Museveni, Buganda officials ‘agree on return of property’

President Museveni has expressed government’s willingness to return to Buganda Kingdom all its properties it possessed decades ago.
He reportedly made the communication on Tuesday during a five -hour meeting with Buganda officials led by the kingdom premier, Mr Charles Peter Mayiga, at State House Entebbe.
The central government seized the assets following the 1966 crisis during which the then executive prime minister abolished the 1962 Constitution, banned kingdoms and introduced the republican Constitution.
The Tuesday discussion was a follow-up of the 2013 meeting between Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and the President where a memorandum of understanding with commitments from the central government to return properties formerly owned by Mengo was signed.

The commitment was signed as Buganda celebrated the 20th coronation anniversary of Kabaka Mutebi.
According to Buganda Kingdom information minister, Mr Noah Kiyimba, the government team included the Attorney General William Byaruhanga, Finance minister Matia Kasaija, Lands minister Betty Amongi, Minister for Local Government Tom Butime and Internal Affairs minister Jeje Odongo.

Mengo’s delegation included Mr Mayiga, Prince David Kintu Wasajja, Ambassador Billy Matovu, Mengo’s lands minister Sseremba Kasekende, Buganda Land Board (BLB) legal advisor Dennis Bugaya and Bashir Matovu. Mr Kiyimba revealed that government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to follow up on the demands of Mengo and it will be headed by the Attorney General.
The President reportedly said the committee will hold another meeting with delegates from Mengo on March 27.
“The next meeting will come out with the formula on how the central government will compensate the kingdom. Apart from land, the kingdom owned shares in many defunct government companies such as the Uganda Electricity Board. We will look into all that,” Mr Kiyimba said.

According to Mr Kiyimba, other properties for compensation include land on Kampala Road where King Fahad Plaza is built, the Muteesa House in London among others.
When asked how much central government owes Mengo, Mr Kiyimba said; “I don’t have the actual figures but a committee has computed and presented it to government.” He said hundreds of land titles are still in the hands of government but at least 280 have been returned.

President Museveni’s Senior Press Secretary Don Wanyama however was non-committal on whether the meeting happened or not.
“When the President meets someone, we issue a press release if we deem it necessary for public consumption. Give us some time,” Mr Wanyama said by telephone.

Incidents
Relations between the kingdom and the central government had largely been frosty and worsened in 2009 when the government blocked Kabaka Mutebi from visiting his subjects in Kayunga District, triggering riots in which dozens of civilians were injured and killed.

President Museveni then complained that the Kabaka was avoiding his phone calls.
After the 2013 meeting, the President attended Kabaka Mutebi’s 20th Coronation at Mengo palace.
Last year in April, the Kabaka made another visit to State House.

According to the memorandum, government promised to never block the Kabaka from visiting his subjects in Buganda and anywhere in the country.

THE PROPETIES
The properties to be returned include the Kingdom’s official estates for the Masaza, Amagombolola, properties of chiefs, several markets and land in various urban and rural areas in Buganda.
Others include Plot 52, Kampala Road, on which King Fahd Plaza stands, Mutesa’s House in London that was reportedly sold during Obote’s reign.