Buganda’s new strategy ahead of 2011 elections

Kampala

The announcement by two former Buganda Prime Ministers (Katikkiros) that they will back the opposition has opened debate on whether they can influence voters in the central region abandon the NRM, a party that has won the area in past elections.

Whereas the ruling NRM thinks the decision by Mr Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere and Mr Daniel Muliika to support the opposition will not dent its chances in 2011, some analysts Saturday Monitor contacted, say the ruling party has cause to worry.

More significantly, sources within Buganda who declined to be named because they are not allowed to speak for the Kingdom explained that by joining the opposition, the former Buganda Prime Ministers wanted to send a message that Buganda was now willing to apply more direct tactics to realise its demands.

The Buganda Kingdom Information Minister, Mr Peter Mayiga, also told Saturday Monitor that the establishment is willing to back pro-federo candidates in the 2011 elections, who will be expected to push for constitutional amendments in favour of the kingdom’s interests.

This strategy, according to Mr Mayiga, will target all those MPs who have opposed the kingdom’s interest of establishing a federal system of governance. The kingdom has constantly accused NRM MPs from the region of siding with President Museveni to pass “anti-Buganda” legislations the most recent being the Land Amendment Act.

Reliable allies
Negotiations with President Museveni’s government to return the kingdom’s 9,000 square miles of land, rent and grant it a federal status. He said the kingdom now wants more eloquent allies to drive its concerns to another level. “Mengo is interested in people who can stand and defend our interests,” Mr Mayiga said.
“For the people of Buganda to get what belongs to them, we must have more people who will articulate the kingdom’s concerns at all levels. But we do not support any political party.”

After DP’s Betty Nambooze beat NRM’s Peter Bakaluba in the Mukono North by-election recently, the Buganda Katikkiro, John Baptist Walusimbi, asked capable Baganda to come up and vie for various political positions. He said the kingdom was ready to support them as long as they are ready to pursue its interests. “The kingdom has various unresolved challenges. That’s why it’s important to have ambassadors in Parliament,” Eng. Walusimbi said. “This will give us hope.”

Kingdom call
The Kabaka, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, has also urged the Baganda to turn up in large numbers to register for elections and subsequently vote for leaders who will support the region’s interests. Most NRM MPs from Buganda supported the Land Bill despite the kingdom’s mass campaign against it. This Bill, according to Mengo, was meant to turn squatters into land owners and grab its land.

Mengo also accuses NRM MPs of being lenient to the Kampala City Bill 2009 that proposes to expand the boundaries of the city. This Bill, Mengo says, propagates the central government’s interests to encroach on Buganda’s prime land.

Although Mengo is yet to make public the individuals it will be backing in 2011 elections, sources say they include among others Susan Nampijja (CP), Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA), Michael Mabikke (Independent), Erias Lukwago (DP), Dr Lulume Bayiga (DP), Latiff Sebaggala (DP) and John Kawanga [DP] .
The kingdom is also ready to support NRM MPs like Kaddunabbi Lubega, Peter Mutuluza and Rebecca Lukwago who refused to vote in favour of the Land Bill.

The new faces expected to enjoy Mengo’s support include Moses Kasibante, a former news anchor on CBS FM to contest in Butambala, Mengo information minister, Medard Lubega, who is eyeing the Busiro East seat, Betty Nambooze for Mukono North and Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda who wants to replace FDC stalwart, Sam Njuba in Kyadondo East.

Mr Mathias Mpuga, the Buganda youth minister, is also vying for the Masaka Municipality seat, Isha Ntumwa in Mawogola County, JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo, John Chrysostom Muyingo in Bamunanika and Erias Lukwago to stand again in Kampala Central. But NRM spokeswoman, Karooro Okurut said Mengo’s strategy would lead the kingdom to defeat because the NRM will also support its MPs to retain their seats. “This is not their [Mengo] first time to support the opposition but we have always won in Buganda region,” she said.

“What they are doing is not new, they have always supported the opposition but they don’t represent Buganda. These are just individuals who are free to enjoy their democratic right of going anywhere.”
Speaking about Mr Ssemwogerere’s move, Mr Mayiga said, “He is someone who can articulate Buganda’s concerns confidently and cannot be doubted. This is a clear manifestation that the kingdom is aggrieved over several unresolved matters that concern Buganda.”

Commenting about the two former prime ministers move, Prince David Wasajja, Kabaka Mutebi’s young brother said, “It’s funny that when other former Buganda workers join the ruling party [NRM] they don’t complain but when Mulwanyamuli joins the opposition, then it’s the kingdom fighting the government.” “Serving at Mengo [kingdom’s seat] should not be a curse to deprive the kingdom’s royalists from enjoying their constitutional rights”, Wasajja added.

Mr Ssemwogerere, who is credited for having steered Buganda Kingdom since its restoration in 1994 and rebuilding its structures and image said he was backing the opposition to change the country’s top leadership to ensure better services.