In 'Buganda cannot survive in a federal Uganda, Monitor 28/29(?) March', Mulindwa from Toronto once again displays his lack of comprehension of the core concept of federalism. Somehow, in his misconception, he thinks that with the coming of federalism all commercial ties between different regions cease to exist. That goods, for example from Busoga, cannot be sold in Toro. Nothing can be further from the truth. The transactions between Buganda and other regions are not decided by the fact that we have a unitary system but are dictated by the laws of economics. Even under the current system, there is nothing to stop the farmers in western Uganda from selling their produce in Kigali if there is demand for it there.
Mulindwa bases his analysis, if one can call it that, on his simplistic view of the presence or lack of natural resources. If this were true, then, according to his warped reasoning, countries like Switzerland or Japan, which are not endowed with such resources, would not be prospering. We know that the opposite is true.
Despite of what he is trying to impress on us, it is a well-known fact that Buganda is the most fertile region in Uganda. This is the main reason why non-Baganda still flow to the area. The Buganda kingdom still contributes massively to national development. A lot of taxes collected here go to projects in other regions. It seems Mulindwa has also never heard of VP Bukenya's Busiro North Development Foundation (BNDF) which, among other things, will soon help to meet Uganda's rice demand. Otherwise he would not be talking about Gulu rice being pumped down south.
Buganda has survived for hundreds of years and there is nothing to stop it from surviving in a federal Uganda. In fact the time before the assault on federalism in the mid-60s was so far the most prosperous, not only for Buganda but for the whole of Uganda. The President recently said that he is going to ensure that the population consolidate their power. Well, the best way to achieve that is through federalism.
Jonah Kasangwawo
From: Lugemwa FN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [FedsNet] Buganda cannot survive in a federal Uganda Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 08:18:45 -0800 (PST)
Buganda cannot survive in a federal Uganda
I have lived in a federal country for several years now and I have seen the advantages and disadvantages of federalism.
If Uganda changed into a federal state, all provinces should be aware of what resources they have - minerals, fixed assets, human resources and so on, and use them to the optimum.
When I look at Uganda, all her resources are spread out side Buganda. For example gold is in Karamoja, food is in western and eastern Uganda, rice is from northern Uganda, west and north have tourism. The Mountains of the Moon are in western Uganda. Northern Uganda has the most fertile land Uganda has. In universities in North America today, there are more northerners and westerners than Baganda students.
Buganda has no fertile land any more; that is why trucks have to bring matooke from west and east every day. We have a great deal of illiteracy in Buganda - that is lack of human resources.
Federalism is more than having a Kingdom, it is more than running your own affairs, it is to use the resources you have to the betterment of your province. I have a problem finding resources that can maintain Buganda.
Many Baganda want federo, and I fear that in NRM�s wishing to hold on to power, Federalism will be granted. As a Muganda I wonder if we can survive. Have those Baganda agreed with western Uganda that matooke will continue to flow to Kampala than Kigali for better returns? Are we sure that Gulu will continue to pump rice down south than sending it to Sudan where it can be paid for in dollars.
The Kampala market is a giant market, but it is based on urbanisation; if most people leave, do we even have the market or even the buying power to maintain those markets? Have we even considered the numerous buildings in Buganda urban centres that were built for renting that will be empty?
These questions must be answered before we change our nation from a unitary system.
Show us the research on these and other matters before you kill Buganda.
Edward Mulindwa Toronto
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
--------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.
_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
-------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
