Museveni to meet Kabaka over power
By David Kibirige
Feb 22, 2004
KAMPALA- President Yoweri Museveni has initiated a meeting with Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi.This follows Mutebi's complaint on February 15 that he is a king without powers. Mutebi's complaint took the country by surprise.Ever since he was crowned in 1993 Mutebi has never made any controversial political statement.
Sunday Monitor has reliably learnt from top State House sources that the president has tasked the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, and the minister for the Presidency, Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, to arrange for a meeting with the Kabaka, most probably next week.
Contacted for a comment, Friday afternoon, Mr Kirunda could not delve into the matter."I have always told you I am the custodian of the president's secrets, so do not expect me to tell you anything. Matters of the bedroom are never made public. So do not expect me to tell you anything in my custody," he said.
However, a source said that during a cabinet meeting, on Wednesday, the issue of the Kabaka's remarks was discussed.Cabinet members were concerned that the Kabaka's remarks could work against Museveni's project of amending the constitution to enable him get a third term.
The project is known as the third project and already ministers and other movement officials are traversing Buganda to sell the idea.The Minister of state for Information, Dr Nsaba Buturo, told journalists early this week that government would look into the demands of the Kabaka.
Kabaka felt betrayedThe Kabaka was incensed that ministers hailing from Buganda are talking of amending the constitution to give Museveni a third term but have not talked about a federal system of governance for the country.The views received by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC), led by Prof. Fredrick Ssempebwa, showed that most Ugandans prefer a federal system of governance.
The original report did not call for a constitutional amendment to remove the term limit on the presidency.Under pressure from government, the majority of CRC members smuggled in a clause calling for an amendment to allow Museveni a third term.
Irked by the development Ssempebwa wrote a minority report, which expressed a contrary view.Highly placed sources in Mengo told Sunday Monitor that the move irked the Kabaka - who is reported to have said that Buganda had presented her desires but government was trying to suppress them.
Timing The Mengo minister for Youth and secretary for the cabinet, Mr Peter Mayiga, told Sunday Monitor on Friday that the Kabaka's remarks were timely."Since 1993 when there was a constitutional amendment which allowed traditional leaders, there has not been anything new to benefit Buganda," said Mayiga, adding that Buganda has been patient for long."This is the right time to make our demands. There is a constitutional review process so it is the time when demands can be considered.
The parties have been allowed to operate, so Buganda wants her demands considered also," said the youthful lawyer. Mayiga said the 1995 constitution talks of a charter but it has never worked because people had asked for a federal system of government.
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"The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the state."
- Dr. Joseph M. Goebbels - Hitler's propaganda minister
