BUGANDA LEADERS SHARE BLAME ON LESS PARISHES
By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
In 1995, a state owned Luganda Daily, Bukedde, had a brief story headline “Ab’e Ssembabule bakomye ku njokye ”
According to the story a dozen of districts had missed out on the creation by Constituent Assembly (CA). Among them were Ssembabule, Nakasongola and Kayunga.
As the C.A was about to pronounce itself on the matter, the then Minister of Local Government who was also a C.A. Delegate for Nakawa Division, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali cautioned that districts are created by National Resistance Council, which was the Parliament of the day, but not by the C.A.
According to the Bukedde brief story, Ssembabule sub district had even suspended collecting taxes as it feared that it could end in Masaka District coffers.
A year before as the Kabaka had hosted Bannabuddu leaders in Nkoni palace, RC V Chairperson Masaka District John Mary Kasozi, had said that the district was opposed to Ssembabule becoming a district because it would be partitioning the Kingdom of Buganda.
In the C.A campaigns one of the aspirants in Mawogola County, the late Dr.Samuel Lukulwase Nsaba used to say that he was opposed to what he called “Okukecula mu Buganda obugujuguju,” (partitioning Buganda into small particles).
Although Ssembabule and Nakasongola became districts in 1997, followed by Kayunga, Wakiso, Mityana, Lyantonde, Buyikwe, Buvuma, Lyantonde, Nakaseke,Lwengo, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Gomba, Butambala, Kyotera, Kassanda much later, the rhetoric of some Mmengo officials and Buganda politicians was opposing creation of new constituencies, local governments and administrative units in the region.
Thus Kyaddondo District that was passed by cabinet was not passed by parliament even creating new constituencies in Nansana municipality and Busiro East was resisted by MPs as they wanted to be the only bulls in kraals.
The then MP for Makindye East John Ssimbwa almost boxed me when l suggested in 2015 that Kampala constituencies which had not been reviewed since the 1994 C. A elections be reviewed.
When Butambala became a district, leaders wanted it divided into two constituencies as the then Minister of Local Government Adolf Mwesige told parliament that he wanted a district not to have only one constituency. However, the Butambala MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi did not use the opportunity for Butambala to get more than one constituency MP. Kabula’s James Kakooza also toed the same line. Fortunately, by 2026 elections, God willing, Lyantonde and Kyotera shall be municipalities.
So when Buganda leaders complain that the region has less constituencies, local governments and administrative units, they should first share the blame it else they cry crocodile tears.
Pre colonial kingdom of Buganda, like Bunyoro, Tooro, Nkore, Busoga, was divided into sazas as local governments. Ggombolola, miruka and bitongole were ministries, departments and agencies inside the palace.
It was Buganda Agreement of 1900 that created sub county, parish and batongole chiefs as heads of administrative units outside the palace. The model was spread throughout the then Uganda Protectorate.
But it is now Buganda with less numbers of the units because of the conservativeness of its local leaders.
Since President Museveni is a good listener and NRM support is based at the grassroot, and the Parish Development Model the President launched at Kibuku a fortnight ago, is a four year poverty alleviation program under NRM manifesto and National Development Plan 3, such problems, will, God willing, be addressed.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Masaka City.
Do you want to share a story, comment or opinion regarding this story or others, Email us at newsdayuganda@gmail.com Tel/WhatsApp........0726054858