Mr Muwonge,
Mr. Ssegawa seems to have made the same 'classis' mistake of equating federo to 'Ebyaffe'. In fact, bwino indicates that "Ebyaffe" was very much in vogoue in the 1950s.
The major problem we have today, is that even the 'educated' or the 'elite' ('twaasoma') are quite ignorant of Uganda's recent history (1900 to 1975). One of the major reasons is the lack of an easily accessible general text. Some general texts exist, but being 'regional' in scope, they are rather "dilute", and very economical of detail, if not the truth itself in a some cases.
A few Ugandans (that I am aware of) have made pathetically feeble attempt to rectify the situation all seem to have major axes to grind making their writings and efforts nearly totally worthless in terms of time or money. (It pains me to no end, to have to agree with some reviews I have seen.) .
Thankfully, there are some rare exceptions to this general barrenness, of course.
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Andrew Muwonge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "J Ssemakula" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: ugnet_: Kingdoms Have No Place in New EA-Mike Ssegawa
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:49:31 +0200
It is good to see the youth join the discourse.This indeed gives us
opportubnity to clarify things to them. The young man says that The
statement that "monarchical rule favours lineage rather than merit" needs to
be attended. Leadership based on these considerations would halt progress".
These assertations may need to be attended. Ssegawa may take liberty to
remmember that in Buganda only the kingship (Obwa Kabaka) is hereditary, the
baami ba Kabaka being men appointed on the basis of merit, trust and
experience. In fact Buganda was run by the Katikkiro and a very very able
Saza Chief system. Ssegawa may also help himself to the information readily
availabe information that 'Mornachical Britain' is the greatest country in
the world (whatever that means) so much so, that when Britain says yes,
America goes ahead. To put it an other way, monarchy is not perfect, but the
other systems that we have experimented with since 1966 whem kingdoms were
abolished, have done well either (or have they?). So, my friend Ssegawa,
draw the attention of your neibours who distrust kingdoms to Michael
7:'JUDGE NOT'.
Lastly, the creation of the African Union or the East African Federation may
not necessarily lead to the dismantling of the federal systems in South
Africa and Nigeria any more than the going of Britain into the Europen Union
leads to the dismantling of the Scotish devolution. I am informed that
Ssegawa is a big boy and he knows that in developed Britain, Scotland not
only has its own currency, it has got its own system of Laws and its own
parliament.
So, Ssegawa, are we heading back to the steriotype African
double-standars-playing-field commonality where we don't want 'North West
Europe and North America' to force ruling and governance concepts onto us,
but also we despise or do not want to give a chance to our own indigenous
systems? Excuse me a minute! 'Political Governance Sustainability' in Uganda
may require the addressing of FEDERO, especially given that even our
powerful Mr. Gun-Rule has failed to deliver Poverty Solutions and Peace to
his close friends and relatives who among other things are under threat of
Ebola, HIV/AIDS, medicine resistant strains of Malaria and TB, Unemployment
and proper clothing to the soldiers and police who do parade barefoot -or
footed).
Muwonge Kkojja W�bangi
-----Original Message-----
From: J Ssemakula [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: 18 February 2003 02:30
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Fwd: ugnet_: Kingdoms Have No Place in New EA-Mike Ssegawa
----Original Message Follows----
From: Omar Kezimbira
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: ugnet_: Kingdoms Have No Place in New EA-Mike Ssegawa
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 13:41:14 -0800 (PST)
MAILBOX - EAST AFRICAN-NAIROBI-KENYA
Monday, February 17, 2003
---------------------------------
Kingdoms Have No Place in New EA
History has it that the Buganda kingdom had a strong influence over its
neighbours for more than two centuries before the arrival of the white man.
Unfortunately, the past one hundred years have not favoured my people.
Although times have changed, the claim of ebyaffe (what belongs to us) by
the Baganda people is justifiable. They were unconstitutionally stripped of
their federal status. This is an injustice that needs to be addressed.
On the face of it, a federal government in Uganda would be good for
development and democracy and would allow different groups to preserve their
culture.
But the reality is that the system would be out of place in present-day
Uganda. For one,
Second, Uganda belongs to the East African Community, which is moving
towards a federation that could integrate the region and give it one voice
in a fast growing world economy.
It is good to rectify a past injustice, but sometimes a little sacrifice
is necessary. In my opinion, Buganda nursed and mothered Uganda. Let us
sacrifice the "Big Kingdom" for the good of a united Uganda, which in
reality has the potential to benefit all East Africans, instead of clinging
to peanuts meant only for us.
MIKE SSEGAWA
Don Bosco College, Moshi
