Buganda won't secede when given Federo

Of Kampala and Lukiiko’s mandate
Buganda won't secede when given Federo

Inside Buganda
Aug 25 - 30, 2004

The Katikkiro of Buganda Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemogerere answers two pressing questions often asked about Buganda's talks with Central Government.

The current Lukiiko is not elected. Where does it derive the powers to speak for the whole of Buganda?

This is the same accusation that was made in 1986 when the Movement government has just taken over. For a number of years it administered Uganda without being elected. The reason was that there was no machinery for holding proper elections. Right now there is no machinery for holding proper elections for Lukiiko. Elections are very expensive affairs involving millions sometimes billions of shillings. When we have problems of paying electricity and telephone bills in Bulange, where do we get billions of shillings to hold elections?

ALWAYS TRYING, YET TO SUCCEED: Ssemwogerere

This is why we want a Federo system of governance, which would be able to harness enough funds to be able to have this kind of elections. But it not true that the current Lukiiko is not fairly representative of people. It consists of the following classes of people: there are representatives of the Kabaka, representatives of the Clan Leaders' Council; each clan also has one democratically elected representative to Lukiiko. The Lukiiko also has democratically elected representatives from each of the major institutions of higher learning such as Makerere, Makerere University Business School, Kyambogo, Nkumba, Nkozi and so on; and then there are representatives of youth generally, women, workers, employers, disabled and so on. You also have democratically elected representatives of lawyers, doctors, farmers, businessmen, and other professions. Ssaza chiefs represent Buganda's 18 counties.

Why is it important that Kampala is made part of Buganda?

Government has suggested that our traditional installations should be demarcated off and transferred to Mengo Municipality, which should be either annexed to Wakiso District or form a separate district under Buganda. We agree with this position.

We also agree that, that part of Kampala, which incorporates Central Government administrative structures and institutions, should be directly administered by the Central Government as the Capital City of Uganda.

The only part with which we disagree is the fact that Kampala being administered by the central government should obliterate the geographical and historical truth that that Kampala is part of Buganda.

Constitutional and legislative provisions can be made to ensure that Kampala will always be a capital of all of Uganda.

Examples of Washington DC are given as reason for having a capital on Federal state being different from any Federal state. These examples are misleading because, less than 20% of Federal states have capitals which are separated from their Federal states. In the overwhelming majority over 80% the capitals are part of one of the Federal states. Further more, in those countries where the Federal states are separate they became separate as a result of agreement of all the parties involved, and not by force or unilateral decision forced by one side over the other.

During the colonial period there was an agreement under which the central government offered and paid a symbolic (salute) rent of one shilling per year to Buganda in exchange for establishment of Central Government administrative structures and installations in Kampala. We would like this salute restored.

Unlike the borders of the commercial city of Kampala, the borders of the administrative Capital City of Kampala, already fixed, should remain fixed.

We do not agree that any part of Wakiso or any other district should be curved off Buganda into Kampala.

The commercial city Kampala can expand as far as market forces dictate whether up to Lugazi and Bombo, Bujuko, Entebbe and beyond. This is the position with Washing DC, which extends into Maryland and Virginia.

Aug 4 - 10, 2004

As the battle of words and wits intensifies over Buganda's quest for federal status, the Katikkiro of Buganda Mr. Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere answers common questions about Federalism.

Is it true that only a small Mengo clique want federo and are forcing it on the Baganda?
Absolutely false. Justice Odoki's Commission found that 95% of the people of Buganda wanted the federal system of government. Prof. Ssempebwa's Commission similarly found that all districts of Buganda wanted to be governed under a federal system of governance. Mengo is only trying to make sure that the wishes of the overwhelming peasants of Buganda are realised. This is what democracy means.

Icon of the Federo cause: Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogerere

Does Buganda want a special position for itself?
No! Buganda wishes a federal system of government for all parts of Uganda. We made this very clear in our recommendations to the Ssempebwa Commission that the whole of Uganda should be governed under a federal system, or if some areas felt they didn't want a federal system, those areas who want a federal system should have it. This question highlights the dilemma in which Buganda finds herself. On the one hand, when we recommend that all of Uganda should be governed under a federal system, which we believe to be the most effective and appropriate system of governance, we are accused of seeking to force our views and wishes on everyone else. If on the other hand we say, give it those who want it and we want it, therefore give it to us, we are accused of seeking a special position. This is why we made both alternative recommendations, and the Ssempebwa Commission chose the recommendation that federalism should be given to those who want it.

Is Buganda opposed to decentralisation?
We support it 100%. Contrary to popular misconception, decentralisation, which really means delegating power to lower units, has always existed in Uganda and in Buganda. Under the pre-1962 administrative arrangement, the Buganda government would delegate some of its powers to ssaza (county) chiefs then to ggombolola (sub-county), then to miluka (parish) and finally to batongole (sub-parish). That was decentralisation. You cannot have an efficient type of system without delegating power to lower units to do work on your behalf. Today we believe that power and responsibilities should be delegated to districts through the LC system. So the two systems are not mutually exclusive or antagonistic to each other but would work together to ensure that services are delivered to the people. The only difference is that under a federal system of governance, you have closer supervision of district activities and more efficient ensuring of accountability, which is one of the reasons why the current decentralised system is not working well.

If power and responsibilities are already devolved on districts why do we want federalism?
Many of the districts in Uganda are so fragmented and small that they cannot carry out meaningful development. Because each district is so small, it cannot for example plan for the referral hospital, inter district roads, research centres and so on. It cannot even afford to employ experts to advise it on research, economic or social developmental issues. On the other hand two or more districts can pool resources and achieve what could not be achieved singly.

Secondly, as already stated the power and responsibilities under the current decentralised system are just delegated. This means all decisions affecting any significant development in all parts of Uganda are made in Kampala and districts are mere implementers of the Kampala decisions. A minister sitting in his air-conditioned office in Kampala may not think that giving electricity to the people of West Nile is a priority. Consequently today in the year 2004, people of West Nile have no electricity, meaning that they cannot have any industries in the area!

Under a federal system of governance, money would be allocated to West Nile, who would themselves sit down and decide on what their local priorities are. These priorities may not be obvious to the Kampala government.

Decentralisation without federalism means taking Kampala-decided services to the people without empowering those people to decide their destiny on local matters, which intimately affect their lives.

Why didn't Buganda accept the Charter?
Buganda and all other parts of Uganda quickly realised that charter arrangement as provided 1995 Constitution was a theoretical appeasement, which was incapable of practical application. History has proved this right. Busoga agreed to sacrifice herself by attempting in good faith to implement the Charter. Busoga's sacrifice has conclusively proved to the entire world that the charter arrangement cannot, as a practical matter, work at all. It is a paper arrangement.

Is it true federalism will divide people?
This is not true. Many of the most united countries in the world are under federal system of governance. I should also mention at this point that the fact that I love Buganda does not mean that I do not love Uganda. It only strengthens my love for Uganda.

One good reason for Federo is that in most areas of Uganda, you will find that 80% or more of the people who reside in those areas are born in that area. So there is no serious fear or danger that those peoples cultural heritage will be submerged or become extinct in the next few decades.

In Buganda however, a large proportion of people who reside here are people who come from other areas of Uganda and outside. As years pass, these will become more and more. Their interest needs to be accommodated. But equally important is the interest and cultural heritage of the Baganda in Buganda. If effective steps are not taken now to protect a culture of the Baganda, as more and more people settle in Buganda, Buganda culture may well become extinct while the cultures of other areas of Uganda which are not exposed to mass emigration, are preserved. Some areas of Uganda have resorted to other and more drastic methods of ejecting non-natives from their areas. Buganda, since its inception 700 years ago, has always welcomed, and will continue to welcome with open arms all other people. But it is important that this will not mean other people overwhelming Buganda cultural heritage to the extent of making Buganda culture and its culture institutions extinct.

President Yoweri Museveni recently told me that he does not support any action that might lead to ethnocide. We need to take steps now to ensure that future governance of Uganda will not result in ethnocide of non-Baganda or culturecide of Baganda.

It is our view therefore, that a constituent assembly which will decide on the future internal governance of Buganda, must consist of people who know about and are committed to the protection and preservation of our culture, as well as the culture of non-Baganda who are residing in Buganda.

Any system of future governance, which cannot ensure that our culture like that of other parts of Uganda will survive will be totally unacceptable.

Is it true Buganda wants to secede?
Absolute rubbish. Our detractors will say anything to try and scare people. How can any region realistically secede in the 21st Century? Does Buganda have an army? Does it have access to the sea? Can it receive international recognition? Buganda is an integral part of Uganda.

Is it workable for some parts of the country to be under a federal system of government while the rest are under unitary?
It is. A good example is again United Kingdom, whereas Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales largely govern themselves under devolved powers while the rest of the United Kingdom are under a unitary government.

This arrangement is working so well that other parts of the United Kingdom are going to decide later this year and early next year whether they should not also have the devolved system of governance. But for the time being the two systems are co existing quite happily.

Is Buganda seeking federo in order to levy taxes?
Although we had initially asked for taxation powers and Prof. Ssempebwa also recommended these, we have since resolved that all direct taxation should be carried out by the Central Government and not by federal states.

Are we after fat jobs?
The Ministers and Members of Lukiiko have never been paid anything at all. Instead they contribute to the upkeep of the institution. It has sheer sacrifice for the last 17 years. Finally I entreat all Ugandans to be peaceful and law-abiding as we pursue our goals. Let's respect each other's views, even if they are different from ours. Uganda is for us all.