IN a bid to force through his proposed land law amendments, President Yoweri Museveni is reportedly considering a referendum as a means to counter the strong resistance he is facing from Buganda Kingdom officials over the issue.
I humbly submit that a referendum will serve no useful purpose. Aside from the fact that President Museveni's poll-handling credentials are not that great, I think he would do well to understand the root causes of the resistance he is facing. It would save a lot of time and energy.
You see, if President Museveni had proposed the same amendments in say 1995, they would have passed without so much as a whimper from Ugandans. 2007 is a different matter altogether! What has changed?
Public trust and confidence that the highest office in the land is still able to find real solutions to the economic and political problems of this country!
The likes of the Basajjabalaba cash bail-out, the Agoa/Tristar/Kananathan gifting, Shimoni/Aya, and the recent attempt to hand over part of Mabira Forest to Mehta Group have all taken their toll on President Museveni's reputation as an economic miracle-worker. Also, I dare say, the malicious, almost vindictive, mistreatment of Dr Kizza Besigye in 2005 in a bid to prevent his candidature dented President Museveni's reputation.
The resistance to the land amendments therefore is first and foremost a message that the public's trust is lost. It is not an easy message to hear, but it is the reality. My humble request to our President therefore is to find it in himself to listen intently to what the people are saying. He should remember that once upon a time both might and right were on his side. It is a sad day indeed when he must only rely on might to achieve his 'mission'.
Land Act: Why is Buganda breathing fire on changes?Legislators warn of genocide
The increasing land wrangles in the country might erupt into violence and genocide if government does not regulate the land laws suitably, legislators have warned. Kawempe South MP Ssebuliba Mutumba said corruption and dishonesty in sharing public resources equitably, especially land could spark unprecedented genocidal force.
He said the way the government was handling laws regulations vis-à-vis the proposed amendments in Land Act (1998) will create violence among communities. “This business of not sharing public resources equitably and the way the Land Act is likely to be changed, it is inevitable that people will “cut” (kill) each other,” Ssebuliba said recently.
He who is also the vice chairman of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), opposed government’s decision to amend sections of the Land Act (1998) without consulting all stakeholders.
“Similar problems [genocide] have happened elsewhere in the world and in the neighbouring Rwanda. The president should not be shocked when his ‘people’ [Balaalo] are attacked,” he cautioned.
Amuria county MP and Disaster Preparedness State minister Musa Ecweru said the amendments were have good intentions but it could lose direction. “The intentions for making the amendments are good and we pray that the law comes in place to cure the problems associated with land,” Ecweru said.
“We hear that there is a new batch of them [Balaalo] in Teso but they are occupying wetlands. How can you be a bona fide occupant in a wetland to benefit from the proposed new law? They have to leave.”
Ecweru, though now a member of the cabinet, raised eye brows when still commander of a militia group, the Arrow Boys, that fought the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Soroti, when he flogged the Balaalo who had encroached on Teso wetlands.
Outspoken former Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi also the president general for the Conservative Party (CP) says, “It’s a shame to undervalue people. Even the proposed East African federation cannot succeed unless people are given a chance to decide on the way forward.” He said people must be properly consulted to make their input in the new land law.
Democratic Party (DP) president Mr Ssenaana Kizito said that land wars will be inevitable given the way the government is handling the land question. He said the on-going land wrangles were initiated by President Museveni simply to gain cheap political popularity.
“He [Museveni] is trying to destroy the relationship between the landlords and tenants so that he emerges a savior after creating confusion. He wants to create a land revolution but this will cost him a lot,” Ssebaana said adding, “I also have fears that genocide is getting closer.” He said Museveni’s intention was to suppress Buganda’s legacy and strengthen the Chwezi Empire.
“Museveni has it [promoting the Chwezi] at the back of his mind because that is where he belongs. It’s actually no surprise that Balaalo are grabbing land every where,” Ssebaana said adding that, “It’s a ploy to reinstate the Chwezi.”
FDC Publicist, Mr Wafula Oguttu said land was a delicate issue which government must handle with the utmost sensitivity it deserves. “Land is a very explosive thing globally and in the Ugandan context, Buganda has a unique tenure system and to undo it government has to be very (careful),” he said by telephone.
Wafula also said that the new set of amendments is targeted at the protection of the Balaalo herdsmen currently roaming in various parts of the country. “We have information that a meeting sat in Rwakitura in 2004 and a plan was hatched to ensure that the Balaalo occupy land everywhere in the country and guarantee their stay by drafting a law but all this brings no good to this country except fuelling tension,” he said. from monitor
MMENGO yeekengende entegeka ya Gavumenti okugula ettaka ku balina ebyapa ng’ekozesa ssente ze yasabye Kkwiini, n’egamba nti kano kakodyo ka kumalawo ttaka lya Buganda.
Kino kiddiridde enteese-ganya wakati wa Museveni ne Katikkiro wa Bungereza, Gord-on Brown mwe bakkaanyirizza okuddamu okwanjula okusaba kwa Uganda mu Palamenti ya Bungereza baweereze obuka-dde bwa doola 70 (eza Uganda obuwumbi 124) buli mwaka okumala emyaka 10 zigule ettaka ku bannannyini lyo lidde mu mikono gy’abeebibanja n’okusasulira bakaawonawo.
Omwogezi wa Mmengo, Medard Lubega yagambye nti bakizudde nti gavumenti eyagala okukozesa ssente ezo nga yeefudde erumirirwa abeebibanja, egule ettaka ku bantu bonna abalirina kyokka oluvannyuma gavumenti esigaze obuyinza obw’enkomeredde ku ttaka eryo.
Yannyonnyodde nti wadde abeebibanja bajja kubawa ebyapa oluvannyuma lw’okugula ettaka ku nnyini lyo, gavumenti ejja kusigaza kye yayise ‘Radical title’ nga kigiwa obuyinza okusalawo ku kinaakolerwa ku ttaka eryo era nga ne bw’eba erina ky’eyagala okulikolerako, oweekibanja ta-beera na buyinza kuligaanira.
“Ku nkomerero, ettaka lyonna lijja kudda mu mikono gya gavumenti kubanga essente ezinaaba ziriguze zijja kuba ziyise mu yo, Abaganda ne Buganda biviiremu awo.” Lubega bwe yagasseeko.
Yagambye nti Mmengo tewa-kanya kya baabibanja kwegula bwe babeera bakkaanyizza ne bannannyini ttaka, wabula yeekengera gavumenti okuba-kozesa okumalawo ettaka.
Ku ky’okussa ‘kaviti’ ku mayiro 9,000 okutuusa ng’e-nteeseganya wakati wa Mmengo ne gavumenti baa-kisanyukidde kyokka ne bagamba nti beetaaga obu-wandiike obulaga kalonda yenna akwata ku ttaka lino.
ABAKULEMBEZE b’abavubuka mu Buganda bagambye nti waliwo omunene mu Gavumenti ng’ono y’akulira akakundi k’abakungu mu gavumenti abasomba Abalaalo nga babayiwa ku ttaka lya Buganda oluvannyuma babasengulewo balyekomye.
“Tetumanyi Balaalo bano gye bakuluumulukuka nga bayiibwa mu Buganda naye tukizudde nga twesigama ku kunoonyereza kwe tukoze nti waliwo abanene mu gavumenti abali emabega w’enteekateeka eno. Omulwamwa gwakunyaga ttaka lyaffe,” ssentebe w’olukiiko olugatta abavubuka bano Joseph Kawuki bwe yategeezezza Bukedde ng’olukiiko lwabwe olwatudde mu Bulange okuteesa ku ttaka lwakaggwa.
Yagambye nti abavubuka bagenda kweyunga ku kakiiko akakulirwa Betty Nambooze okutalaaga Buganda bamanyise abantu ebikyamu ebiri mu bbago ly’etteeka ly’ettaka.
YOU BAGANDA HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DANCING WITH THE DEVIL, VOTING FOR HIM EVEN AGAINST YOUR OWN (SSEMOGERERE). NOW FACE THE MUSIC. NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE PITTY ON A SNAKE CHARMER BITTEN BY A SNAKE.
NO ONE CAN HAVE PITTY FOR A SNAKE CHARMER BITTEN BY A SNAKE. YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS VOTED FOR MUSEVENI, EVEN AGAINST YOUR OWN (SSEMOGERERE). FACE THE MUSIC, NOW.
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