Mengo officials have announced that they are organising a conference for Buganda on federalism, to take place this December. The major aims of the conference according to Mengo Minister Apollo Makubuya as quoted in the media incredibly include "marketing federalism to the rest of the country", and "explaining the difference between federalism and the regional tier", etc!

We had occasion some weeks ago, to share some thoughts on the essence of federalism, and of what Mengo is actually up to, on these pages. The antics from the Mengo officials, and the discussions in the Lukiiko last Monday, underline yet again most unfortunately, how far the cabal is prepared to go in sustaining the charade that what they stand for is a federalist form of government.

The fact very simply is that what the hard-line cabal in Mengo actually believes in is absolute monarchy and a political Kabaka. Wananchi must resist and expose the camouflaged intentions of the cabal, and call its bluff.

The merits and demerits of federalism in itself aside, when Mr. Makubuya and his group push for federalism, what will we actually be dealing with? Is the officialdom of a cultural institution now at the forefront of pushing for a federal system of government? Is this genuinely mistaken and misplaced zeal or are we dealing with the deliberate and careful calculations of consummate political actors?

But suppose the group is being very deliberately political, should it not stop hiding behind the smokescreen of a "cultural institution"? Should the whole group not simply declare their individual and collective intentions to run for political office - or, indeed to openly seek political power by all means possible? In the alternative, if they refuse to come clean and continue with the charade, how should Buganda and Uganda relate and deal with them?

The people of Buganda and Uganda should demand of Makubuya and company an explanation on what business a cultural institution has instructing on federalism, regional tier, etc. The people of Buganda and Uganda should in fact explain to the Makubuya group that the cultural institution could very well exist under a federal arrangement - just as it would thrive under the regional tier, unitary, republican and other political arrangements or dispensations.

The people should ask the cabal in Mengo to stop the pretence that any entity or individual in Uganda is above the law. The people for instance, could consider telling the cabal to stop the unprincipled mystification of the closure of CBS.

The record should be set straight: CBS was playing a reckless, irresponsible and highly inflammatory political game - most certainly not expected of the mouthpiece of a cultural institution. Amazingly, this is the radio that the Government of Uganda is supposed to re-open at the behest of Mengo - "to prove genuine commitment to dialogue"!

While we are at it, if there is anybody who should be sued by CBS staff for loss of livelihood, it is those who misled and misdirected the staff - not the Government of Uganda.

Now, is the Mengo group taking responsibility for the riots that rocked the City - the ones Prof. Joe Oloka Onyango described as an uprising - so that those arrested participating in the riots are released unconditionally - "to demonstrate genuine commitment to dialogue"?

Some members of the cabal declared during Monday's Lukiiko: "the Kabaka should never speak to that man" - "that man" here referring to President Yoweri Museveni!

Additionally, it is even mooted in the councils of the cabal that elected Ugandan leaders may not pronounce themselves on issues of their concern!

The only useful dividend from this particular point is that it exposes the dearth of the ideals of a democratic government in Mengo. The people of Buganda and Uganda should denounce the entire Mengo operation that it is potentially more harmful to the vital interests of Buganda and Uganda than the ultra-reactionary forerunner of Kabaka Yekka in 1960: Emabega wa Lukiiko ne Namulondo.

Today's motley operation in Mengo is the real enemy of our royalty and monarchy. If the Mengo operation continues unrepentant, then the people of Buganda and Uganda may have to think very quickly of what needs to be done to preserve our royalty and monarchy from the destructive clutches of the cabal.

Whatever happens, the first task of the people of Buganda and Uganda under the circumstances, is to widely share amongst themselves knowledge of the absolutely fundamental difference between a political and non-political king.