Dear Mr. Byaruhanga .
As a Presidental Advisor I welcome your proposal for a “new law to regulate” cultural leaders. That law would be a Federal Constitution. Under a federal constitution, the Kabaka’s “powers of state” would be devolved to the Katikiro. At the moment because of lack of a fedeeral constitution the Kabaka is caught up deep in the politics of his Kingdom.
You are mistaken in your assertion that the Kabaka is “apolitical”. His Highness the Kabaka is the embodiment of the kingdom and people of Buagnda. The Kabaka is a deeply political animal by nature. But if you want to remove His Highness the Kabaka from the hazards of daily politics then you must grant a federal constitution. Simply writing the “do” and “don’t” for His Highness the Kabaka to follow will not work, BE WARNED.
THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM
1. Mr. Byaruhanga I wish to draw your attention to an embarassing situation regarding the current “status” of His Highness the Kabaka. In the last few days I read in the press (The Monitor, 10, September, 2009) where President Museveni was quoted as saying that he tried calling His Highness the Kabaka for the last two years but the Kabaka would neither pick nor return his calls. The question is, did the President try to call His Highness the Kabaka to discuss cultural matters or was it about government Policy? It is more the latter rather than the former. So, His Excellency the President of Uganda is himself dragging the Kabaka squarely into politics through his action of calling the Kabaka to discuss Policy. The Kabaka should be permanently out of politics, not just when it suits the government.
2. In the same press report, President Museveni was quoted as saying or implying that His Highness the Kabaka wanted him (the President) to discuss these issues with the Katikiro, but that he “does not want to deal with unelected officials” (The Monitor, 10, September, 2009). So, in trying to aviod dealing with the Katikiro who is not an elected official, the President ends up dragging the Kabaka into politics whenever he discusses with him Policy. How? Because the Kabaka might have to give the President his opinion about policy which is political. The way out of the ampasse is again the grant of a federal constitution, which recognises the government of the kingdom/state of Buganda. In that way the Katikiro will become an elected official, and the President can then discuss policy with him.
3. In order to address the 1961 situation that you refer to below, the solution was found by way of granting Buganda a Federal Status in the Constitution during the Lancaster Conference. At the subsequest Lukiiko elections in 1962, the Baganda participated in the elections peacefully and no one had their banana plantation chopped down.
Regards
Pilipo Oruni Oloya
