Listers,
there has been continuing talk by people, including journalists, who have misconstrued the Kabaka's words to mean that he was asking for powers for himself. Those who are knowledgeable about the culture of the Baganda will know that the Kabaka, on issues concerning the Kingdom, usually does things for or on behalf of his people, the Baganda. So it was on this occasion. The Kabaka was not asking for personal powers but for the return of powers similar to what Mw. Mulira describes in the article below. In short, what the Kabaka was asking for was FEDERO.
Kasangwawo
PS
In addition to what he said about the peasants walking long distances, maybe the President should have clearly indicated that he was in favour of getting rid of this unitary system where the peasants of Akokoro have to walk all the way to Kampala to get to public services.
From: Omar Kezimbira <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: ugnet_: Federo: Mengo decentralised power in the 1950's Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 18:12:49 -0700 (PDT)
LETTER BY PETER MULIRA TO THE NEW VISION, SATURDAY, 1ST MAY 2004
Federo: Mengo decentralised power in the 1950s
SIR� While opening the Wakiso district administration headquarters recently, President Museveni indicated that he would be willing to talk to Mengo to see how much power could be given to Buganda in a federal arrangement. But he warned, quite rightly, that he did not want to see peasants having to walk long distances to Mengo in order to solve their problems. The President�s concern was shared by previous leaders in Buganda.
For example, soon after Mr Michael Kintu became Katikkiro of Buganda in 1955, the Buganda government issued a policy statement which was published in the Uganda Argus of January 17, 1956, in which it demonstrated its commitment to decentralisation of power and services to the people.
I wish to quote two areas in the statement concerning administration and health which demonstrate this commitment: About administration, the document said:
�Power will be provided for ssaza, town and trading centre councils. All the duties that concern the good of the people will be placed in their hands.�
About health, it said: �Apart from the Health Standing Committee of the Lukiiko, the Lukiiko will appoint health committees for every town, ssaza and gombolola councils.�
What we learn from history is that most of the fears which characterise the debate on federo are imaginary and unfounded.
Peter Mulira
Kampala
Published on: Saturday, 1st May, 2004
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