WE NEED TO PRAY FOR BUGANDA MPs IN PARLIAMENT TO REMAIN UNITED OVER BUGANDA DEMANDS

Buganda’s demands still stand - Katikkiro

Some of the MPs who attended the Wakiso meeting on Friday. Photo by Martin Ssebuyira By Mercy Nalugo Posted Sunday, July 22 2012 at 01:00 In Summary Recovering debts. Buganda MPs to meet President over the Shs27b that government owes Kabaka Mutebi’s monarchy. Buganda is still keen on its demands from the government and will not give up until the State gives in, the kingdom Katikkiro has said. In a statement presented to the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus during a one-day retreat at Katomi Kingdom Resort, Wakiso District on Friday, the first deputy prime minister of Buganda, Mr Emmanuel Ssendaula, who represented Eng. J.B Walusimbi, named some of the demands as returning Buganda’s 9000sq miles and granting a federo system of governance. The kingdom also wants government to clear an outstanding debt that has accumulated to Shs27 billion among other demands. Mr Ssendaula urged legislators to put Buganda issues above those of their political parties so that they move in unison in a retreat that was meant to tackle a range of issues. “Let us put our parties and religious affiliations aside and discuss Buganda’s issues as the Buganda Caucus. Be proud of your culture and traditions and development will come automatically,” said Mr Ssendaula. Speaking about the failed talks between Mengo and the central government, Mr Ssendaula said Mengo is trying out other avenues through which the talks could be held. “We are not only quiet but we are looking at the issues to be discussed and how they would be handled,” said Mr Ssendaula. Share This Story Share He said they would also recognise and reward some of the youth that were imprisoned following the Kayunga riots. The legislators, in a meeting chaired by Mr Godfrey Kiwanda, agreed to meet President Museveni to put forward all the kingdom’s demands, which they said had remained unanswered for a long time. “We shall also put forward documents indicating the government’s outstanding debts so that they can be cleared. We should think of meeting the President as soon as possible,” said Mr Kiwanda. Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who presented a report on strengthening the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus, urged her colleagues to show solidarity towards Buganda issues. Don’t fight Buganda “The kingdom of Buganda is so pronounced that one cannot claim to be part of the Buganda Caucus while fighting the kingdom,” she said. Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya tipped legislators that poverty was on the rise in the kingdom. “We are all leaders but who is a true leader? For me a true leader must be a day dreamer and must make this dream come true. We must think about which package we are giving our people,” said Prof. Bukenya. Whereas Ministers; Ruth Nankabirwa (Microfinance) and Rose Namayanja (Luweero Triangle) apologised that they would not attend the retreat, the Vice President, Mr Edward Ssekandi, who was supposed to officiate the retreat, did not show up. It is only the Minister for Trade, Ms Amelia Kyambadde, that attended and urged MPs to embrace cooperatives. mnalugo@ug.nationmedia.com