For those who might not know, the expression 'Pandora's Box' is steeped in Greek mythology and relates to surprises which are generally unpleasant and in the form of trouble, but sometimes pleasant. A legislative act may, for example, turn out to be a Pandora's Box of surprises, unpleasant and pleasant, and as Ugandans have lately witnessed, say in the case of Banyala and Baruli, reckless politicians very often open such boxes.

Pandora was a woman sent by Zeus, the supreme deity of the ancient Greeks, as a punishment for the human race because Prometheus, the Titan, had stolen fire from heaven. Zeus gave Pandora a box that contained 'all human ills', which ills escaped when she opened it. But there was also 'hope' in the box, which remained, and hope is the strand on which Uganda's stability hangs today.

When I visited former Yugoslavia during the reign of Marshal Tito in 1965, the future of the minorities after Tito was the greatest threat that country faced at the time. When Tito subsequently died, the volcano erupted. Divisions and atrocities engulfed that region, and the resultant trials are still before the courts. Such happenings are probably unknown to the politicians in Uganda who are tirelessly striving to divide the population instead of uniting it.

Back to Pandora. Only the other day, a friend of mine from Ibanda in western Uganda drew my attention to a news item in which an MP from Buikwe in Kyaggwe, Mukono jokingly asked whether he should also wake up one day and declare himself 'Ssabakunja', a local term for natives of that the old Kyaggwe County.

He was of course referring to the proliferating self-styled or (in some cases) politically but clandestinely-appointed 'cultural leaders' in the country.

Ibanda is the home of the 'Batagwenda' who in Ugandan history, were Baganda who fled and settled there during the ancient tribal wars. They and their neighbouring 'Banyaruguru' are now culturally Banyankole, President Museveni's tribe.

When I returned to my friend after reading the 'Ssabakunja' piece, he asked whether the President would object to the creation of 'Ssabatagwenda' and whether there was still room for such cultural leaders. I told him that I did not think he would as long as the Batagwenda did not declare themselves a kingdom, continued to vote for the ruling NRM party and pay allegiance to him (the President).

As to the number of cultural leaders, I did not think there was a limit except in Ankole where they will not accept one. However, presidential adviser and newspaper columnist, John Nagenda, had in one of his recent pieces hinted at 30 leaders who were still to be crowned.

While my friend was still arguing that "if the Banyala are now freely referring to themselves as a kingdom with a king (without a territory), the Batagwenda, with their rich history, should also be allowed a kingdom."

I came across another related news item in Daily Monitor of October 27.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, had accused the government of 'fuelling conflicts in society'. Referring to the stalled election of a new traditional leader for Busoga, Ms Kadaga was quoted saying that the government seemed to be taking sides in the crisis, "something which might cause conflicts and hatred in the kingdom". She was addressing the International Parliamentary Union meeting in Kampala.

Coming from such a high-ranking person who is also a leading member of the ruling party, Ms Kadaga's remarks must be taken seriously. The obvious interference by politicians in cultural matters that should be a preserve of the kingdoms and society at large doesn't augur well for the future of stability in this country.

Mr Kiwanuka is a journalist and retired foreign service officer