Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi on Saturday uncharacteristically vented his disquiet over comments from the Central Government about land issues in Buganda.
The Kabaka, while speaking at the commemoration of his 28th Coronation Anniversary, condemned the comments by individuals whom he didn’t mention, that are trying to “weaken the Kingdom of Buganda.”
The king in an apparent response to the debate which was rekindled by President Yoweri Museveni about Mailo land in Buganda, stressed that Buganda has always been welcome to all settlers, and that its kindness should not been misread as weakness.
He also wondered why the attention is being placed on the issue of land in Buganda and not in other parts of the country.
“Buganda does not, and has never wished to split from the rest of the country, or kick the rest of the citizens out,” he said.
“But we have heard the issue of land in Buganda, being raised by many people, saying that this is one of the reasons curtailing the development of Uganda. This is not true!” He said.
“Those who say this only want to weaken the Kingdom. This hurts us very much and we are left wondering; Why is land in other parts of the country not being mentioned? Why is Buganda’s kindheartedness and welcoming nature being looked at as a weakness?”
In June this year, President Yoweri Museveni came out and condemned the Mailo land tenure system which is common in Buganda, calling it “evil” and “bad for the people.
The Mailo system creates dual ownership over the same piece of land.
Although Mailo land owners have the same rights as freehold owners, they must respect the rights of lawful and bonafide occupants and kibanja holders to occupy and live on the land.
Speaking at the commemoration of Heroes Day at Kololo Independence Grounds on June 10th, Museveni wondered why Baganda support the system.
“This is a very bad system; the system which is in Buganda here, this one of Mailo land, I don’t know why people support it. It is very bad for the people. It’s not a fair system and it is not in other parts of Uganda because in other parts of Uganda, when you are in your kibanja, it is your kibanja. It (mailo) is really very bad, not fair,” he said.
Museveni noted that land in other parts of Uganda is not as highly contested for as it is the case in Buganda because it is not held under Mailo land system.
“In Ankole, you cannot come and chase a Munyankole from his kibanja (land). You cannot. But in Buganda here, they have got so many actors; this one is saying this, this one is saying that, and is all against the small person.”
The President’s comments immediately kicked up a storm both within Buganda Kingdom and among Politicians at different levels.
In his speech today, Kabaka Mutebi went on to remind the Central Government that Land, along with the “Federo” government system, buildings and several other properties including palaces are some of the things that have not been returned to the kingdom after nearly 30 years of negotiations.
“We shall not relent to remind government that like other parts of the country, Buganda Kingdom has its own properties which cannot be conditioned,” the Kabaka said.
“I wish to remind you that prior to the restoration of traditional kingdoms in 1993, we passed through several steps including participating directly in removing dictatorships. The things taken from Buganda including Federo, land, buildings including Bulange and other palaces, these and others are things we call “Ebyaffe” and it is true, the indeed belong to us.”
“We have chosen no other path other than negotiation and reminding our leaders about the things we agreed upon…yet 28 years down the road, we are still on these same issues.”
