incitement to violence, sedition and promoting terrorism - it seemed a politically far-fetched explanation that was badly received.
In Buganda, it [the arrest] was viewed as a persecution linked to the trio's opposition to the proposed land reforms. In some quarters, the Buganda three has been hero-fied. Then came the headline, Kabaka blocked in Nakasongola. The Kabaka was scheduled to be in the area on October 8 to launch community service commonly known as Bulungi Bwansi and celebrate the kingdom's independence anniversary at Nakasongola District headquarters but he was stopped by the Police.
A government statement said the decision was taken because of "imminent security threats on the ground." A protest by Buganda followed. The Kingdom boycotted this year's National Independence celebrations at Kololo Airstrip. Officials see the Nakasongala incident as a government orchestrated move to create competing ethnic blocks like the Baruli to waterdown the appeal and influence of the Kabaka.
"Why should we [Baganda] waste time celebrating independence if the central government can't even provide security for our king? The pretence era has ended," one official told this publication. The Mengo-government conflict will likely affect other political battles the ruling NRM is fighting and looks set to influence politics way into next year and ominously as the clock ticks away to the next election. Right now it looks far from over.
A love-hate relationship
July 31,1993: Prince Ronald Muwenda Mutebi installed as Kabaka of Buganda at a function held by President Museveni at Nagalabi-Budo in Wakiso District. This was 27 years after the abolition of monarchies.
Agitation for the return of kingdom property confiscated by the late Milton Obote's government in 1966 started.
February 2, 1998: Buganda Kingdom and opposition legislators start campaign to oppose the proposed Land Bill 1998.
March 2, 1998: Government hurriedly publishes the Land Bill 1998 against Buganda wish.
May 25, 1998: Buganda Lukiiko unanimously rejects the Land Bill 1998 and vows to fight it saying it was meant to deprive Baganda of their land.
July 1, 1998: Parliament passes the Land Bill into an Act [1998 Land Act].
July 10, 1998: Buganda Kingdom calls off Kabaka Mutebi's fifth coronation anniversary to protest the passing of the Land Bill 1998.
July 12, 1998: Then Buganda Katikkiro (premier) Joseph Ssemwogerere announces a period of mourning and accuses President Museveni of forgetting the significant role Buganda played in bringing him to power.
January 25, 2001: Kabaka sacks some of his ministers believed to support Dr Kizza Besigye.
December 10, 2004: Mwogeza Butamanya was installed as Buruuli traditional leader and Mr Museveni promises him an official car which has not been delivered to date.
March, 25, 2005: Negotiations between government and Mengo to secure the return of kingdom property and grant Federal government starts.
May 18, 2005: Government instead suggests the creation of regional tier system of governance amid resistance from Buganda.
June 20, 2005: Lukiiko partly agrees to regional tier but later shows it out.
April 11, 2006: Police deploys heavily at Nakasongola District headquarters following threats from some Baruuli to block Kabaka Mutebi from presiding over a Bika bya Baganda Football tournament.
April 15, 2007: Mengo opposes government's move to giveaway Mabira Forest to Mehta family and Kabaka offers his land in Kyaggwe (Mukono) to save the forest.
May 20, 2007: Buganda Lukiiko opposes direct federal (Federo) talks between Museveni and Kabaka.
On May 15, 2007: Lands Minister Omara Atubo says Buganda will not repossess her 9,000 square miles unless the Constitution and the Land Act are amended.
April 20, 2007: leaders from the 18 Buganda counties petition President Museveni to drop the giving away of Mabira Forest.
April 20, 2007: Mengo vows to fight the application of DDT by government to fight mosquitoes saying the chemical causes detrimental effects on humans.
July 2, 2007: Lukiiko (parliament) resolves to fight the resettlement of Balaalo in Kyankwazi in Kiboga District.
October 7, 2007: The Lukiiko rejects the proposed land law reforms saying they were designed to deprive the Kabaka and landlords of their rights over land.
November 2, 2007: Kabaka sets up a 14-member Central Civic Education Committee (CCEC) to fight the government land law reforms.
December 11, 2007: Mengo protests reports of un-mapping Buganda from national map.
December 16, 2007: Prof.Nsibambi refutes reports of un-mapping Buganda from the map.
December 19, 2007: The CCEC intensifies its campaign against land reforms across the kingdom.
December, 22, 2007: Mr Museveni writes an angry letter to Kabaka expressing his concern over what he described as growing "intrigue, bad faith and seditious tendencies" at Mengo.
December 29, 2007: Mengo replies Museveni's letter distancing herself from partisan politics and generating hatred against government.
- Police summons three kingdom officials including research minister David Mpanga, Daudi Zziwa and Meddie Nsereko (both CBS radio presenters) over allegations of inciting violence and promoting hatred against the government.
December 31, 2007: Kabaka reshuffles cabinet and brings new and brilliant youthful lawyers, indicating a shift from conservative, well-connected Baganda who dominated most positions at Mengo in the 1990s.
February 5, 2008: Mengo threatens to sue government over the controversial land reforms and delayed return of kingdom's property.
March 18, 2008: Museveni says that the kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro and Tooro are Luos, drawing criticism from the kingdoms particularly Buganda.
April 10, 2008: Kabaka asks all district bosses in Buganda to return kingdom property still under their custody with relevant documents and title deeds.
April 24, 2008: Mengo expresses fears about Kabaka's life following publication of cartoons and pictures in Nation Builder magazine showing him inside a tortoise grenade.
July 15, 2008: Lukiiko rejects Museveni's idea of encouraging Bibanja holders to form associations.
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