Kampala — KAYUNGA district council has denied passing a resolution permitting the Banyala community living in the district to break away from the Buganda kingdom.

The denial came after the councillor for Kayunga town council, Hajji Muwanga Kisaaliita, complained in a council meeting that people were criticising them for passing a controversial resolution supporting Bugerere county to secede from Buganda.

He said the people suspected that it was on these grounds that Kabaka Ronald Mutebi was blocked from visiting Kayunga in September.

"This council should clarify to the public whether the resolution it passed allowed Bugerere county to break away from Buganda," Kisaaliita said.

The speaker, Rosemary Nakalawa, clarified that the Banyala misinterpreted the resolution, saying it only allowed them to exercise their cultural rights.

"We did not say Bugerere county breaks away from Buganda and block the Kabaka from visiting this area, which is part of his kingdom," Nakalawa said.

She said as district leaders, they did not have a hand in blocking the Kabaka from visiting the district, adding that they were also surprised by the action.

Nazigo sub-county councillor Ddamba Kanyike said leaders of the Banyala Cultural Trust told the council that they had got donors who had promised to give them over sh400m to develop their community.

The condition for the donation, he added, was that the district had to first recognise their existence as an independent community.

The councillors advised the Banyala to respect the cultural rights of other people who live in the district, saying it would maintain the good inter-tribal relationship that has existed for long.

When contacted, however, the Banyala spokesperson, James Rwebikire, said the resolution granted the Banyala power to be independent from the Buganda kingdom.