Federalism Harms Bunyoro's Interests
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The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
July 26, 2004
Posted to the web July 26, 2004
Samson Rwabudongo
Kampala
Government is currently discussing with Buganda kingdom over how to give them federal
status among other demands the Mengo government has been pushing.
I must express my concern and caution government to consider the views of all
stakeholders in the matters Buganda is asking about before agreeing to them.
Though I support everyone's right to self-determination and self-rule, I am not
comfortable with the idea of granting Buganda kingdom a federal status.
This is mainly because of the history behind the formation of the current Buganda
kingdom which some of us are contesting and the fact that since the start of
colonialism, Buganda has been enjoying a special status at the expense of other
regions.
I draw Ugandans' attention to the events that led to the abolition of monarchies and
thus federalism in 1966. The main issue of disagreement between then Buganda king,
Kabaka Edward Muteesa II who was also the President of Uganda and then Executive Prime
Minister, Milton Obote was the handling of the issue of the lost counties.
Kabaka Mutesa refused to sign the transfer of the two former lost counties of Buyaga
and Bugangaizi (which today make up Kibaale district) back to Bunyoro, despite the
fact that people in these two counties had voted overwhelmingly to return to Bunyoro
in the 1964 referendum which was provided for in the 1962 independence constitution.
To this day, Kibaale district is not constitutionally recognised as part of Bunyoro.
If I may ask: Why should people go to a vote and their wish is not adhered to, when
many of you want to profess how you are democratic? This is one of the most unfair
things still haunting and dishumanising Banyoro as it is also behind the land problem
in Kibaale district because the land there is still owned by mainly absentee Baganda
landlords.
You may remember that after 60 years of civil struggle by Banyoro, through the Mubende
Banyoro Committee (MBC), a referendum was held in only two of the six counties, which
were maliciously given to Buganda from Bunyoro kingdom in the 1900 Buganda agreement,
because the lobby for return to Bunyoro was stronger in the two.
As we speak today, the counties of Buwekula, (in present day Mubende district),
Rugonjo (in present day Kayunga district) Ssingo (present day Kiboga district) Buruli
(present day Nakasongola district) are still part of Buganda, although the indigenous
people there are Banyoro and many have for more than a century been calmly advocating
for a return to their native Bunyoro.
But because of the heavy depopulation as a result of killings meted on Banyoro in
these areas after the defeat of King Kabalega, and the harsh colonial indirect rule by
Baganda on behalf of the British colonialists, these four counties remain part of
Buganda.
Many of us believe that Bunyoro still has a legitimate claim over these four counties
still lost to Buganda. It is unfair and unjust to introduce a system like federalism
that will legally bind all people in these areas under Buganda kingdom, areas
forcefully joined to Buganda.
I think such people, and I would like to speak for the many Banyoro in these four
counties who should be protected from any legal (thus forceful) cultural domination by
Buganda kingdom.
I appeal to our dear leaders in this government, which has been fronting promoting
national unity and development to think of the repercussions of granting Buganda a
federal state that encompasses these territories stolen from Bunyoro.
This issue is a widely felt concern among the many Banyoro. You may remember that
early this year, the Omukama of Bunyoro kingdom, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru was quoted in
the media as warning Buganda Kingdom to stop mistreating "my people in Buruli".
Although this has been downplayed after exchanges between the two kingdoms, it remains
a historical and current fact that these four are contested counties.
You must have heard how many times the cultural leader of Buruli has expressed
displeasure with his people being inclined to follow Buganda cultures and orders from
Mengo. Even many political leaders from the area, like former Internal Affairs
Minister, Muruli Mukasa are publicly opposed to granting Buganda federo because of
these concerns.
It is common knowledge today that because of the strong lobby for federalism in
Buganda, many people opposed to it in these areas are being admonished and threatened,
which allegation I am kindly asking government to investigate.
I am sure it is not only the Banyoro who are concerned over the special status that
governments since colonialism to present keep giving Buganda and Baganda as if the
rest of us are less important. Why for example should government put there a committee
(chaired by Maj. Amama Mbabazi who should be thinking about the absolute protection of
all Ugandans) to talk to Buganda kingdom over giving them federalism?
Despite the fact that many kingdoms including Bunyoro, Busoga, Tooro, and regions like
Acholi, Bugisu and Bukonzo have asked for federalism as per their memoranda to the
Constitutional Review Commission, government has continued to give a special attention
to Buganda and the whole issue has become owned by Buganda. Now this approach is
backfiring, the reason why federalism is becoming more unpopular both in Buganda and
other regions though people had asked for it.
It is equally of great concern that Buganda's demand for the return of its so-called
9000sq. miles of land to the Kabaka (Mailo akenda) be taken with caution. It is public
knowledge that over 3000sq. miles of this land is in Bunyoro and is shrouded in the
historical deprivation that Britain served Bunyoro to benefit their Baganda allies.
These mistakes must be corrected in line with the movement government's professed
15-point programme to correct mistakes and injustices committed by colonial and post
independence governments.
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Proliferating these injustices by granting Buganda some of these undue privileges will
only lead to more chaos, in families, villages, among people who are rarely heard,
people who haven't benefited from committees being set up to hear their views and
concerns.
Let government be cautious and exercise fairness to other people's concerns and views
when considering granting Buganda its wishes.
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