Last week the 20th anniversary of Kabaka Ronald
Mutebi’s coronation was bolstered by a central government pledge to return the Kingdom’s
properties to Mengo, Buganda’s administrative center.
Reports were that among the properties to be returned were the
Kingdom’s official estates for the county (Masaza), sub-county (Amagombolola)
and properties of chiefs.
"A contest of wills between Uganda’s then President and Kabaka of Buganda Edward Mutesa II and his prime minister Milton Obote, led to the nullification of the 1962 constitution, the exiling of Mutesa, the abolition of Kingdoms and the appropriation of all Kingdom properties by the central government....
Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1993, the
return of these properties as well as the 9,000 square miles, rental arrears
accumulated by the government occupying Kingdom properties and the restoration
of autonomy to the kingdom have been at the center of the often volatile
relationship between Kampala and Mengo.
The government’s holding on to these properties has been
seen by its critics as a means to keep Mengo in check. The resources that would
come with the return would make Mengo a more credible economic force if managed
properly and a counterweight to the central government’s will, they argued.
The history of these lands bestowed on the kingdom’s elite
by the 1900 Buganda agreement, whose
restoration while a useful rallying cry by Mengo means that the cause has not
gained real traction among the everyday Muganda.
However, the perceived threat of open revolt by the most populous tribe in the country, on whose lands at least seven in every ten shillings of this country’s economic output is generated, has been a useful club to hold over Kampala’s head...
It is suggested that the management of the relationship has
cost several Kingdom prime ministers their positions in recent years and at the
top of the new Katikiro, Charles Mayiga’s agenda must be a resolution or at
least significant progress on the issue.
The latest developments therefore came at an opportune time
for the Kingdom’s young chief minister and one would not be surprised if he claimed
some credit given his long tenure as a member of the Kabaka’s cabinet.
It is not a done deal.
The nitty gritty of what, when and how will be decided over
time.
One can assume in coming negotiations each side will look to
extract maximum advantage; Mengo to get all its properties back and government
to ensure that this economic base is not turned against it, used in the aid of
its rivals.
You can be sure that both sides will be determined not to
cede any ground or when all is said and done at least sell the impression that
they have come out better off from the ordeal.
"If one was to hazard a guess it’s unlikely that negotiations will be finalized in a matter of weeks or even months....
The issue of restoring Buganda’s properties has hung like an
ominous rain cloud over our lives for the last 20 years and it would be
interesting to see how its resolution tints the political landscape in coming
years.
Whichever way you look at it the conclusion of this never
ending saga throws up interesting possibilities for the future.
While there may be fears that Mengo, emboldened by its new
found wealth would look to settle old scores by sponsoring candidates against
the ruling NRM, history of its tacit support for Reform Agenda and more
recently the Suubi coalition would play into this thinking, events could turn out
very differently.
A contented Kingdom preoccupied with unlocking the potential
of its assets for the benefit of its people may not want to rock the boat and
instead choose to maintain a status quo where its interests are guaranteed.
On the other hand fearing a complete whittling down of its
leverage over Buganda, will the central government look to extract concessions
that will guard against an unfettered Mengo falling in the with the opposition,
maybe even not deliver all the Ebyaffe retaining something for future carrot
and stick situation?
"One may question the viability of Mengo as a political force but President Yoweri Museveni’s government seems to take the view that they would rather be safe than sorry....
Whichever way you look at it, this jostling for advantage is
definitely a better alternative to the open hostility leading up to the
storming of the Lubiri in 1966, whose consequences continue to reverberate down
the ages and a situation all players seem wary to avoid.
