Buganda asks govt to prevail over Banyala dispute
What you need to know:
Position. The kingdom spokesperson says Buganda is ready to fight for the kingdom’s properties and will not allow any intruders to encroach on kingdom land.
KAMPALA.
Buganda Kingdom has asked government to intervene and calm tensions building between them and the Banyala ethnic group over Buganda’s Bbaale Sub-county headquarters in Bugerere, Kayunga District.
Last month, the Banyala in what was termed as a provocation of Buganda Kingdom, stormed Bbaale Sub-county headquarters where they attempted to erect a palace for their cultural leader, Ssabanyala Baker Kimeze.
The kingdom’s spokesperson, Mr Noah Kiyimba, told Daily Monitor in an interview yesterday that Buganda Kingdom is ready to fight for the kingdom’s interests and properties and will not allow any intruders to encroach on kingdom land as he called on the government to intervene.
He was responding to concerns raised by the youth in a press conference yesterday.
The Buganda youth under their umbrella associations, Baganda Nkoba Zambogo, Akezimbira, Buganda Nkerettanyi and Abagalagala during yesterday’s press conference warned that the government must prevail over the situation before they announce the next course of action.
“We demand government to urgently evacuate the invaders from Ssabaddu-Bbale Sub-county headquarters in Bugerere,” said Mr Israel Kitooke, the chairperson of yesterday’s press conference.
“Government must act to avert a re-occurrence of the 2009 bloodshed. We are determined to fight and protect the kingdom’s interests like our great grandfathers,” Mr Kitooke said.
The youth gave the Banyala 14 days to vacate Buganda land failure of which they will be evacuated by force.
They appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, to apologise to Buganda Kingdom for supporting and giving protection to what they called invaders.
Youth cautioned
Mr Kiyimba, however, cautioned the youth against inciting violence that might culminate into bloodshed.
Early this month, Buganda Kingdom prime minister Charles Peter Mayiga informed the Buganda Lukiiko that he had handed over the land matters to Gen Kayihura.
In the Lukiiko, the members condemned the act of degrading the throne of His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda.
Attempts to speak to the Banyala prime minister, Martin Ssenkatuka, were futile as he was reportedly busy.
Meanwhile, Mr Kiyimba clarified on why the kingdom suspended the Ettoffali fundraising drive.
He said the katikkiro had other outstanding issues to handle before he can resume.
