[Ugnet] Federo talks are worrying - Kiyonga - Monitor 18/9/2004

[Omar Kezimbira]

Federo talks are worrying - Kiyonga
By Mwanguhya Charles Mpagi & Rosebell Kagumire
Sept 18, 2004 - Monitor

KAMPALA — The on and off talks on federo between Buganda and President Museveni are causing the public to worry, the National Political Commissar, Dr Crispus Kiyonga has said. Kiyonga told a press conference at his office yesterday, that he has been moving throughout the country and had found that majority of the people in Buganda region fear that the breakdown of the current talks might lead to a crisis similar to that of 1966. NPC Kiyonga He said outside Buganda, majority of the people in the 34 districts he has visited are bothered about stability of the country. “In many parts I went to people are worried. They think that the disagreements may disrupt peace. They fear there could be a repeat of 1966 but we have been explaining to them that this will not happen,” he said. He said government was determined to use “democratic means” to handle Mengo. Talks between Mengo, the seat of Buganda, and the government led by President Museveni have hit a deadlock. Museveni insists that Mengo should agree to two councils, a political and a cultural one while Buganda has insisted on one Lukiiko combining the cultural and political functions. “The population are very clear on this issue, first they are loyal to the Kabaka as a cultural leader but they do not like the Kabaka to be involved in politics,” he said. Kiyonga attacked political parties for “not doing enough to support the opening up of political space.” He said supporters of the Movement were also concerned that the NRM-O was “taking too long to go down to organise.” “Despite this enabling environment, the old political parties, particularly the UPC and are showing very little interest in reforming and showing the country that they are now a changed lot. In fact it is surprising that to date neither of these parties have registered in accordance with the Constitution,” he said. On complaints that Resident District Commissioners harass members of the opposition from mobilizing, Kiyonga defended the RDCs and said the incidents were “isolated and not a pattern.”

© 2004 The Monitor Publications

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