Monday, August 2, 2004
After Getting the Cultural Kingdom, Federo is All About Real Majesty
By JOACHIM BUWEMBO
Fifty years ago, the king of Buganda, Kabaka Edward Mutesa, went to England to attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. On arrival at the ceremonies, he was shocked to discover that his hosts did not exactly consider him a king, and sat him among tribal chiefs. Yet the queen of tiny Tonga was seated among true sovereigns.
On returning to Kampala, a fuming Mutesa demanded that the affairs of Buganda be removed from the British colonial office and transferred to the foreign office. The demand was ignored. It was also related to another matter – whether Buganda could enter the proposed East African federation as an entity or as part of Uganda.
After a bitter disagreement with the governor, the Kabaka was exiled to England. Because of the current happenings in Uganda, let us tell the rest of this aspect of Buganda's history in summary.
In the run-up to independence in 1962, the Baganda were understandably apprehensive and went to the Lancaster talks determined to secure a better deal for their kingdom. A straight-talking republican Muganda, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was seen as a sellout at Lancaster and became unpopular with his fellow Baganda delegates. A non-Muganda called Milton Obote promised to accommodate Buganda's interests once they returned to Kampala, with his famous remark: "I dont care whether the Baganda come by bus, boat or train, provided they are willing to come with us...". Obote was applauded as a genius and his promise of sorting out Buganda was rewarded with votes and the premiership.
True to his words, Obote sorted out Buganda. He gave Kabaka Mutesa what the British had denied him – a real state to head as president. Three years later, Obote was bored with his new president and sent an army truck to evict him from State House, Entebbe. Mutesa's personal effects were dumped at the gate of Mengo palace. Soon after, Obote sent Colonel Idi Amin to arrest Kabaka Mutesa from his palace. The Kabaka gallantly fought his way out of the palace, and the country. Twenty seven years and six presidents later, President Museveni restored the kingdom of Buganda and installed Mutesa's son, Ronald Mutebi, as Kabaka.
It was stipulated that this was a cultural kingdom and sometime at the end of 1993, Museveni cautiously reminded the Baganda that Mutebi's correct title was His Royal Highness, not His Majesty as true sovereigns are called. He did not belabour the point. After getting the cultural kingdom, the Baganda renewed their demands for a full federal status, known as "federo," which they were denied in the 1995 constitution.
In recent weeks, following several expected amendments to the national constitution, the Baganda have stepped up the federo demands. Several other districts have also started demanding their federo. Talks with the government over the issue were restarted, for the umpteenth time. It is likely that federo will be granted, not only to Buganda but to other areas that want it. That way, the government will appear not to be according Buganda a special status.
We might then see a situation similar to what happened in Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s, where several "kings" emerged, diluting the whole idea of traditional leaders. Some chaps would do lowly clerical jobs in Lagos during the week and then go upcountry and don their royal robes and preside over their kingdoms. If the districts of Karamoja, say, opt for federo, former security chief David Pulkol might become a "king" overnight and forget his anger at Museveni. Flamboyant Captain Mike Mukula would make a perfect king for Teso. Then singer Halima Namakula could become queen of Kalangala islands. (After all, she already owns a radio station, a necessary tool of government).
The government can give her Kalangala, currently part of Buganda, and compensate my king by coercing Nakasongola, another Buganda district that has been trying to pull out, to stay in Buganda. Kalangala can even be given independence before they threaten to secede and become part of Tanzania, a wish they have expressed in the past. A few other federal bosses will be encouraged to set up shop.
Hopefully, one day Mutebi will not go to a cultural function at Museveni's Rwakitura farm to find himself seated on the same bench with several federal chiefs, while Halima is seated up there with sovereign monarchs from Swaziland, Jordan and Holland. Would my Kabaka drive to Kampala in a hurry and demand that the affairs of Buganda be removed from the Ministry of Local Government and transferred to that of regional co-operation?
Joachim Buwembo is an editor with the Nation Media Group
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