KAMPALA. Monitor Publications journalist James Kabengwa is in trouble with Buganda Kingdom sympathizers for criticizing Katikkiro (Premier) Charles Peter Mayiga and his colleagues.
This was after Mr. Kabengwa shared and supported an opinion published in Sunday Monitor in which columnist Gawaya Tegule, a renowned Buganda critic, opined that the kingdom was going down the drain.
Tegule’s controversial article was titled, “By the time Buganda wakes up, the kingdom will be long gone” In the article, Tegule wrote that whereas ills were going on against the native Baganda, kingdom officials are simply looking on without intervention. Tegule warned Buganda Kingdom could become instinct.
Mr Kabengwa shared and commented on the in a kingdom whatsapp group called (Buganda Think Tank-BTT) supporting Tegule and even revealing more ‘dirt’ about the premier of the strongest monarchy in the country. Kabengwa has covered Buganda Kingdom affairs for Daily Monitor Publication since 2016.
Curse
A source who is a member within the Think Tank revealed that Kabengwa’s comments appeared to show Mayiga as a curse to the kingdom as it degenerates into bedroom politics with the central establishment at State House, Entebbe that is occupied by dictator Yoweri Museveni who has ruled Uganda since January 26, 1986.
“Mayiga, the man at the centre of the degeneration of the Kingdom, has turned his tenure into an individualistic business in which he has sold Buganda to President Yoweri Museveni. And his ego, arrogance and the “I know it all” attitude has led to significant dissent and already Kooki (one of the 18 counties of Buganda Kingdom) has declared itself independent from Buganda while the Abatakka (clan) heads have already been bought and are likely to play cards with President Museveni, a man with lukewarm love for Buganda.
Fury
In response, to Kabengwa’s comments one of the kingdom officials at the center of trying to trade the cultural heritage for cash from dictator Museveni have sent out strong warnings to Kabengwa, threatening to harm him and his family.
The official responding to Kabengwa wrote: “James Kabengwa, James kabengwa, James kabenngwe, I have repeated your name how many times? Buganda will come after you and your immediate people. How dare you?”
Another rubbished Mr. Kabengwa calling him the symbol of Blackmail. “Blackmail has no dividends,” one Buganda sympathizer an employee with the Kingdom wrote.
Another commentator wrote; “We need to reflect. Perhaps the future will refer to his writing.”
Criticising policies other than individuals would be a better idea. Personal vendetta will not solve Buganda issues.”
However, Kabengwa’s concern is not new to media in Uganda, one renowned independent journalist wrote on his twitter handle how a group of Buganda officials (Batakka) had been rewarded chunks of land by dictator Museveni after being delivered to State House by Mayiga.
Gabriel Buule, the Daily Monitor journalist, wrote: “Bebano abataka abafunye ettaka okuva ewa mwaami Museveni: 1- Owekitiibwa Ssewava Sserubiri Siraje, 2-Omutaka Kajjabuwongwa owa Namungoona , 3- Walusimbi Mbirozankya Makubuya ,4- Kasujja sheeba, 5-Nankere 6- Kasirye Mbuga Elamula wamu nabalara.” Literally translated the above lists five of the beneficiaries from the land bonanza along with other top kingdom officials.
At loggerheads
Kabengwa who for many years has been at loggerheads with officials of Buganda Kingdom said that; “History will judge Mr Mayiga as the man under whose leadership the Kabaka has been sued variously over land matters, after sometimes messed up transactions by Buganda Land Board”.
He added: “A myriad of private companies fronted as kingdom investments have stifled the Kingdom’s acquisition of its own companies that would assist uplift the Kingdom. Instead it is Mayiga’s friends benefitting using the Kingdom good will”.
Yet politically under Mayiga’s tenure, he has thrown Buganda into the dustbin and he is acclaimed by the dictator for expelling the opposition from Mengo, a once breeding area for leaders that advocated for Buganda interests. The likes of the current leader of opposition He He says that Mathias Mpuuga and many of those who took political offices through the Suubi were enhanced by the liberalism and that was almost nurtured under by liberal leaders,” the research by kingdom independence from the centre by former Katikkiro JB Walusimbi.
Unforgiving Kingdom
Some Baganda are a non-forgiving people. The first Prime Minister of Uganda, Milton Obote whose forces attacked King Edward Muteesa in 1966 was hated even through his death. When his body was returned from Zambia where he had gone into exile after his ouster, Baganda refused his body to be driven through Buganda region because they never forgave him for his attack on their King.
In 1995, as Ugandans were drafting a new Constitution through delegates to the Constituent Assembly (CA) sitting in conference centre in Kampala. On March 28, 1995, there was heated debate on federalism; a matter that was cherished by Mulondo’s tribesmen, the Baganda, but was anathema for the majority republicans in the CA.
Baganda delegates had planned they would propose federal. This was designed to make it look like a national, rather than Baganda, demand. It was agreed, however, that a prominent Muganda would conclude the federal demand pitches. That Muganda was Besweri Mulondo, then-ssabalangira (chief prince), member of the-parliamentary body (NRC), for Mityana, and First Deputy katikiro (prime minister) and minister for Agriculture in the Buganda kingdom government.
Mulondo, who was 69-years old at the time, was a dapper dresser with a penchant for wearing pure-white suits, flamboyant cravats, and matching white Stetson hats.
He died a hated man and to date his family faces some isolation.
Do you want to share a story, comment or opinion regarding this story or others, Email us at newsdayuganda@gmail.com Tel/WhatsApp........0726054858
Discussion about this post