Cyprian Musoke
29 June 2009
Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has criticised Mengo for alleging that by expanding and administering Kampala, the Government was taking away Buganda's land.
Addressing a press conference at State House Entebbe yesterday, the President stressed that only the administration of the city's affairs would go to the central Government.
"Kampala, under the Constitution, is the capital city of Uganda and because of that, it has a separate status. It is in Buganda but will be administered by the central Government," he said.
The Buganda government had advocated for the creation of Mengo municipality from Kampala. There was, therefore, need to add other areas to Kampala, he pointed out.
"Because getting Mengo out of Kampala was Buganda's idea, we agreed with the people who represented Mengo in the talks that we shall get some other territory to compensate for Mengo municipality."
He said that, anyway, nobody was taking Kampala away. "I don't see any problem at all. In any case, nobody is going to export Kampala. Kampala is here and will be managed by the central Government."
He urged Buganda to take advantage of the capital's benefits rather than considering it a problem.
"I wish Kampala was in Nyabushozi near Rwakitura, I would be a rich man," he joked, noting that about three million people buy food from around Kampala.
"This is a chance for the people of Buganda. It is, therefore, sad to hear a leader speaking in the name of the people of Buganda presenting Kampala as a problem."
The President was referring to a 26-page statement by Nsubuga Nsambu, Buganda's deputy prime minister. In the statement, Nsambu warned the Government against the proposal to take over the direct administration of the capital.
Nsambu warned of "dire consequences" if the Government went ahead with the plan.
"Buganda will not just sit and watch as government takes all our land in the pretext of improving management of Kampala city," he wrote.
Local Government minister Adolf Mwesige last Tuesday tabled the "Kampala Capital City Bill, 2009" which spells out a transformed management of the city.
The Bill also defines the new boundaries of the capital, swallowing Kira town council and Entebbe municipality in Wakiso district and extending into Lake Victoria.
Asked about reports of a new rebel group in northern Uganda, the President said those arrested would be dealt with by the courts of law.
No rebel group, he stressed, will ever again succeed to take power in Uganda because the army is now fully developed.
He allayed the fears of northern MPs that they will be branded collaborators of the new rebel group ahead of the 2011 elections.
"If I am an MP and I know I am not involved in any of these schemes, I would sleep soundly in my bed because nobody will touch you without evidence," he said.
On electoral reforms, Museveni said the NRM had undertaken the necessary reforms, like putting in place transparent ballot boxes, as well as counting votes and declaring results immediately after polling, to avoid theft.
"No system is more democratic than this one."
The only remaining hurdle, he added, was the computerisation of the voter register to avoid multiple registration, which he said the opposition in Kampala and the North was using to cheat.
On oil, he said there was no conclusive agreement with Iran, explaining that the Government was still talking to several groups interested in setting up a refinery with a view of having a 50% stake.
About the Lord's Resistance Army, he said there would be no more peace talks and Uganda would not launch another offensive into the DRC. They would, however, maintain intelligence squads in eastern Congo that work with the Congolese army to deal with the LRA remnants, adding that they had captured a lot of rebels lately.
"This business of killing civilians can be dealt with if there is cooperation between us and the DRC government," he said.
Speaking about the stand-off over the Busoga Kyabazingaship, Museveni said he would meet the 11 traditional chiefs again and advise them against fighting.
"Those fighting are wasting time. What they should do is to elect a Kyabazinga who unites all of them. They should concentrate on a win-win situation."
On former UN diplomat Olara Otunnu, who wants to return and contest for president, Museveni said he was free to come back.
"I heard he had got a Namibian passport. I am sure he can throw it away and get his Ugandan passport. I am not even sure why he ran away," he said.
"I don't know if he has any case (to answer) but if he has, they can even look for him internationally through Interpol so I think it makes no difference."
Talking about the stand-off in the Inspector General of Government's office, he said he appointed the deputy IGG, Raphael Bakku, to take charge and there should be no crisis until the Constitutional Court rules on Faith Mwondha's fate.
Asked about Somalia, Museveni said he supported America's action of supplying arms to the government in Mogadishu as long as it was done under the African Union and United Nations framework.
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