I would like to tell you and all other peace loving Ugandans that Buganda is already a state on its own. All it lacks is an army and direct political power. Buganda kingdom has developed institutions, financing mechanisms and policy tools since its restoration in 1993. What we don’t know is how the Buganda kingdom is going to transform this momentum into something the young generation like me can cling on to. When Obote abolished the Kingdom in 1967, Buganda’s 52 clans were the only thing that survived Obote’s anger and moment of madness.
However, when Mutebi was made king, he restored the 3 branches of administration with him executive, legislature and other administrative structures. He appointed a parliament (lukiiko), cabinet, district representatives, clan elders, and other Buganda representatives in various parts of the kingdom. He also appointed a prime minister (katikilo) as head of the wider cabinet. The notable positions in his cabinet were the positions of attorney general and 14 ministers of state. Yes, most Mengo ministers are volunteers and use their money to carry out their duties but it goes on to show how much people are willing to keep Buganda breathing for a long time. A man like Semogerere, for instance, was the MD of Sembule Investment Bank and chairman of the Nile hotel but he sacrificed that to become a katikilo of Buganda kingdom with no political powers yet.
Buganda has also got physical structures in Bulange and other buildings. Buganda kingdom has also expanded beyond Kampala by the appointment of 18 local administrative units (abamasaza), sub county chiefs (abamagombolola) and parish chiefs (abemiluka). In doing this, the king of Buganda has got a structure in place that almost overlaps even Museveni’s LC system although the kingdom’s positions remain largely honorary and devoid of substantial institutional powers. He was clever though to pick people of influence in all these positions and it is working out for him. For example, Fredrick Mulindwa, the saza chief of Buddu County is a lawyer by profession and sits on the Masaka District Land Board.
Buganda has also expanded beyond Uganda and this was evidenced in May 1997 when the king appointed ‘ambasadors’ to UK, Sweden and Kenya. I guess the number of ambassadors has now increased since then. Both the Kabaka and Katikilo are treated and behave as the way the president of Uganda and ministers do when abroad though they live within a limited budget compared to the government ministers. The baganda in diaspora are even thinking of building a ‘Buganda house’ in the UK to rival the Uganda House at Trafalgar square in London. They have also been organising federal conferences and ‘Tabimuluka’ almost every year.
Buganda has also got anthems, pledges of allegiance, inaugurations, coronations, parades and any thing that makes a kingdom look like a state. The 1993 coronation was an impressive theatrical display of recovered statehood. The 1999 royal wedding with its abundant pageantry further contributed to the idea of the kingdom that is united and strong. A man just needs to buy a copy of the kabaka’s wedding and preparations to know what this thing means to Baganda and non-baganda. All categories of people contributed to this wedding including non-baganda. Actually, the kingdom can make a lot of money by selling the tapes and DVDs of this wedding on open market.
Kasubi royal tombs represent the national monument of the kingdom and there were renovated with a grant of £100000 from UNESCO. Buganda has got national holidays like the anniversary of the storming of Mengo by Obote’s troops. Finally, the kingdom has an ideology.
The main challenge for Buganda is to influence the young generation like us who still look at opportunities in the central government as something better on a plate than what is Mengo offering. The old baganda will die soon but how do they keep this momentum going in absence of a royal and committed young generation.
Nze simanyi binadilila banange but the Buganda kingdom is already a state without super political power.
