you have written a lot but with little substance. You don't even seem to have understood what I said, for you are continuing with your simplistic flawed interpretations of economic transactions and relationships.
Your first argument does not concern federalism but it still does not make any sense as it is. The money Ugandan farmers get from selling their coffee depends very much on the value of coffee on the international market. If prices fall, this affects their capability to 'buy cloth for their families, to pay school fees' et cetera. In that sense, Ugandans should indeed 'give a damn about foreign exchange', but maybe you are too shortsighted to realize this. This (fall in coffee price) was the reason which directly led some farmers to turn to other agricultural products like vanilla, because they could earn more money from that than growing coffee. It wasn't because of lack of UPC-built cooperatives as you claim.
Secondly, there is no reason why every Muganda should be scared about federalism because they've tested/tasted it and it was sweet (I refer you to my last posting on this point). On the contrary, unitarism in Uganda has been tried and tested for over three decades and it has taken us nowhere as regards 'cohesiveness of our nation'.
You must think that Batooro are dumb for you to say that 'it does not matter how much or how little' they earn from their commodities ! Producers will always look for the best market for their products, i.e. where they can maximize their profits. I therefore reiterate that even now, there is nothing to stop Batoro from selling their products in Kigali if they thought they would earn more. You are just scaremongering. Fact is, traders from Kampala get products from different regions to satisfy the demand in the city. I don't see why this would change under federalism.
Your statement about written agreements is total nonsense. If a person in Uganda can buy a product made in, let us say, Bavaria, a state in Germany, I don't see why a person in Hamburg (another state in Germany) must first have written agreements to buy the same product. But this is what you are suggesting will be the case between Buganda and other regions and I say it is baloney. This sort of transaction is dictated by demand and not any sort of agreements. Maybe you are still thinking in terms of restrictive communist organisation.
The reason you gave for non-Baganda coming to Buganda is the most ridiculous I've ever heard and is devoid of any logic. 'If someone is trying to kill you, run to him' !!! What ? People from Luweero should have run to Gulu or Lira when they were being massacred by the UPC troops ! Look, non-Baganda did not start coming to Buganda yesterday (your allusion to the Kony conflict is therefore irrelevant and immaterial). They have been coming to the Kingdom for decades because it is the most fertile region in Uganda, both agriculturally and jobwise. Period !
Your statement about hospitals is also nonsensical. If the sole reason for going to another area (Buganda) was to visit a hospital, why does one have to settle there after receiving treatment ?
I had hoped that with the coming of 2004 you had dropped one of your worst vices, i.e. telling lies. But it looks like my hopes were in vain. The formal resinstatement of Kabaka Mutebi II took place in 1993. If my memory serves me right, I was not on ugandanet then; I don't even think ugandanet was in existence at the time. For you to claim that I had called you a Buganda hater because you had pleaded 'very passionately to Buganda to refuse the reinstatement' on a forum that did not exist is to tell a blatant LIE.
Lastly, for the thousandth time, federalism is not about 'splitting up Uganda' or 'isolating Buganda' or such rubbish. Can't you get this in your little brain ? Under federalism, Buganda, or any other part of Uganda for that matter, will still be very much part of Uganda but in charge of its own internal affairs. Not too long ago I gave you the simplest description of federalism from my neighbour's son, but you seem to either have ignored it or misunderstood it completely. Federalism is about uniting different regions. 'UNITING', do you hear ? If it wasn't for federalism, Canada, the country where you reside, would not be a single country but most probably two or even more countries. In order for Uganda to freely remain as an entity, we need federalism and we need it NOW. Otherwise we face the danger of this forced 'cohesiveness' named unitarism eventually splitting up our country.
Kasangwawo
From: "Edward Mulindwa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "nabatanzi florence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: ugnet_: OMWAAMI KASANGWAWO
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 07:12:14 -0400
Mwaami Kasangwawo
I must thank you very much for yours in response to my comments in Monitor under the heading "Buganda can not survive"
The fact that a good number of people have responded to me on this issue, I
am going to use this response to try and see that I cover as much ground as
possible may be I can make my position much clearer to those who are looking
for my true stand. It is however very disappointing that a number of
Ugandans have decided to go the bigotry route than looking into the eyes of
this anti Buganda federalism monster that is threatening the entire
cohesiveness of our nation. To those I say, please try to elevate the level
of this discussion by getting out of the tribal gutter that Museveni and NRM
have built their leadership upon.
Kasangwawo. The danger in your posting is to take everything in Uganda for
granted, or as a given. You seem to have it all wrapped up and going to
work. This is a mistake that Uganda leaders have done in the past and it is
disturbing that the history of our nation has taught you nothing at all in
taking every thing for granted. And I will give you an example of this kind
of mistake. When NRM came to power, they thought that growing coffee in
Uganda was a given, they thought that Ugandans grow coffee for their nation
to earn foreign exchange, the fact of the matter is that Ugandans actually
do not give a dam about foreign exchange, they grow coffee to get money to
buy cloth for their families, to pay school fees for their kids and all
daily necessities. NRM decided not only to stop paying farmers in time for
their coffee but destroyed the Cooperative societies that UPC government/s
had built from village to village. Ugandans not only stopped to grow coffee
but for the first time in Uganda history the coffee trees started to be axed
down, and replaced by fast growing food/s like Cassava, maize and potatoes
and so on. Again NRM took the growth of staple food for granted that they
started the barter trade only based on food grown by Ugandans, NRM went to
Eastern Uganda and built the Silos, the huge food storages to use in
collection of its food for barter trade. The population responded by growing
huge amounts of millet and processing it into Malwa and selling it to get
the money for their cause.
Today NRM has the storages and they are empty and dead as its barter trade policy.
Secondly, you are taking too much assumption/s in your Federalism structure,
and you want Buganda to base on those assumptions for her survival. That is
what must scare every Muganda out there about this federalism, for it is not
based on tried and tested philosophy but on assumptions. Federalists are
pushing Buganda to the same fate as NRM's barter trade system.
Under federalism goods from Busoga can be sold to Toro that is a fact, but
Federalism comes with another price, Toro and Busoga will have the ability
to implement programs in their areas funded by monies from their
commodities. And those Basoga and Batoro will go back and must sit down to
plan not only how productive to use their hard earned Shilling but to get
the best Shilling out of their commodities. And if Batoro find out that they
are going to get even one shilling more by selling to Kigali they will sell
to Kigali than toBusoga, just for the fact that their monies is going right
back to Fort Portal. Today Batoro have not endeavored to study that market
for a simple fact that it does not matter how much or little they earn from
their commodities, the governance in Uganda today dictate that monies must
go to Kampala. The Batoro have responded by either moving entirely to
Kampala through massive urbanization, or by daily commuting between Fort
Portal and Kampala to access those Shillings. So to them no one cares how
much they sale for it really does not affect them directly. The use of those
finances is a factor in what areas sell their commodities, that is why
although Ontario has a common boarder with both Michigan and Quebec, we are
selling more to Michigan that Quebec, for we get a higher return from our
sales. Had we not controlled those monies from the sales, we would care less
on where we sell for Ottawa takes the money any way.
Whether we want or not, federalism must change these phenomenons, and
Buganda politics which is based especially on bigotry against other regions,
as clearly seen on these forums, one must be sure that other regions forced
into Federalism are willing to (a) do business with Buganda and (b) whether
Buganda will even have enough funds to buy those commodities. These are very
essential matters that smart persons must study before splitting up Uganda,
and Buganda must not only study them but must get written agreements from
those regions, testifying to the fact that they will sell those commodities
to Buganda if and when federalism is implemented in Uganda. And as a
Muganda, who knows that Baganda federalists have not only taken no step what
so ever to these negotiations, but have not got even the body to negotiate
them, I must be scared of the federalism based on mere assumption/s.
I was however very disturbed to note that you are assuming that Buganda is
the most fertile land in Uganda, that is very delusional. All over the world
it is a known fact that flat lands are the most fertile lands, that is why
Canada's agriculture is mainly in the Western Provinces. If you took the
time to study where Amin's government invested massive agriculture from
Agriculture and Live Stock development projects funded by Libya it was in
Northern Uganda, by massive farms like Zeu. Northern Uganda right from Kyoga
to Arua is the most fertile land in Uganda, only that Northerners have
failed to utilize that land. But let us not even forget that the monies from
that land has no direct effect to the local population for although Zeu
pumped so much money to Uganda as a nation, it is still a one street ghost
town.
Kasangwawo non-Baganda do not flow into Buganda for her fertility, that is
pure nonsense. Non-Baganda come to Buganda for several reasons, but mostly
for security, If I was a Mutoro and the King of Buganda is on a killing
rampage in Toro for land acquisition, I surely would end up in Buganda to
survive. If UPDF which is mainly Baganda officers, are killing Northerners
left right and center, if it is a government policy to evacuate the entire
population massively from homes to camps permanently, surely a Northerner
will migrate to Buganda, and if you look carefully at this sequence one
would find out that although non Baganda migrated to Buganda but agriculture
stayed in their areas, that is why Uganda's food has to be ferried from West
and East to feed the migrating population. If we kill urbanization by
promoting agriculture which is the main employer of Uganda, that food flow
into Buganda will not only cease but Buganda will not even have the buying
power for it.
Health issues as well brought non Baganda to Buganda, we used the Uganda
taxes to build the major hospitals in Buganda, and if one needs proper
treatment had to come to Buganda. This phenomenon continued up and until
when Obote decided to build a national infrastructure. Obote got Uganda 66
evenly distributed hospitals, only that he wanted to build them into 3
phases so we got the first 22 then Amin interrupted the system. Obote 2
wanted to build the next 22 but Museveni had started the killing spree in
Luwero by bombing ambulances with patients in them. Let us as well remember
that referral hospitals out side Buganda had been started to reverse that
trend.
Mwaami Kasangwawo Federalism is a very complicated matter. Good as it sounds
it has ramifications that neither you nor Mengo has even bothered to look
at. If you or any body has looked into all these and other scenarios facing
an isolated Buganda all I am asking for is to avail to us those studies. Let
me accept that it will go your way and regions will sell as they are selling
today, let me accept that Buganda even will have the buying power when
isolated, what happens to Buganda if those two do not go your way?
What if the assumptions do not go through? What happens to Buganda next? And
all we are asking for as Baganda is the proof that we will survive as an
isolated entity. Show us the numbers.
What Uganda needs today is leadership coupled with a nationalistic
population. The danger we have today in Uganda is professed right here in
this forum, many of us can never discuss Uganda issues as a nation, we
follow the tribal thread, the Langis the Acholis, the Kup Sabinys the on and
on, in fact this is where we are today, we are at federalism which is
discussed at a level of only Buganda, the King, and Kingdom. This must be a
national discussion. But seeing that the entire North is at war and this
topic pops up, makes one wonder the motive.
But hey if you are dealing with federalists who believe that Museveni is
working towards a population which has consolidated powers, expect any thing
for it is possible to happen in Uganda. let me conclude by begging that you
back off in the call for federalism in Uganda, for we have a power hungry
government in Uganda, which go all the way to remain in power, and giving
Uganda a half backed federalism is a very possibility, and that will be
using a good thing for a bad result. let me remind you as well that it was
my self who was pleading very passionately to Buganda to refuse the
reinstatement of the Kingdom by NRM, and you Kasangwawo called me a Buganda
hatter. NRM has turned our Kingdom into a very shameful institution, and
that is the lowest we never wanted to reach. Only if you listened. And I
pray today that if you care about Buganda today, please back off the
federalism issue for Buganda has everything to loose, and NRM will make sure
it does. As I stated to Mwami Kibuuka many years ago, Please be very care
full with what you are asking for, for you will do more harm to Buganda than
you ever dreamt.
Edward Mulindwa In Hong-Kong
The Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
----- Original Message ----- From: "jonah kasangwawo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 12:53 PM Subject: ugnet_: RE: [FedsNet] Buganda cannot survive in a federal Uganda
> I dare the Monitor to print my following response to Mulindwa !
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
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