Given federo,parties; what do you pick?
By David Ouma Balikowa
Hello Mr PresidentThe other day some one amused us when he wondered why it would still take a whole Ugandan minister to launch a mere borehole in some village.
In this era of economic progress, ministers would be launching major roads, factories, schools and hospitals. Launching boreholes should by now be the job of village chiefs or parish councillors, not even district leaders.
I was still thinking about this when I read in The Economist this week a report on the recent march in Kampala by people demanding a federal state for Buganda, with Kampala the capital city included.
The march was one of Uganda�s biggest. But not surprising, it did not attract the attendance of even a single Central Government minister from Buganda.
In Ugandan politics, a minister�s precious time is perhaps better spent launching boreholes than standing up to be counted on sensitive political issues, even when they share the opinion of the marchers.
In many parts of the developing world, dissent against the mainstream ruling ideology is often met with strong reprimands.
Keeping in line with this, Moses Kigongo the vice chairman of the Movement quickly rose to the occasion, reminding ministers to keep quiet about the demand for a federal status (commonly known as federo) by Buganda. The Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi added to his voice.
Behind the reprimand, however, the establishment ought to have been jolted by the historic march. The women and men at the power block could be burning candles throughout the night, trying to understand the real politics behind this federo march.
But if the march presents a real dilemma for President Yoweri Museveni, there is plenty of room for him to manoeuvre his way out.
In 1993, prior to the Constituent Assembly elections, a law on the re-instatement of cultural institutions and leaders was rushed through the legislature to enable the enthronment of Buganda�s Kabaka (king) Ronald Mutebi. The motive of the law got exposed when an! other ro yal tried to use it to claim his throne in Ankole. He was rudely reminded that on top of the enabling law, he would still require a referendum in Ankole to back his claim to the royal throne.
The truth then emerged that the law had been designed to deliver Buganda votes and other areas where the claim to the royal throne was less politically mined.
The return of ebyaffe (Buganda Kingdom property) became such an effective tool in the 1996 presidential election campaign remembered for its strange assortment of negative appeals. Museveni postured himself as the redeemer of the glory of Buganda. He had restored the monarchy, an institution his arch enemy, Uganda People�s Congress (UPC) had abolished in 1966.
But with time, sections of Buganda started realising that a king without a kingdom and political power was byoya byanswa (fallen white ants� wings).
With the 1993 installation of the Kabaka, the people of Buganda realised that the delicious white ant had been taken away, leaving them with feathery wings in their hands!
Disenchantment set in.
President Museveni tried to construct a Buganda Charter (a consortium of districts in Buganda) to appease them but the desired effect was not realised.
This time around, Buganda seems to be acting the early bird by staking out its neck boldly way ahead of the 2006 general elections. If the Movement government were still not about to open the prison door and let parties free, they would rather demand federo.
By coincidence, the federo march came around when the �third term� (some people prefer to call it fifth term) debate for President Museveni was still hanging in the air.
But if federo and political parties were to be granted simultaneously, the �third term� could emerge as a third outcome, killing three birds with one stone. If you want to run away with a precious item in a busy street, you toss a bundle of money in the air. As people scramble for the notes, the escape is just a walkover.
If federo and parties were tossed in the air ! like the notes, some of Museveni�s critics, especially in Buganda would be at a loss which one to grab first. Or would they want both?
Those that grab federo may well discover that it is, after all, another byoya byanswa when it is too late to turn around and rush for parties.
In the last three successive mayoral elections in Kampala, the Movement has lost to the multipartyists. With the waning popularity of the Movement, President Museveni could be feeling that Kampala is, after all, �lost� territory.
In a decade to come, they city will probably change hands from Mayor Ssebaana Kizito to Hajj Nasser Sebaggala, both in the Democratic Party (DP) camp. In effect, he could as well let Kampala go without losing much political ground.
There are some fears about federo for Buganda, with Kampala included. This must have a lot to do with stereotype thinking against Buganda, nurtured by successive regimes.
We probably could begin by asking what Kampala gains by being under the Central Government. Other than the meagre taxes Kampala City Council (KCC) collects from markets, ground rent and trading licenses, the big taxes go into the national treasury.
Over the years, almost nothing has been remitted back to KCC. Which could still be the case when KCC reverts to Mengo (the seat of the Buganda �government�).
If KCC tried to increase taxes, Mengo would suffer the brunt of the city dwellers. It would then have to sit around the negotiating table with the Central Government to try and get back a small portion of the fat taxes the Central Government collects from the big businesses in the city.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) is not about to lose Kampala�s big taxes to federo even when it is finally granted.
And let no one be deceived that non-Baganda will be chased when Kampala reverts to Mengo. To be exact, that is crap. A lot of land in Kampala belongs to the Kabaka. But Mengo is dishing out land titles to all people without discrimination. Many Baganda who own land are looking for a good pr! ice for their land, not a Muganda buyer. Simple market economics.
Let no one also be deceived that non-Baganda will not win seats as councillors. Mengo has time immemorial accommodated non-Baganda chiefs or leaders.
Lastly, those expecting heaven when Kampala goes to Mengo would be better advised to trim down their expectations. KCC will always move with its old problems wherever it goes. Vices like exhortation could even intensify. KCC will also always need the Central Government.
Caption:
A cross-section of Baganda who turned up at the International Conference Centre to demand federalism (File photo).
February 13, 2003 12:12:04
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