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To federate or not to, that’s the question
Ministers Should Not Be MPs – Epak
Parliament Impotent – Onyango Odongo
Besigye hails Mabikke at victory party
`Don’t seek cheap popularity’
Sebaggala Advises Besigye To Return
Form body to check on MPs
Verily, the Lord Hath Confused Uganda's MPs
Mulondo Says Not Opposed To Federo
Mulondo told to apologise on federo
Don't give Buganda Federo – Mulondo
Cabinet Barred From Constitutional Review
Mengo To Give Report
Museveni to give Mengo Shs 900m
Baganda Opposed To Buganda Charter
Mengo sponsors over 4,000
Besigye wants minister, army MPs abolished
A-Level Unnecessary For MPs – Besigye
Why 'old' big cabinet is good for Museveni
Ignore Prophets Of Doom, Katikkiro Tells Museveni
Leave politics to bakopi, Museveni tells Kabaka
Besigye To Defend His Reform Charter
Youth want MP for unemployed
Buganda MPs divided on federo
Ocheger wants army, workers MPs scrapped
Federo Call Opens Law Review Hearing
Labour tells Museveni to keep off Col. Besigye
Vote federo supporters, says Buganda minister
Go For Federo – Katikkiro
Vote federalists, says Sendikaddiwa
MPs Nsambu, Lule, win federal awards
Constitutional Review Commission starts work
How Museveni inherited Obote, Ssemogerere's political empires
Contest for leadership
Baganda Warned Against Divisions
Quest for Federo still on
Baganda Urged To Make Friends Countrywide
NRM was never committed to ‘federo’
Should federo be an issue in this presidential race?
Besigye ‘Is Tired’
Lukyamuzi Proposes 14 Federal States
Can districts be states?
Keep Mengo out
Federo can unify Uganda
Vote federal candidate, Katikkiro tells Baganda
Constitutional Review Team Set
British did not give land to Baganda
I love Buganda but federo is not feasible
Buganda, beware of Besigye’s federo offer
Mengo Ministers In Besigye Campaign
The fact is that Besigye does not enjoy grassroot support
Mukono gives Col. Besigye red carpet
Kabaka, land Buganda’s concern
We must be proud of all the candidates; here's why
Besigye 'Opposed Federo'
CP backs Besigye
Museveni Explains State House Fund
Government Supposed To Fund Buganda Charter
Besigye and Sebaggala are making a big bomb
The manifestos read like agendas made in heaven
Federo will isolate all its followers from progress
From LC dens to federalism
The return of Kibirige Mayanja
Besigye still a Movementist
Its no joke; I am serious
Welcome Your Excellency Senkubuge Siasa Siasa
The political minefield of election deal cutting
Dr Besigye to declare his wealth in public
Kibirige Mayanja launches manifesto
Sebaggala Reveals Deal With Besigye
DP, Sebaggala to Back Besigye
Unholy alliance
I'm Kabaka's man, says Col. Besigye
CP will not field candidate - Lukyamuzi
Njuba to head Besigye’s Buganda campaign
UPC is still a bully, says Mayanja Nkangi

To federate or not to, that’s the question
New Vision, 12 Sept 2001
By Patrick Luganda

-- Rwagweri, Tooro’s deputy minister for education, youth and social development says the federal system will allow communities to manage themselves
 
To federate or not to federate? The question keeps bouncing back. Besweri Mulondo rekindled the controversial debate with a presentation to the constitutional review commission last week.

“A federal form of government is good but in my opinion before any firm recommendation is made is, there are issues which must be considered and evaluated,” says Mulondo.

Mulondo however, argues that the advocates of the form of governance are from one region of the country, Buganda.

“I think there has been no bother to consult, cooperate or even discuss the matter with opinion leaders of other areas of the country and therefore the battle for federalism seems to be a Buganda issue. Buganda is the only region pressing to federate with the rest of the country,” notes Mulondo.

Although Buganda appears to be the leader in the quest for federal governance, The New Vision has established that officials of the kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro, Tooro and Busoga are in active consultation with the people in order to map out a position to present to the constitutional review commission.

Mulondo has drawn the wrath of federalists in Buganda kingdom over his views on federal system of governance. In the 1995 constitutional making process, he turned the tables in the debate on the issue when he opposed the Eresu amendment. Multipartyists and federalists who tabled a motion proposing for Uganda to become a federal republic conceived the amendment.

“My contribution in the CA on the federal issue sparked off a lot of arguments, controversy and brought about abuses, insults, dirty language addressed to me. They made me an outcast, called me names and gave me a tribe outside Uganda. I became a laughing stock. People of my tribe have habitual tendencies of behaving in this manner whenever they exhaust reason,” explains Mulondo.

Officials in the Buganda kingdom say the Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda has put in place a committee headed by renowned lawyer John Katende to advise the kingdom on the position to adopt.

“The committee will advise Buganda on what type of federal system is best for Buganda. The question is whether to go and ask the people afresh, insist on the Odoki commission report or even go back to the 1962 federal system. But remember so much has happened since that time. There are many more new structures like many more districts and other things have changed,” says Tucker Lwanga, Minister of information in the Buganda kingdom.

The New Vision has learnt from sources close to the review commission that the Omukama of Bunyoro, Gafabusa Iguru has sent in a proposal to amend article 178, which concerns cooperation among districts.

“The Omukama’s proposal is seeking for the inclusion of the other kingdom districts like Busoga, Tooro, Ankole as well as Bunyoro to have the special status that Buganda was accorded in the 1995 constitution,” sources say.

In article 178, section 3 provides that ‘the districts of Buganda shall be deemed to have agreed to cooperate on the coming together of this constitution.’ The Omukama’s proposal sources say seeks to specify the particular traditional institution where the said districts belong.

“For instance the Omukama wants it to be specified that the districts of Buganda kingdom or the districts of Bunyoro kingdom shall be deemed to have agreed to cooperate. This would mean that more districts outside Buganda will find it attractive to federate and attach themselves to their culture,” says a source.

The Busoga Lukiiko will convene in special session before the end of September to find a common position on the federal issue. “We in Busoga are in support of federal. People have been sent out to consult the people on the issue. Federal will enable the blending of culture, development and governance like it was before the abolition of the Kingdoms. The Busoga government built roads, hospitals and schools. There was bulungi bwa nsi,’ a community service that has died away,” says Haji Abdulla Buyinza, Minister of Information and Kyabazinga Affairs.

In Mulondo’s submission to the review commission, he says that the federal governance is good because it allows the local government to proceed with development programmes without depending too much on the centre.

“Agitation for federalism is mostly in one region of the country and in particular by leaders of a cultural institution. It is not a general political issue. For politics it is only used during the national campaigns for particular elections and only in Buganda to woo votes from federation sympathisers,” says Mulondo.

At the expense of the threat of attacks against him by agitators of restoration to past glory for Buganda, Mulondo goes ahead to say that the region is pampered at the expense of the rest of the country.

“Areas other than Buganda look at the federal issue with suspicion. Because of the 1962-1966 experience there is a general view that Buganda is interested in a special position to the disadvantage of the rest,” says Mulondo.

Officials from the Tooro Kingdom disagree. Steven Rwagweri, Deputy Minister for Education, Youth and Social development speaking from Fort Portal says that the Tooro kingdom is carrying out consultations and will come up with a position that will be tabled before the review commission.

“We are likely to come out with a position that supports a federal system, but this is going to be after widespread consultations so that we come up with a position that will be endorsed by the kingdom parliament,” says Rwagweri.

He argues that cultural institutions cannot remain apolitical. “Cultural institutions are said to be apolitical, only if they support the political system of the day...A federal system will allow communities to manage themselves and the resources for development,” says Rwagweri.
Sponsors of federalism also say that the draining of resources to a particular region from where the top rulers originate from will be minimised. They argue that Uganda may have federalism, even if all the other regions disagree.

“We will begin with a few states especially of the kingdom areas of Bunyoro, Buganda, Busoga, Tooro and Ankole. The heads of the cultural institutions would be the constitutional heads of the federal state, while the prime ministers would be the executive heads chosen by an elected federal parliament. We will have a hybrid federal arrangement as is the case in Malaysia,” says Ken Lukyamuzi MP Lubaga South and an agitator for federal.

Mulondo rocks the federal boat when he insists that it is all a Buganda affair: “One must remember that when the 1962 constitution was abrogated it was mostly Buganda, which condemned the act. Others saw it as an end to Buganda’s position. Even today other areas with cultural leaders have started to complain that Buganda is being highly favoured. Unfortunately Buganda’s cultural leaders do not seem to appreciate this,” argues Mulondo.
Federal supporters say that the negative effects of splitting of districts into small unviable units will be cushioned by the federal state formation.

“The federal states will bring together these small districts to economically viable states able to carry out international trade agreements on behalf of their people. Regardless of the size of the federal state development will be assured,” argues Lukyamuzi.

As the arguments heat up more people are beginning to pick an interest in the viability of the federal arrangement being proposed.

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Ministers Should Not Be MPs – Epak
New Vision, 06 September 2001
By John Eremu

SEPARATE POWERS: Epak (right) before the commission. Left is John Mary Mugisha ((Photo by Francis Emorut)

MINISTERS should be appointed outside parliament to avoid the patronage of the legislature by the executive, the Constitutional Review Commission heard yesterday.

Oyam south MP Dr. Okullo Epak also told the commission that the President should have no powers to dissolve parliament. He said any stalemate between the executive and the legislature should be referred to the Constitutional Court for a ruling.

The ardent multipartyist recommended that all provisions in the 1995 Constitution that restrict political party activities should be deleted and political pluralism allowed.

Epak also defended the controversial free-car scheme for parliamentarians but said the MPs could meet the maintenance costs.

“The principle is that an MP needs transport,” Epak said. “The contention is whether the cars should be free. Most MPs are saying all key persons in the executive are provided free transport and why not MPs?”

Epak said the privileges of parliament should also include security, medical insurance, insurance against accidents and death.

The coordinator National Guidance and Empowerment Network of People Having AIDS (PHA), Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga, a lecturer at the Uganda Martyrs University, Mr. Tom Muyanja, the assistant engineering officer Masindi, Thomson Mpabaisi and a Kampala businessman, Paul Musoke, also testified before the commission’s vice-chairman, Dr. Joseph Byamugisha.

Byamugisha and commissioners Ateker Ejalu, Yusuf Kagugube, Benedict Mutyaba, Richard Todwong, Justin Okot and Prof. Asavia Wandera put the witnesses to task to defend their views.
Rubaramira advocated for a national HIV/AIDS policy. He suggested that the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) should be scrapped and a National Trustee on HIV/AIDS created to look for funds to treat those infected by the HIV.

“UAC has outlived its usefulness and the tax payers money should be redirected to treatment-based approaches since almost all Ugandans know what they want and what HIV/AIDS is all about,” Ruranga said.

While advocating for a federal system, Epak said a referendum should first be held on the issue. He said the clauses on land ownership as provided in the 1995 Constitution should remain.

Epak, who heads the Public Accounts Committee, said a special legislation should be enacted, giving the Auditor General more independence and powers to scrutinise classified expenditure and impose sanctions on stubborn public officers.

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Parliament Impotent – Onyango Odongo
New Vision, 05 September 2001
John Eremu.

READ ARTICLE 93: Odongo Onyango before the commission yesterday (Arthur Kintu)

THE former director of mass mobilisation at the Movement Secretariat, Mr. Onyango Odongo, has described Uganda’s Parliament as impotent, reports John Eremu.

Onyango, while appearing before the Constitutional Review Commission yesterday, demanded that the President’s executive powers of appointment, including designating army officers, be removed and vested in an independent authority.

He called for a full return to multiparty politics and the adoption of a federal system of governance based on the 1962 Constitution model.

Under the guidance of the deputy lead counsel, Ms. Angela Kiryabwire, Onyango said the 1995 Constitution was the worst ever drafted constitution in Uganda because it removed power from the people and Parliament and vested it in the President.

He said the decision by the Executive to sell off the Uganda Commercial Bank and to send troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo without consultation demonstrated Parliament has no powers.

“If any fool still has doubt about the impotence of the Uganda Parliament, that person should read Article 93 of the 1995 Constitution,” Onyango said in a memorandum.

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___________________________

Restriction on Financial matters

 93. Parliament shall not, unless the bill or the motion is introduced on behalf of the Government-
(a) proceed upon a bill, including an amendment bill, that makes provision for any of the following-
(i) the imposition of taxation or the alteration of taxation otherwise than by reduction; or
(ii) the imposition of a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public fund of Uganda or  the alteration of any such charge otherwise than by reduction; or
(iii) the payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund or other public fund of  Uganda of any moneys not charged on that fund or any increase in the amount of that  payment, issue or withdrawal; or
(iv) the composition or remission of any debt due to the Government of Uganda; or
(b) proceed upon a motion, including an amendment to a motion, the effect of which would be to make provision for any of the purposes specified in paragraph (a) of this article.

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 Besigye hails Mabikke at victory party
The Monitor, September 04, 2001 07:53:06
By Siraje K. Lubwama and Patrick J. Okech

Various multipartyists Members of Parliament criticized President Yoweri Museveni and the Movement system of government at victory celebrations for Makindye East MP, Michael Mabikke, at Ggaba Beach Complex, Sept 2.

Winnie Byanyima (Mbarara municipality) excited the celebrations when she delivered a message from her husband and former presidential candidate, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, who recently fled to the U.S.

“Col. Besigye thanks Mabikke for his political support. He also thanks DP (Democratic Party) president, Dr. Paul Ssemogerere and his former special campaign manager, Nasser Sebaggala," Byanyima said.

"To Ugandans, he says that like it or not, he will be back because he is not a coward."

Mabikke was Besigye's special national campaign secretary general.
Byanyima said that it is time for a multiparty system of government in Uganda. "Museveni should not think that we shall always sing his song,” she said.

Each of the MPs whom the master of ceremony, Abbey Mukiibi, a presenter on CBS FM, called to the podium, sharply criticized President Museveni.

“People cannot tolerate a president who claims to have stopped war in the country when for the 15 years of his reign we’re still witnessing wars in some parts of the country,” said Omara Atubo (Atuke).

Ken Lukyamuzi (Lubaga South) said the call he and Mabikke recently made to impeach Museveni over the sale of the Uganda Commercial Bank is still in the waiting.

Mabikke thanked supporters for voting for him overwhelmingly, and promised to fulfill his pledges of advocating federo (federalism), multiparty politics, changing the Land Act and advocating for a reduction in taxes.

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`Don’t seek cheap popularity’
The Monitor, September 04, 2001 08:04:27
By Jackson Ssebunza

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Semwogerere has urged Makindye East MP, Micheal Mabikke to fight hard to see that Buganda is granted a federo status by the seventh parliament.
He also advised the young MP not to seek cheap popularity.

"I congratulate you upon your election and remind you of your promise to champion the federo cause for your Kingdom," the deputy Katikkiro, Kaaya Kavuma said on behalf of his boss, who was supposed to be the chief guest at Mabikke’s victory party held at Gaba Beach over the weekend.

The Katikkiro reminded Mabikke and other MPs from Buganda about Buganda's official position on federo, land and the return of Buganda’s property.

The Katikkiro urged Mabikke to be tolerant, talk substance and avoid seeking cheap popularity.

Mabikke promised not to let down his constituents and Buganda.

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Sebaggala Advises Besigye To Return
New Vision, 04 September 2001
By Opiyo Oloya, Vivian Asedri in USA and Geoffrey Kamali

JOYFUL: Mabikke and Kaaya Kavuma at the victory party at Ggaba Beach Hotel in Kampala (Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu)

FORMER Kampala mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala has asked former presidential candidate Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, now in the US, to return home and fight for political reform from within.

“I call upon Winnie Byanyima to ask her husband to come back and face jail from here,” he told a big crowd at a victory party in honour of Makindye East MP Michael Mabikke at the Ggaba Beach Hotel on Sunday.

“I’ll offer him my small mattress (on his way to jail) but at the end, we will win,” Sebaggala, a special campaign manager for Besigye during the recent presidential campaigns, added.

Sebaggala who spoke in Luganda, said a politician must always be prepared for three things in his political life: jail, death and victory.

Mabikke beat former Uganda Railways Corporation boss Enos Tumusiime and Uganda’s envoy to the UN, Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka, in the recent parliamentary elections.

The party was attended by multiparty bigwigs, who included DP chief Paul Ssemogerere, MPs Omara Atubo, Reagan Okumu, Okullo Epak, Yona Kanyomozi, Ken Lukyamuzi, Nobert Mao, Nsubuga Nsambu and Winnie Byanyima.

Lukyamuzi (Rubaga South) and Winnie (Mbarara Municipality) arrived late and almost stole the show as the crowds cheered and chanted wildly, interrupting speakers.

Sebaggala said he had heard that some people intended to stand for the Kampala mayorship and warned them, saying the incumbent, Ssebaana Kizito, “is still around.”

He then started singing, “Hajji alagidde...,” sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Ssemogerere urged Mabikke to remember those who helped him during his campaign and his party’s ambitions and interests.

Lukyamuzi said his and Mabikke’s plan to impeach President Yoweri Museveni is on hold, “just awaiting the right moment.” He asked the crowd to reject the high power tariffs.

Okullo Epak said he wanted to see the abolition of graduated tax while Omara Atubo asked the Baganda to “sacrifice a bit” as they ask government to grant them a federal status.

Byanyima said her husband was not a coward and would return home but called on the Government to “leave him alone.”

She said the Movement system would soon be disbanded by Parliament to be replaced by a multi-party system. She asked the crowd to pray for her to overcome her pending court case.

Mabikke pledged to fight for the interests of his constituents, which he said are high taxes, federo and multi-party politics.

Meanwhile, Former presidential candidate Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye will not rule out the return to armed struggle to effect political change in Uganda.

Besigye made the remark while responding to a question by The New Vision during a two-hour interview in Detroit, USA, where he was attending the 13th Annual Uganda North American Convention.

He said his broad objectives included spending a few weeks in America before leaving for Britain and eventually returning to Africa where he plans to have dialogue with countries with influence on Uganda including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Libya.

Looking relaxed and jovial, Besigye narrated how in the post-presidential election, there were attempts to link him with the ADF rebels.

He said part of the plot involved using retired army officers to trap him into discussing the idea of uprising against the government.

He said the plan flopped because he did not believe in a bloody uprising as a means of achieving change, and he advised the would-be double agents that the best way to effect change was through political dialogue.

The annual Uganda North American Association convention which opened in Detroit Michigan last Friday, in which Besigye is making his first public appearance among Ugandans in the US since he fled there two weeks ago, has been plagued by miserable attendance by Uganda-Americans.

The theme of the three-day convention is, “Celebrating the African Heritage.”

In a telephone interview on Saturday from Marriot Hotel, the venue of the convention, a participant, Mr. Vincent Nsubuga, said only about 50 people registered to attend. Of these, about 20 were part of a delegation of businessmen from Uganda led by Mr. Ibrahim Kibirige, the managing director of BMK, and Mr. Hood Mayanja of Hood Transports.

The average number of participants in the previous annual conventions has been 1,000 people.

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Form body to check on MPs
Sunday Vision, 2 Sep 2001
By John Eremu

Cross checking: Mugisha (left) and Twimukye, at the commission hearing, Thursday.

A SEPARATE organ should be established to check on the excesses of parliamentarians, the Constitutional Review Commission has been told.
John Bigyemano, a broadcast journalist, while testifying before the commission on Wednesday, also said a performance audit of all MPs and public servants should be regularly done to weed out non-performers and those who dodge sessions.
Bigyemano told the session chaired by the commission's vice, Dr. Joseph Byamugisha, that it posed a conflict of interest if parliament was to determine its own privileges and emoluments.
“Uganda is a poor country and the majority of those working in both public and private sectors are poorly remunerated, so for MPs to sit and decide on their emoluments is unfair and immoral,” Bigyemano said
Ugandan MPs, during the sixth parliament, awarded themselves packages amounting to over sh3m a month. The newly elected seventh parliament is advocating to be given free cars, medical insurance of over sh2m a year, and that the tax payers look after the widows and children of their dead colleagues.
Under the guidance of the lead counsel John Mary Mugisha, Bigyemano suggested that the body to determine the emoluments of the MPs should comprise of people of high integrity who are conversant with the status of our economy as well as the average cost of living of Ugandans.
He advocated for dual citizenship and opposed federalism in favour of decentralisation.
NUDIPU chief, Macline Twimukye as well as the boss of the Uganda National Association for the Blind (UNAB), Richard Anguyo, said representation of disadvantaged groups in parliament should be maintained.

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