BRAVO PRESIDENT MUSEVENI FOR CHANGE OF HEART ON BUGANDA PROPERTIES

Government returns more Buganda assets

 

President Museveni met with top Buganda kingdom officials, including Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga (on his immediate right) and Prince David Wasajja (on his immediate left). PHOTO/PPU

The news today morning of President Yoweri Museveni having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with top Buganda kingdom officials, paving way for the return of the kingdom’s properties is not easy to believe but true.  Thanks to the change of heart by His Excellence the President of Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni met with the Buganda officials at State House, Entebbe Friday evening. PHOTO/PPU

Credit for the achievement goes to the former Katikkiro of Buganda Engineer J. B. Walusimbi for the approach he used that was not confrontational is the talks, and the fruits can be seen.  Thanks so much Owekitibwa J. B.

The central government has made key concessions with the Buganda kingdom leaders, announcing a return of some of the assets the latter have been demanding for two decades.

Among other things, it has been agreed that the central government will not restrict the Buganda king when he desires to tour his kingdom.  Museveni is understood to have said that there is only one Kabaka in Buganda.

This will be a significant concession, because until now Museveni has pursued a policy that has been seen as meant to weaken the Kabaka. The Museveni government has hitherto appeared eager to embrace and protect, even promote, anyone who claimed that he was a king in his area because his people are different from the Baganda.

In a statement, State House said it was agreed to return the following assets to Buganda kingdom:
-    Land holding markets
-    Land occupied by district, county, and sub county administrations.
-    A house in London that belonged to Sir Edward Mutesa II. The house, it is said, was bought by Mutesa, but was sold by the government later. Now, we understand, Museveni has committed to compensate Buganda for that property.

Buganda will also get compensation for land holding King Fahad Plaza.
While Buganda will be happy with the concessions made by Museveni, there will still be a clamour for others, such a federal political system and the return of some 9,000 square miles of land confiscated by the central government upon abolition of the kingdoms in 1967.