{UAH} Buganda's Weakness and the MOU As A Double Edged Sword
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Buganda's weakness and the MoU as a double-edged sword
By Nicholas Sengoba
Posted Tuesday, August 13 2013 at 01:00
Mr Kalundi Sserumaga, a Muganda cultural activist, once accused the State of Uganda of being a thief that had stolen and continued to forcefully and illegally occupy Buganda's property.
In the latest rapprochement between Buganda, represented by Mengo and Uganda, the 'thief' (State of Uganda) agreed [read promised] to return the property it had stolen. Extraordinarily, the 'thief' did so with loaded conditions. Buganda accepted by signing, then went on to celebrate in appreciation and acted triumphantly. [okujjaguza nti owangudde!]
Before we say that Buganda has sunk desperately low, it is important to understand the source of the 'weakness of it negotiating strength' coming into this Memorundum Of Understanding (MoU)
This takes us to the controversial long standing issue of the 'agreement' between Baganda dominated armed groups involved in the struggle against Obote, notably UFM and FEDEMU and the NRM. Included in the picture was the then Ssabataka Mutebi and his act of touring the war epicenter of Luweero to drum up support among the Baganda for the 1980s Bush War on the claimed understanding that the monarchy would be restored in the event of the war succeeding. Eventually, this war brought President Museveni to power in January 1986.
There are persistent allegations that when it came to restoring the monarchy, NRM kept its word to a large extent-albeit reluctantly. The only issue is that it chose to negotiate with individuals who were never party to the agreement or the actual fighting in the bush.
That in these people, many of whom have persistently gone to State House for talks that achieve little, NRM found pushovers, which helped to negate and undermine the contribution of those who fought in Luweero.
That in these people, many of whom have persistently gone to State House for talks that achieve little, NRM found pushovers, which helped to negate and undermine the contribution of those who fought in Luweero.
Eventually, this created an impression that NRM was doing the Baganda a favour by restoring the monarchy. Why? Because it was talking to people [elites] who 'stayed in Kampala eating sausages and occasionally hiding under their beds' while others braved the bullets of the UNLF in the jungles of Luweero. Hence they [the elites] could not hold their own on the negotiating table.
To NRM's relief, these new 'partners' [the elites abatalwaana] in Buganda took their role seriously. They willingly recorded history that gives prominence to claims that the restoration of the monarchy was something that originated from negotiations held in Kampala long after the war, thus subverting Baganda's military contribution to Museveni's rise to power. With history out of the way and fiction safely in its place, NRM found a lot of room to maneuver. [nabuli kati bakyavuga ekintu kyekimu]
To NRM's relief, these new 'partners' [the elites abatalwaana] in Buganda took their role seriously. They willingly recorded history that gives prominence to claims that the restoration of the monarchy was something that originated from negotiations held in Kampala long after the war, thus subverting Baganda's military contribution to Museveni's rise to power. With history out of the way and fiction safely in its place, NRM found a lot of room to maneuver. [nabuli kati bakyavuga ekintu kyekimu]
First, Buganda was to turn up on the negotiating table as the weaker party ready to take what was given as favours. Secondly, NRM could use the issue of the restoration to perpetuate its leader Museveni in power if and when he needed. He would not be under any pressure as the people [the elites] he was negotiating with could not hold him accountable or accuse him of breaking any agreement to which they were party.
Now Museveni the Machiavellian ,with what remains of his fast diminishing popularity, needs to keep his friends close and his enemies even closer. But in doing all this, he has to maintain a position of strength.
His solution is to undermine both his friends and foes. His MoU with Mengo serves as a double-edged sword. It apparently pulls Mengo and presumably Baganda away from his enemies like the rebellious Gen David Sejusa of this world with their reported plans of mobilising especially the Baganda Bush war veterans and retired combatants who may have felt short changed by NRM's broken promises.
It presumably creates hope that there is a bright future ahead now that Mengo can use ebyaffe to bring a better future to Baganda. The Mengo government has always claimed that it cannot do much for the people as the central government has tied it hands by occupying its property.
It presumably creates hope that there is a bright future ahead now that Mengo can use ebyaffe to bring a better future to Baganda. The Mengo government has always claimed that it cannot do much for the people as the central government has tied it hands by occupying its property.
This optimism seemingly alienates the rubble rousing Dr Kizza Besigye, Lord Mayor Lukwago, etc., who want to take advantage of the deplorable economic situation as a rallying point of the unemployed urban youth. The youth may now not risk their lives demonstrating and patiently wait for the milk and honey that the Katikkiro has brought from State House wrapped in the MoU.
When asked about the details of the MoU, the Katikkiro said he would not divulge the contents before consulting the 'major stakeholders'. Now if you are negotiating on behalf of the Baganda, there must be something terribly wrong if the same Baganda are not the major stakeholders to be considered first before anyone else.
It is this type of contradiction that will turn the MoU into a 'Memorandum Of Undermining' Mengo.
To be concluded next week.
To be concluded next week.
Mr Sengoba is a commentator on political and social issues.
nicholassengoba@yahoo.com
nicholassengoba@yahoo.com
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