By Robert Mwanje & Ignatius Ssuuna
Aug 2, 2004 - Monitor
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MENGO � The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, has said the kingdom will get a federal system of governance no matter how long it takes. He, however, urged his subjects to remain calm. The visibly angry Kabaka made the remarks while opening a three-day workshop on federalism at Twekobe in Mengo palace at the weekend. He said Buganda makes its demands through peaceful negotiations because the kingdom does not want the country to slide into chaos. �We are still demanding for our things (Ebyaffe) peacefully because we want freedom to prevail in this country,� he said amid chanting from his subjects. This was the first time the Kabaka was speaking publicly after the failed negotiations over federo between Mengo and the government. Buganda�s demands include federo, categorisation of Kampala city as a part of Buganda region, and the return of 9,000 square miles of crown land currently deemed public land. Mutebi, who arrived in a six-car convoy at noon, said the government had the responsibility to help the kingdom regain its lost glory. Silence descended on thousands of federo agitators, who were chanting federo slogans, when the Kabaka left his royal seat and addressed his subjects from a public podium. Heads of various clans said the Kabaka does not address his subjects standing. Reading his speech from a podium signified grave concern over federo, they said. The Cabinet early last month opted to grant Buganda a regional tier system of governance. And, a few days ago, President Yoweri Museveni led a government team into talks with a Buganda delegation at Nakasero and suggested that Mengo be granted a municipality status - instead of reclassifying Kampala as part of Buganda. Museveni also reportedly told the delegation that at no time, during the five-year bush war, did he promise to grant Baganda federo. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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