Gook,
In addition to my comments of yesterday with regards to Mr. "Mulindwa" 's namby-pamby argument in defence of Mr. Muniini, I'd like to add the following:
1. If it were true that children might be afraid of Luganda speaking soldiers how does change the equation?
I do not see how one can conclude that everyone who has a Kiganda-sounding name or can speak some sort of Luganda is a Muganda any more than one can conclude that everyone who speaks the Queen's English a de facto Englishman.
2. Granted that the Nnaabagereka is relatively a recent entrant on the national scene. However this only re-inforces my argument that the Baganda, in particular, care deeply about the suffering of our Northern compatriots: in that brief time on the national scene the Nnaabagereka has chosen to add Her voice to those advocating for peace.
3. Let us suppose that it is true that the Kabaka's funds are derived from Rwakitura. It is all the more remarkable that inspite of this, the Kabaka of Buganda is still sensitive to the pain of our Northern brethren.
And by the way, we the Baganda, are perfectly capable of supporting our Kabaka, thank you very much. Our history of, at least, five hundured (500) years is proof enough of that.
4. Speaking of ethnic groups, could you kindly tell us when and what the Banyakigezi (Mr. Muniini being a Munyakigezi) have done or said about this tragic war in Northern Uganda?
Ssemakula
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Buganda; part of the problem or solution?
By Edward Mulindwa
September 11, 2003
I have read Munini; Whistling And Drinking? (The Monitor, September 9), and I think the writer, Mr J. Ssemakula, was being very unfair to Dr Muniini Mulera for he left out some very crucial points in his response.
Ssemakula started by informing us how the King of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has spoken out on the war in northern Uganda. Could he kindly tell us when the Kabaka started making those statements?
Mr Ssemakula, the war in northern Uganda has been running for 17 years now, is it fair for you to bring in the name of Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, as a person who has called for talks to end the carnage? As far as I know, the Nnabagereka did not come into the picture of Uganda until 2001, two years go! Is that proof that Buganda was and has been concerned about the situation in northern Uganda?
Personally, I am not even moved by whether the Kabaka or Nnabagereka have taken these steps. I am more concerned about what the outspoken personalities in Buganda did or have done since the war started.To give some examples; the late Bishop Mikairi Kawuma and Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga, both stood in their sanctuaries and praised God for returning peace to Uganda through the NRM.
These two men of God came to the then West Germany and addressed a meeting of several people, including Ugandans - the main question to them was the situation in northern Uganda. Both stated that Uganda was now a new and peaceful nation. After the meeting, the Cardinal sat with several Ugandans, and in Luganda said to them: "Mwe mubuuza ki ebyolutalo ffe kasita twebaka" [Why ask about the war, at least for us we can sleep soundly]. In fact, for the record, the statement, "Ffe kasita twebaka" was not introduced in Ugandan speak by Buganda locals, but Cardinal Nsubuga and Bishop Kawuma.
Now back to Buganda and the NRM. Ugandans know for a fact that Buganda is in bed with the NRM. When Ugandans are being killed and our Kabaka goes to Rwakitura to dine and wine with the state, Ugandans must wonder why. But we must not only stop there, we must ask ourselves what steps the Kabaka has taken to hold the mirror in the NRM's face.
I cannot help but wonder how much information our king has about the thousands of his people who were killed in Luwero Triangle during the bush war. Has our king ever asked for an explanation from Rwakitura? What response did he get? I doubt he has ever asked those questions for his bread and butter come from Rwakitura.
And that is Buganda's biggest blunder. If we cannot financially maintain our king, we would have been better off putting the kingdom on hold as Ankole did. Have you ever wondered what will happen if the next government decides not to finance our kingdom?
It is interesting when Ssemakula states that a good number of Baganda officers in the army are unwilling to fight. Omwaami Ssemakula, can you then explain why children in northern Uganda are scared of anybody speaking Luganda? It is a fact that many UPDF officers are Baganda, and if Baganda officers refused to fight in northern Uganda, that war would probably end.
The danger in your article is the thinking that what you wrote is what counts the most in the Uganda of tomorrow. I tend to differ. What matters the most is what Ugandans who are being brutalised know.
I can bet that Ugandans know who is killing them, and they go by that, not by Ssemakula's account. You will be amazed to know that today, Ugandans in Luwero know who killed their people.
Buganda must know that a problem in Uganda affects all of us as a nation, directly or indirectly. And it is a shame that we even have this discussion today, for it is a sign that Buganda failed to understand that matters in northern or eastern Uganda are national matters.
Collecting unfounded collections to clean up Buganda's name is not the solution. For as I said, it is the suffering Ugandans who make the final decision on whether Buganda was part of the problem or solution during their suffering.
And as long as that jury is still out there, I do not think that your defence for Buganda is warranted, for facts will in the end come in broad daylight.The author is a Ugandan who lives in Toronto, Canada.
© 2003 The Monitor Publications
Gook"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."- Malcom X
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