Stop it! Bishop Lwanga tells Museveni, Kabaka



AL-MAHDI SSENKABIRWA

RUBAGA



THE Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, has called on President Yoweri Museveni and the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Mutebi II to desist from fighting in public media and resolve the impasse over land through dialogue.



Delivering his Christmas Message on Saturday at Rubaga Cathedral, Dr Lwanga said the kingdom's demands, particularly the issue of land, are sensitive and might lead to war if not properly handled.

"The issue of land is very serious and pertinent and from land, unending wars can erupt. As we celebrate this Christmas, we pray that our leaders [President and Kabaka] move from confrontation to dialogue so as to resolve the escalating impasse".



He added, "Adhering to our national motto "For God and My Country" is a good guide. Consequently, whatever we do, be it the government, churches or individuals, we should not leave God out and if we do, the result is conflict, injustice, unjust laws and lack of peace."



Dr Lwanga's advice comes days after President Museveni wrote to the Kabaka, expressing his concerns about what he described as "intrigue, bad faith and seditious tendencies" at Mengo and warned that unless such issues are addressed, no meeting would be held between the two.



A meeting between the Kabaka and the President that had been scheduled for December 18 aborted. Mengo pulled out at the last minute meeting citing "unavoidable circumstances" and sought a postponement.



In his letter, Mr Museveni said there are some cliques in Mengo claiming to be speaking on behalf of Buganda Kingdom and using CBS FM, the kingdom's radio station, to spread lies about the proposed amendments to the Land Act of 1998.



Dr Lwanga blamed the government for pushing for the land amendments in the guise of protecting Bibanja holders yet many are being evicted from their land with State help.



"The area of contention is how the government proposes a law to help the Bibanja people and yet the same government has kept silent on the victims being evicted from land by people who seem to have armed protection," he said. Buganda believes the new Land Bill 2007 will facilitate the grabbing of the kingdom's land.



But the government insists that the Bill is aimed at solving land disputes. The proposed Land Amendment Bill 2007 seeks to amend some sections of the Land Act 1998.



Dr Lwanga said misunderstandings on land stemmed from the fact that it was not Buganda government that was evicting Bibanja holders but instead people from outside Buganda who buy land and evict people without compensating them.



"People who live on Kabaka's land have never been evicted by the Kabaka. To the contrary, the Kabaka allows them to settle peacefully. The pastoralists who come armed and occupy land are the problem but we have not heard of any action against them," the Archbishop said.



Recently, the Kabaka said his Kingdom would not support the new land Bill and expressed gratitude towards his people for rejecting it. Dr Lwanga said Buganda had genuine demands which the government should address constitutionally.



"Every one knows that Buganda has genuine demands and at times, such issues have to be tackled using the Constitution. The issue of resolving land conflicts is well stipulated in the Constitution and we think this path should also be exploited."



He also took a swipe at MPs whom he said had failed to execute their duty in regard to the proposed land amendments.

"It is the duty of parliamentarians to go back to their constituencies and seek people's views on the proposed land Bill but this has not yet happened as required by the law. It would be improper for them [MPs] to discuss the Bill [Land] without people's input," Dr Lwanga said.



Two weeks ago, Cabinet approved the proposed land Amendment Bill, which has since been discussed in the NRM parliamentary Caucus.

Bya Angel Lubowa

ne Ahmed Kateregga



NSUBUGA Nsambu eyalondeddwa Kabaka okubeera omumyuka wa Katikkiro wa Buganda alayidde nti k’atuuka e Mmengo omulimu gw’asookerako kulwanirira ttaka n’ategeeza nti tawagira kya Gavumenti ya Kabaka kuteesa na Pulezidenti Museveni wabula okugendayo okumubanja ebya Buganda.



“Ettaka lya Buganda si lyakuteesaako kubanga lyaffe n’olwekyo tetujja kumala biseera wabula okulibanja. Omuluvu ennyo y’alowooza nti ayinza okulibba ng’era ow’amaddu bwayinza okulowooza nti anakwata mu nsaka y’ennyama etokota abbemu ekifi akibatike kyokka ng’ajja kukiwanda,” bwe yategeezezza.



Bino Nsambu yabitegeezezza abasasi ba Bukedde eggulo.



Yagambye nti: Kabaka yandibadde yampa dda obuvunaanyizibwa e Mmengo kubanga neeraga dda nti ku ttaka n’ebyennono we nsibira ettutwa ssisumulula.



Yannyonnyodde nti Pulezidenti Museveni mukyamu okulowooza nti Abaganda basiru mu kifo ky’okubebaaza olw’okumuwagira mu lutalo lw’omu nsiko n’abacojjanya bucojjanya n’atuuka n’okwagala okusambira engabanya y’ettaka mu ndagaano ya 1900 kye yagambye nti kijja kumulakira n’awera nti n’e Mmengo agenda kusigala ng’awanda muliro nga bw’abadde.



Kyokka Katikkiro wa Uganda, Polof. Apolo Nsibambi asanyukidde nnyo Kabaka okulonda Ying. J. B. Walusimbi ku bwakatikkiro bwa Buganda n’agamba nti musajja mukwatampola amanyi okuteesa ajjidde mu kiseera w’abadde asinga okwetaagirwa.



Nsibambi yagambye nti amanyi bulungi Ying. Walusimbi kuba bombi baali bakungu ba Kabaka mu lukiiko lw’obwassaabataka olw’oku ntikko oluvannyuma olwafuuka Olu-kiiko lwa Buganda n’aga-mba nti olw’okuba mukwatampola ajja kusobolera ddala okukwata obulungi ensonga z’obwakabaka.



Ate omulamuzi wa Buganda eyawummula Mw. A. D. Lule yagambye nti wadde ye ne Walusimbi baaweereza e Mmengo mu biseera bya njawulo, nti kyokka amanyi Ying. Walusimbi ng’omusajja omuntumulamu era omwesimbu.



Lule yawakanyizza ebyabadde bigambibwa nti Haji Nsambu tasaanidde kubeera mumyuka wa Katikkiro nti kubanga akaayanira obwassenkaggale bwa CP n’agamba nti e Mmengo kkung’aniro lya ndowooza z’ebyobufuzi zonna nti era Kabaka b’asiima okuweerezaayo tekibeetaagisa kweggyako ndowooza zaabwe mu byobufuzi.



Ate Katikkiro w’Ekika ky’Enkima, Omutaka Nick Ssali yagambye nti okuweereza e Mmengo tekitegeeza kweyambula bukulu bulala n’anokolayo Ssaabalabizi eyawummula Mpalanyi Nkooyooyo, nti tekimwetaagisa kubweggyako asooke afuuke omukungu wa Kabaka.



Published on: Tuesday, 1st January, 2008

Nadduli alabudde ku tteeka ly’ettaka



Bya Ahmed Kateregga



SSENTEBE wa NRM mu Luweero era mmemba ku kakiiko akasomesa ku by’ettaka e Mmengo, Al-Haji Abdul Nadduli agambye nti gavumenti esaana okulongoosa ebbago ly’etteeka ly’ettaka si kulwa nga liyinula abasaalimbira mu ttaka lya bannaabwe.



Yabadde ayogera n’omusasi ono yagambye nti obwannannyini ku ttaka ne ku bibanja butegeerekeka bulungi naye obwannannyini ku basenze ab’engeri endala nga bwe kiri mu tteeka ly’ettaka ne mu bbago erigenderera okulirongoosa, busobola okuyinula abasaalimbira ku ttaka.



Published on: Wednesday, 2nd January, 2008

from bukedde

Implications of the Museveni-Kabaka stand-off



The pulling of ropes between the central government based at State House Nakasero and the Central kingdom of Buganda over the land question seems set to define Uganda’s political landscape in the New Year.



Whether planned talks between the President and the Kabaka of Buganda will yield an amicable solution remains to be seen but the signs so far are not good. Ali Madhi Senkabirwa and Robert Mwanje explore.



The awaited meeting between the Buganda King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and President Museveni is viewed as a solution to the land woes currently sweeping the entire country particularly Buganda,but solving land matters seem to be beyond mere talks.



The president has repeatedly expressed willingness to meet the Kabaka to discuss the touchy issues regarding the proposed amendments to the 1998 Land Act.



However, Mr Museveni’s stand contravenes the kingdom’s elders’ stand that the former should only meet the Kabaka’s delegation rather him. Mr Museveni is today pushing for direct talks with the Kabaka on grounds that the earlier negotiations in 2005 between him and Kabaka’s delegation didn’t yield fruits.



A meeting between the Kabaka and the President that had been scheduled for December 18 aborted when Mengo pulled out at the last minute citing "unavoidable circumstances" and sought a postponement something which seem to have annoyed the president.



Buganda Information Minister, Medard Lubega is sharply pessimistic that the talks would give a solution to the land question.

He says the president should not use the basis of the first failed talks to demand for direct talks with the Kabaka.



“The Kabaka will decide on the mode of meeting with the president but the president should not dictate since no one can dictate against the other,” Lubega says.



He says the president has not checked his side (Government) as a possible factor that could have caused the collapse of the earlier talks.



“The president is basing his argument on a very weak issue. Possibly, it was his side’s failure to understand the kingdom’s demands,” he said.Land owes hit crisis levels recently when government presented the new proposed amendments in the 1998 Land Act.



But Premier Apollo Nsibambi says the president and Kabaka should be given an opportunity to decide on the mode of their meeting.



“It’s proper for them to agree on the mode of their meeting. They can choose to first meet personally and then later the delegation from Mengo finalises every thing,” Nsibambi said.



Cabinet has already approved the proposals and the same proposals have since been discussed in the ruling NRM parliamentary Caucus. The new five –clause Bill seeks to amend some sections of the already controversial 1998 Land Act.



The proposed amendments have already caused a storm across the country with several interest groups rejecting the government's moves to limit the constitutional powers of the Judiciary to adjudicate land disputes. Others are questioning the government's motives in pushing the changes now.



The campaign against the land amendments recently prompted President Museveni to write to the Kabaka urging him to restrain CCEC members, from using the Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) radio. The president said CCEC members were claiming to be speaking on behalf of Mengo and were peddling lies about the amendments to the 1998 Land Act.



Mr Museveni said such people, who include Betty Nambooze, were inciting Ugandans, particularly the Baganda, saying that the Government has a sinister scheme to grab their land. The president warned that if the Kabaka fails to restrain his people from decampaign the amendments, no meeting would held between the two.



The 2006 Constitutional Amendment Act provides for regional governments headed by a directly elected chief executive. In Buganda, it is proposed that the chief executive assumes the title of Katikkiro but Mengo is opposed to this. This has been the bone of contention in now stalled negotiations between the Kingdom and the central government.



Controversial public lands that government has parceled out to prospective investors or converted use for the benefit of individuals have all come together to turn the country into one big land confusion hub.



Land pundits say land crisis has in the past been orchestrated a failure by people in government to balance broad political interests and individual economic gains, a fact demonstrated by persistent efforts to please the voting peasants who are mainly tenants at the expense of the economically vibrant landlords, especially those acquiring land in Buganda today.



Police last week summoned Buganda Kingdom Minister for Research, David Mpanga and two CBS presenters - Meddie Nsereko and Daudi Zziwa - to answer charges of inciting violence and promoting sectarianism while debating the land amendments. The trio, who were due to appear for interrogation by detectives on December 29, did not honour the summons claiming they were issued at "short notice". The police say they would issue fresh summons at a later date.



The Kingdom Information Minister, Medard Lubega Ssegoona yesterday described the Police action as a sign to intimidate all those spearheading the land debate.



“This [summoning] is not an issue of individuals but the entire kingdom and Police should summon us all,” said Ssegoona adding “But we are not seated also, a team of over 10 reputable lawyers is on stand by to represent whoever will be summoned in connection with the land debate issue,” he said on telephone.



“They [Mengo officials] had suggested reporting on Wednesday but they are not the ones to determine when to come. They are not on our Wednesday programme and another date is yet to be fixed,” she said.



Last week, Police also quizzed Makindye West MP Hajj Hussein Kyanjo over matters related to inciting violence. Hajj Kyanjo is a member of the Central Civic Education Committee (CCEC) which is spearheading Buganda’s drive to decampaign the land amendments. Ssegoona said once the officials are re-summoned, they would be accompanied by the kingdom Attorney general, Nelson Apollo Makubuya and the entire cabinet.



A couple of months ago, the Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) also rejected the proposed amendments describing the whole thing as “a grand scheme to disenfranchise landlords under the guise of protecting peasants and other types of tenants.” from monitor

Gavt. ekome ku bakozesa emmundu okubba ettaka



Bya Nuhu Muzaata Bate



Okusooka ffe Abasiraamu tetujja kukkiriza bbago lya tteeka ly’ettaka Gavumenti ly’eyagala okutupaatiikako era anekkiriranya anaaba atongozza ekibbattaka mu ggwanga kubanga ebiri mu bbago lino si bya kulongoosa era ebinaavaamu bigenda kutusiikulira mpalana egenderera okwawukanya mu bantu.



Ekintu ttaka kiteekwa okwegenderezebwa ennyo kuba kyawudde mu bantu bangi. Okugeza entalo ze tuwulira mu Palesitina ne Yisirayiri ezirimu okuyiwa omusaayi ziva ku ttaka.



Gavumenti emanye nti Allah teyali musiru okutonda buli muntu n’amussa w‘ali era buli lw’oyagala okukyusakyusa mu ntegeka ye okuzza oba okusenza omuntu Katonda w’ataamutondera obeera oleeta buzibu kuba obeeera ogootaanyizza enteekateeka ya Katonda.



Ettaka Allah yakiraba nga kya mugaso nnyo eri buli muntu n’akyogerako mu kitabo ekitukuvu Koran nti omuntu wadde abbye oluta lumu olw’ettaka waakuvunaanibwa ku lunaku lw’enkomerero .



Kati njagala buli Musiraamu okweggyamu okwekkiriranya. Amagezi amalala ffe nga Abasiraamu twagala okukyusa mu Ssemateeka agobererwa akakiiko k’oku ntikko akafuga Obusiraamu Uganda Supreme Council kakendeeze ku maanyi g’abakakulira okusalawo ekyenkomeredde ku byobugagga by’Omusiraamu .



Ekirala Gavumenti ekome ku bantu baayo abayitiridde okutiisatiisa abantu n’emmundu nga baagala okubanyagako ettaka.



(Nuhu Muzaata y’akulira Ba Imaam).



Ate Sulaiman Kakeeto akulira Abatabuliiki agamba nti:



Ku mbeera eriwo njagala Gavumenti etuule ku mmeeza emu eteeseganye ne Mmengo nga bwe yakola ku Kony .



Mu nteeseganya enjuyi zombi zirina okuwulirizibwa nga buli omu ebyetaago bye bitunulwamu . Obusiraamu bugamba nti omuntu yenna eyeebuuza n’ateesa ne banne tatera kwejjusa. Kale enjuyi zombi bwe zinaateesa bafube okulaba nti batereeza, balongoosa n’okuzimba naye si kwawulamu.



Obutateesa kigenda kuvaamu okubba ettaka Allah kye yavumirira era n’awa n’ekibonerezo nti omuntu anabba ettaka wadde luta lumu oba nkumbi emu ku lunaku lw’enkomerero bagenda kumusiba ekizibiti ky’e ttaka okuva mu nsi musanvu avunanibwe mu maaso ga Katonda. Kale ebintu by’ettaka byetaaga kukwata na bwegendereza. Ekirala Pulezidenti mu nteeseganya asaanye ayingizeemu bannaddiini n’abantu abakulu nabo awulirize endowooza zaabwe nga tannatongoza bbago lya ttaka okwewala omusaayi okuyiika nga mu nsi ya Palestina ne Yisirayiri abatting’ana olw’ettaka. (Nga bwe baabitegeezezza Madiinah Ssebyala).



Published on: Saturday, 12th January, 2008