UGANDA: Like the judges; the kabaka is 'not in charge of Uganda'

LIKE THE JUDGES; THE KABAKA IS 'NOT INCHARGE OF UGANDA'

The Kabaka is the traditional head and King of the Baganda and Buganda respectively. The Kingdom occupies the largest territory of central Uganda and its people, the Baganda make the biggest tribe in Uganda. It is the most organised and powerful traditional institution in the country that is always on the watch list of the Museveni regime.

This week, the Kabaka celebrated his 16th coronation anniversary at a colourful ceremony. He used the opportunity to decry the widespread greed and corruption that was set to destroy the country.

“Previously, parents taught children how to avoid greed and indeed children grew into good-mannered citizens. But during this era, there is a lot of greed among people and this is why we witness a lot of corruption. Uganda will continue to deteriorate if prevailing levels of corruption remain unchecked".

In a more cryptic message, which echoed nationwide distress over official graft, poverty and state inspired inequality: "If greed is not decisively handled, our nation will not develop yet our people are determined to work for national development". 

He cautioned against haemorrhaging of public resources: "I appeal to leaders and parents to caution our youth to be wary of greed. I appeal to whoever is responsible for money to deliver it to intended destinations so that people can receive services to develop our nation so that people are happy in their nation [instead of] looking for greener pastures. Massive corruption has led to a broken healthcare system, education, politics, economy and a retarded national growth. The super-rich are living in a sea of poverty-stricken people. This is not good at all. Farmers’ cooperative unions enriched ordinary people, who earned from cotton and coffee sales to support families and educate their own. These unions died in wars and, unfortunately, many have not been revived. Cooperatives come from people and not the government and the government is simply a regulator. I implore our people to do all [that] is possible like our grandparents did; to revive cooperative unions so that we work together and mobilise money [so that] our children will be employed."

The Kabaka's message was directly hitting at Museveni who has repeatedly and publicly claimed that he is in charge of all the money. He uses this leverage to blackmail, sideline, discriminate, punish, manipulate, lure etc. those with dissenting political views. According to Museveni, the Kabaka's statement amounts to engagement in politics and incitement. Museveni's relationship with Buganda Kingdom has been characterized by hide and seek. In some instances bloody clashes have led to loss of lives. For the same reasons, in November 2016 Museveni attacked the King of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, burnt down the palace, killed over 100 of the king's subjects before arresting and detaining hundreds of his subjects alongside the King himself.

After all 'the Kabaka is not in charge of Uganda'. Just last week, while reacting to a Constitutional Court verdict, Museveni castigated the Justices thus;

"Unfortunately, our judges in Uganda spend more time on form and not substance, on procedure and not substance. In the end, however, the judges are not the ones in charge of the country. If the NRM MPs follow my guidelines and bond closely with the people, through wealth and job creation, we can, together with the people, make the necessary Constitutional reforms, judges or no judges. We shall harmonise and galvanize our position. The undemocratic age limit nonsense was clear."

The citizens are not in charge; the religious leaders are not in charge; Parliament is not in charge; Courts are not in charge and obviously, the Kabaka is not in charge of Uganda.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM