By Richard M. Kavuma
July 30, 2004
|
KAMPALA � Hours before going into decisive talks with President Yoweri Museveni yesterday, Buganda kingdom called for three days of mass prayers for federo. Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogerere said in a three-page statement that hope was dwindling for Buganda to get its constitutional demands of federalism, Kampala and land. �Because our country was created by God... we have no option but to pray to the Almighty God to help us through this situation,� Ssemwogerere said in the afternoon statement. He was scheduled to lead a delegation to State House, Nakasero for a second round of talks over Buganda�s demands. Ssemwogerere�s mournful statement, however, indicated that Buganda�s bargaining position was precarious: �The hope we had in our government ... is bound to dwindle. We seem to be losing the opportunity we had to correct mistakes of past governments.� He said it had been hoped that federalism for the whole of Uganda would make Ugandans proud of their country. �We had hoped that [federalism] would help us preserve our cultural norms, create jobs and bring about sustainable peace in the whole of Uganda,� he said. He asked all Baganda and Ugandans to pray for the Kabaka because he �is facing a very difficult and challenging time�. Ssemwogerere released a list of officials he is sending to 52 Churches and Mosques for the prayers that take place today, tomorrow and on Sunday. Baganda federalists recently demonstrated in Kampala and the kingdom cancelled the Kabaka�s coronation anniversary celebrations after the government rejected its demands. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun!
