By Elias Biryabarema.
Aug 1 , 2004 - Monitor
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KAMPALA � Toro kingdom has blasted Buganda for pressing the central government to grant it a federal status. It has described Buganda�s agitation as politicking that contravenes the 1995 constitutional provision on monarchical institutions. Toro Prime Minister, Mr Stephen Nyabongo Rwakijuma says his kingdom has never backed Buganda�s agitation for federalism and prefers instead to maintain its status as an apolitical cultural institution. He was speaking an interview with Sunday Monitor Friday.The fight for federalism, he said, would unnecessarily suck monarchies into partisan politics, which would violate their pledge to refrain from political antagonism. Responding to the July 22nd media report that all kingdoms had coalesced around Buganda in its fervent federal bid, Rwakijuma said Toro deeply disdains such a cause. �Before we took our views to the Constitutional Review Commission, we widely consulted our people and they unanimously rejected anything to do with Federo. We want to keep in line with the 1995 constitution,� he said According to Rwakijuna�s account, the Orukurato, Toro�s supreme decision-making organ, passed a resolution in March 2003 that cultural institutions should be content with their powers and steer clear of politics. �We are only interested in cultural power. We only want our assets returned. Toro�s position could hamstring Buganda�s federal thrust, which has been counting on its cousin kingdoms to pour more fuel on its federal fires against the Movement government. Currently Buganda is discussing with president Museveni on whether it should be granted a full federal status. Cabinet has already rejected that position recommending instead a tier system where districts in a region can build cooperation on several issues. Rwakijuma argued that the tug of war between the central government and Buganda could explode into an ugly crisis of the 1966 order. �We must not do things that lead to a repeat of our ugly past,� warned Rwakijuma. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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