Vice president Edward Ssekandi hands over a car to the Omukama of Bunyoro, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, in June. Cultural leaders want the government to return properties of all kingdoms. Photo by Rachel Mabala.
Traditional leaders under their umbrella body, the Uganda Hereditary Kings and Paramount Chiefs Forum, have attacked President Museveni for allegedly sidelining them by only returning assets belonging to Buganda Kingdom.
Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom said the government has deliberately refused to return his kingdom’s properties it has possessed for decades.
“Why did the President return only Buganda properties and leave other kingdoms out. Are there kings and minor kings?” the Omukama asked during a forum on Friday organised by the National Organisation of Professional Environmentalists (Nape) in Hoima Town.
President Museveni recently agreed to return to Buganda properties that the central government seized decades ago. Mr Museveni went ahead and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to affect the transfer of the properties.
Baruuli culural leader Isabalongo Mwogeza-Butamanya Mwakyansozi said kingdoms should be taken like religions regardless of their numerical strength.
Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi, however, dismissed the kings’ claims, saying the President has instead been at the forefront of promoting marginalised kingdoms, and not sidelining them.
“All kings are guarded by [the] Special Forces Group, all kings receive uniform allowances and the government has no protocol among kings,” he said in an interview.
When contacted, Mengo information minister Dennis Walusimbi said they have been demanding for their properties since 1989 as other kingdoms looked on.
Mr Mwogeza-Butamanya said they formed a forum to enable them have one common voice but the President has remained reluctant to meet them.
Tooro Kingdom prime minister Steven Kaliba said the Cultural Leader’s Act needs to be reviewed because it only looks at cultural leaders yet they have a whole system from sub-county chiefs to prime minister.
Nape officials said protection of natural resources is vital and they have to pass through the traditional leaders to protect environment.
Post a Comment