Why Buganda should not be sacrificed for the stability of Uganda

Why Buganda should not be sacrificed for the stability of Uganda.

The standoff between Mengo and the Central government is still on and despite the relative calm, an observer of curious instinct can interprete the ceasefire as a half-time rest as the two power centers prepare for the next stage. In this article i trace the genesis of the confusion between tribalism and ethnic nationalism vis a vis the nation state. It is my conviction that the Buganda question in Ugandan Politics has been grossly misunderstood and treacherous politicians have capitalised on this conflict to balkanise the populace often presenting the Buganda question as an anti-thesis to the Colonial creation-Uganda.

Early this year the President wrote a letter to the Kabaka decrying Mengo's handling of affairs to the point of accusing Mengo of fueling ethnic animosity against the Balaalo. I found the President's fears imaginary and far fletched and was compelled by virtue of my trade to add a voice. His remarks involved confusing tribalism with ethnic nationalism. Tribalism can be a mental concept, it has basis in tradition and persisting cultural differences and it has been given new forms and attached to it are new interests and loyalties. A good reader of History can find H.F Morris' work on Buganda and Tribalism cited in Gulliver's edited Tradition and transition in East Africa interesting. The current wave of discontent in Buganda cannot be understood as tribalism but rather as ethnic nationalism. This may not go well with some sections but academically the Kingdom appears to satisfy the main attributes of a nation even if we are not to consider its pre-colonial position and institutions. The "nation" question was a subject of debate in the 1960s and i find it valid to help explain the present relations between Mengo and the centre. According to our history as a colonial state Uganda, Buganda had for many centuries remained a sovereign state before she accepted ( after rigorous consultations spanning for over 10 years 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894 all of which had proved futile) the protectorate treaty of 1900.

One must contend that there's nothing like a Uganda nation except in the sense of which 18th century European diplomats spoke of the Turkish nation to embrace Greeks and Serbs that is to say all people owing allegiance to a common sovereighn and in that instance the ottoman empire. Buganda's institutions adapted to mordern conditions have remained intact even todate, the language, common identity, loyalty to the cultural institutions of leadership tantamount not only to the definition of a tribe but a nation in the European sense of the word.

As far as size and wealth are concerned, Buganda does not appear insighnificant say if compared to Estonia or Latvia or the Irish republic. Yet the creation of these states on the principle of self-determination and nationalism was heralded as laudable, progressive by the very circles that worked to condemn Buganda's nationalism and self-determination brushing it off as reactionary and tribal. The post-colonial regime has maintained the rigid postion of the Crown towards Buganda's griveviances denouncing Mr Kyanjo's ideas as treasonous and radical atleast if we go by official remarks from goverment. What is more treasonous that supporting the seccesion of Southern Sudan from the Centre in Khartoum?. Do the people of Southern Sudan have a distinct cause from the one fronted by Mengo? i might ask. Was Norbert Mao summoned to CPS when he advocated for the formation of the greater Nile State and therefore seccesion from Uganda? Is it not that the president of Uganda has supported Garang for the last twenty or so years to secede from Sudan?

Buganda Vs Uganda's nationalism

It is no exaggeration that the degree of loyalty the people of Uganda have to the state is only intellectual and in speeches lacking emotional roots. Ugandans attach much significance to their cultural and ethnic distinction than to the colonial creation Uganda. Its the problems of the post-colonial state that spur ethnic discontent brewing from disatisfaction.For example no nationalist can allow public service to be populated by people from one region than is in Uganda today. So long as the Baganda were satisfied with the policies pursued by the colonial government, they were prepared to give it their loyalty. No people in Uganda were as responsive to the colonial regime as the Baganda before the fallout between the centre and Mengo over policies that Buganda felt were to undermine its institutions. In the clash of interests therefore one would be inclined to opt to their family, their clan and nation( recognise the omitting of tribe). The Baganda were so much receptive to the policies of the British in all spheres. They entertained Kasanvu and the growing of cash crops while others societies in Uganda rejected this as exploitative. They have cooperated with all succesive regimes that have not interfered with their cultural institution. The only problem has been leaders thinking out of misplaced anxiety that the strength of Buganda is an anti-thesis to the stability of Uganda which thinking must be contested by any clear thinking Ugandan.

Buganda's demands backward

There is a tendency to discredit nationalist sentiments as backward, the Crown applied the tactic against the Irish. Buganda's demands have been down played as backward, revanchist and detached from the realities of the 21st century conditions. But this backwardness has involved a criticism of its cultures, history and institutions and the Kabaka not spared. One needs to consider that nationalism even in the developed West where people have struggled to achieve it or preserve their national identity tends to contain a large element of nostalgia for the past. (backwardness) Historical exploits both factual and legendary is what nationalism feeds on. In such a condition traditional leaders come to prominence to give the nation its traditional element however backward they might seem. Someone must have noted the increasing number of elite clan leaders in Buganda can we classify them as backward? Almost all Buganda Ministers are holders of degrees. What can be said about my lecturer Dr Masagazi Masaazi serving as Buganda Minister for education?

Change of tone and language

There is a mud-painting of cultural nationalism first as backward and later as treasonous atleast if seen from the president's speeches and writing . How the repeated use of "backward", "collaborators", "feudalism", "landlords" and recently Kamanyiiro in refference to Mengo takes center stage in this case is left for the reader to introspect. What inspired His excellency to work with people he knew who harboured intrigue and Kamanyiiro in the Liberation war? Is this the payment for the support the backward people gave to the revolution? How about their children who died while his current cronies in the regime were enjoying luxuries in Europe? Is the president re-echoing Milton Obote's K.A.B.A.K.A and the fight against feudalism? In 1966, Milton Obote revealed that he had exclusive evidence that Muteesa had ordered arms from a British firm Gailey& Roberts to overthrow the regime. During that time it was the highest crime to contest a governement sanctioned by the West equalled to today's war on terror, the Weekly observer recently ran a story that there was a conspiracy to connect Mengo to Alqaeda and to arrest the Kabaka. The weekly observer is known to have credible sources, are we braced for the next move as Ugandans? Then very recently the powers that be arrested Mengo ministers which i commented about in another article as a reactionary mechanism to trap Buganda leaders into submitting to the NRM government and its demands.

Moses Kalanzi

Kampala