New Vision (Kampala)
1 November 2009
Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said he has no problem with the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
Press secretary Tamale Mirundi, in a release of Saturday, said Museveni attributed the current stand off between the Government and Buganda to politicians who want to use the kingdom to undermine the NRM.
The President noted that the NRM loves the Kabaka and Buganda. "Even the Kabaka knows we love him. The NRM is the only organisation that restored the kingdom and it is the only party that can protect it."
Museveni said the NRM leaders tell the Kabaka the truth.
"People praise the Kabaka 'oliggwa wendigwa', and praises like Ssabasajja Kabaka awangaale, but they are traitors. I urge you to guard against them. If there is any problem between me and the Kabaka, we can pick a phone and talk," Museveni said.
He explained that it was not his intention to talk about his recent meeting with the Kabaka, but he had to respond. "If you keep quiet for a long time, people will blame you in future if problems that would be prevented in time occur."
Museveni said Betty Nambooze and others in the opposition were using CBS to abuse and undermine the NRM and its leaders.
"They claimed Museveni wants to grab Buganda's land. When the accusations failed, they picked on Kabaka, that the NRM is fighting the Kabaka." he said.
Museveni called on the Baganda to ensure that politicians do not interfere in the kingdom's activities.
"Mixing politics and culture caused the 1966 crisis. We should not allow such tensions to happen again."
The President made the remarks while presiding over a fundraising for a residential house for catholic priests in Bikira parish near Kyotera town in Masaka Diocese. He contributed sh10m and pledged more financial assistance.
Museveni also declined a request by the Masaka Bishop, John Baptist Kaggwa, to pardon the management of Mengo's radio, CBS, which the Government switched off during the recent riots over Kabaka's failure to visit Bugerere.
"I have visited Rwakitura and State House many times. I know you are a kind man who can forgive. When a child annoys his parent he is forgiven. We ask you to forgive CBS because people cannot communicate with other and do not attend burials," Kaggwa said.
Museveni said CBS was not closed over birango ( personal announcements), but was creating tension, spreading lies and undermining the unity.
Referring to the Bible which states that the tongue is fire and what comes out of the mouth defiles man, Museveni stressed the need to control what people say.
He also criticised those advocating for CBS to be reopened, wondering why they were not condemning the station for its mistakes. "A good judge must first criticise the one they are defending and thereafter ask for forgiveness," Museveni said.
"If you are forgiven without understanding your mistakes you may be encouraged to commit more dangerous ones," he added.
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