Buganda Kingdom has invited several government officials to attend the second Buganda conference, which is scheduled to take place on December 17 at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The one-day conference that is expected to draw more than 1,000 delegates, will be used by Buganda to rally support for a federal system of government from other cultural institutions in the country.

The central government and Buganda have been at loggerheads since the former rejected the latter's calls for a federal system and instead opted for the regional tier system. The government this week tabled in Parliament the Regional Governments Bill 2009.

Buganda Kingdom Attorney General Apollo Makubuya who is also chairing the organising committee, said on Thursday that key government officials including ministers led by Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi are expected to attend.

"We have invited many government officials including ministers and MPs. Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and Vice President Gilbert Bukenya are among the invited guests," Mr Makubuya said at Mengo, the kingdom's seat. He said Busoga, Ankole, Tooro kingdoms and chiefs from northern Uganda have already confirmed their attendance.

Academicians invited

Mr Makubuya said several academicians and politicians from Nigeria, US and Uganda will participate in the event that aims at drawing the distinction among federalism, decentralisation and regional tier systems.

Others speakers who have confirmed attendance include Prof. George Kanyeihamba, Prof. Dani W. Nabudere and Democratic Party presidential hopeful, Mr Norbert Mao.

The event under the theme; 'Federalism; the Best Governance for Uganda', will be presided over by Kabaka Ronald Mutebi.

On the same day, the Kabaka is expected to launch the kingdom's Luganda newspaper called Ggwanga.

The kingdom believes the conference will also scrap political isolation that Baganda are demanding federalism for Buganda alone. The decision to rally other stakeholders is a reaction to the long-held notion that the kingdom's quest for federalism has been hampered mainly because it is seen as a lone region's battle.

Currently, the relationship between the central government and Buganda is strained following the former's rejection of a federal system, delayed return of ebyaffe and blocking of the Kabaka's visit to Kayunga District among others.

Make alliances

The inaugural Buganda Conference last year was addressed by renowned scholar, Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, who wondered why Baganda, the country's largest ethnic group, had failed to attain national political power. He advised officials at Mengo to make alliances with other regions if the kingdom is to achieve a federal status.

On the same day, Ms Betty Nambooze, Buganda Information Minister Peter Mayiga and his deputy Medard Lubega Segoona were arrested on allegations that they were promoting sectarianism and a hate campaign against non-Baganda.