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KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni told the
Buganda delegation on Sunday that at no time during the bush war did he
promise Baganda federo. As details of the eight-hour talks at State House
emerge, The Monitor has learnt that Museveni also said federalism is not
what Uganda needs today. Sources at the meeting, however, quoted the
President as saying his strong views did not prevent him from listening to
others.
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Ssemwogerere |
Katikkiro
Joseph Ssemwogerere led the eight-member team to negotiate for Buganda’s
demands, with federo on top of the agenda. Museveni, who was said to be in
a jovial mood, chaired the talks also attended by Prime Minister Apolo
Nsibambi, among others.
The talks
come after the Cabinet rejected Buganda’s principal demands in its white
paper due to go to Parliament as part of Uganda’s constitutional review
process.
Hundreds of
Baganda federalists demonstrated against the Cabinet and the kingdom has
cancelled the annual celebration of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s coronation.
Nsibambi said the meeting was very amicable and that a lot of issues were
clarified.
“A lot of
misunderstandings between the central government and the Kabaka’s
government were ironed out,” Nsibambi said. He confirmed that the two
parties will meet again on Thursday.
Mengo sources
said Museveni explained that small countries like Uganda must move towards
larger regional blocs, instead of narrow interests within their
boundaries. Buganda’s team is reported to have put up a spirited response
on federo and the other contentious issues.
“Ssemwogerere
said what Museveni wants is what Buganda wants. The only difference is in
how to achieve it,” said a Buganda source who attended the
talks.
The Katikkiro
argued that Museveni’s regional blocs would be shaky if there were
scuffles and discontent within the member countries. The Buganda team also
made a case for including Kampala in Buganda and the controversial 9,000
square miles of land.
Buganda
Cabinet Secretary Charles Peter Mayiga declined to give details.
“We
gave Museveni our position on three issues and they are well known -
Federo, Kampala and land,” Mayiga said. “They also gave us their
proposals. We are going to meet again after consultations,” he
said. | 
