Kabaka Ronald Mutebi's cabinet convenes today to prepare a formal response to President Museveni's Tuesday address to Parliament in which the he announced a series of measures to keep the Buganda king and other traditional leaders from politics.

Buganda's reaction to Mr Museveni's speech has been guarded as top kingdom officials express apprehension about speaking on the matter until a coalesced position has been reached.

Mr Medard Lubega, the kingdom's deputy information minister, said yesterday that the cabinet will convene at 2:30pm to debate the President's proposals. The development is telling of the uneasy position Mengo,the seat of Buganda Kingdom, finds itself as an immediate solution to the current impasse with President Museveni's government remains naught.

Mr Museveni defended the government's decision to bar the Kabaka from visiting Kayunga District, informing Parliament that his government would soon table a Bill in Parliament to enforce Article 246 of the Constitution that bars cultural leaders from politics and said cultural institutions should concentrate on preserving "morals and languages."

It is not clear how the kingdom intends to respond to the President's recommendations let alone mobilise against those it is opposed to.

Officials including Katikkiro John Baptist Walusimbi, Attorney General Apollo Makubuya and Research Minister Daudi Mpanga were involved in several consultative meetings to draft a guide to today's meeting.

The consultations reportedly involved the Kabaka who remains holed up at his Banda Palace ever since the decision by the government to block him from visiting Kayunga, where the Banyala are mooting a breakaway from Buganda, led to widespread violent riots in many parts of Buganda which claimed at least 24 lives.

Mr Lubega said yesterday that although he "cannot pre-empt" what the Mengo cabinet will resolve, "we are still pushing our demands".

"The President and the government need to consider the best interests of the country," he said in a telephone interview. "The government should tone down and not come out with aggression."

However, it appears Mengo is back to the drawing board following President Museveni's remarks that his government would set up Regional Tier governments among willing regions in the next financial year, a matter which would effectively bury Buganda's quest for a federal system of government. The demand for 'federo' is a subject the Kabaka and Buganda officials have been outspoken about and a matter the government will cite as political engagement by cultural institutions.

It is understood the kingdom will take a hard stance by announcing it would not get involved in any further talks if the federo subject is closed. It was still unclear yesterday if and when Mr Museveni would finally meet Kabaka Mutebi in an effort to reach middle ground with the country's largest cultural institution.

Mr Lubega said such a meeting would take place "as long as there is a talking environment."

"Let the environment calm down," said Mr Lubega. "But I know they will meet and talk. They will."

The minister said he could not speak on Mutebi's behalf when asked why the Kabaka has failed to respond to repeated telephone calls from President Museveni but said: "Just like the President, the Kabaka has many things [to do]."

The kingdom finds itself in an uncomfortable position, as the closure of its official radio, CBS, used as an effective tool for mobilisation, enters its eighth day today. Yesterday, however, preparations for Kabaka Mutebi's visit to parts of his kingdom were in high gear, as officials insisted his programme of touring Wakiso on Friday, Butambala on Saturday and Masaka on Sunday remain as scheduled.

The Kabaka is expected to travel to Wakiso on Friday and Masaka on Sunday.

Internal Affairs Minister Kirunda Kivejinja said yesterday that the government would not bar Kabaka Mutebi from travelling because "there is no controversy."

"We don't have any problem with him travelling," he said, "Let him go. There is nobody in those areas who is demonstrating or contesting autonomy."

At Kitovu Cathedral Church, the faithful were seen making quick renovations on the church, erecting stalls amid tight Police deployment. The sight of uniformed officers has left many residents anxious and tense especially in Nyendo/Senyage Division, Masaka Municipality.

Kabaka Mutebi is expected to officiate the opening of Kitovu Priest's dining hall at Kitovu Cathedral on Sunday in Centenary Celebrations to mark the church's existence.

The District Police Commander, Mr Moses Mwanga, said the Police are inspecting the area, while "more policemen" will be deployed in Masaka town and in the suburbs "especially where security has long been threatened by hooliganism."