By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi.
MASAKA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY; On Sunday July 17th , Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi ll was gifted with the return of one of the Rolls Royce cars formerly used by his late father Freddie Mutes II. The vehicle is seen as a local traditional/cultural tourism attraction
The brief ceremony at Mmengo palace was held at Mmengo palace. Baganda jubilated over refurbishment of the vehicle, which had been purchased in 1964, and was confiscated by Uganda Army commanded by Idi Amin on orders of the then President Milton Obote.
It was returned to the Kabaka on orders of President Museveni, who also allowed restoration of traditional/cultural institutions in Uganda in 1993. Cultural institutions had been abolished by Obote l regime after the 1966 crisis.
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There is quite a lot that the government and Mmengo can do together. A fortnight ago Minister for Presidency Mrs. Milly Babirye Baalanda, and Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga at Saza and district headquarters at Kalangala, held a joint campaign against HIV/AIDS.
A month earlier, there was a consultation meeting for urban authorities in South Buganda sub region organized by Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development where Minister of State for ran Development Mr.Obiga Kania was the chief guest.
It was followed by a stakeholders meeting for Masaka city which was addressed by the three Masaka city MPs; Mathias Mpuuga Leader of Opposition ( Nyendo Mukugwe) Dr.Abed Bwanika ( Kimaanya Kabonera) and Juliet Kakade ( Woman), so were the Mayor Florence Namayanja, Town Clerk Geoffrey Bamanyisa among others.
In the urban authorities meeting, it was observed, that among ingredients for the growth and development of a city is a public university. Masaka city happens not to have one. The only university that is headquartered in Masaka is Muteesa Royal University belonging to the Kingdom of Buganda.
In Nigeria, states have universities in addition to those owned by the federal government, starting with Ibadan University, an equivalent of Makerere University. If regional governments had been operatialized Muteesa l Royal University may have been owned by Buganda Government or jointly with Uganda Government.
Now that even regional universities like Busoga, Kabale, Mountain of the moon Fort Portral and others that had been privately started y by traditional or cultural institutions, regions or religious foundation bodies, failed until Central Government took over, I suggest that for the good of Masaka city, the city of the Kabaka, as his voice contributed greatly to getting the city status, a regional city for South Buganda sub region, a city of agriculture, and since Makerere University Kampala, is national, Government of Uganda should support, and if possible takeover Muteesa l Royal University.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and Deuty City Resident City Commissioner for Masaka City in charge of Kimaanya-Kabonera city division. Contact 256/756/772-836537.
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