Uganda: Go for National Leadership, Mamdani Urges Baganda
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New Vision (Kampala)
19 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Anthony Bugembe
Kampala
Renowned scholar Prof. Mahmood Mamdani has urged the Baganda to take up the leadership of Uganda.
Citing examples of the Kikuyu in Kenya and the English in Britain, Mamdani said the Buganda kingdom can use its central location to rule Uganda. "It appears as if in Uganda, the largest tribe does not want to assume national leadership," he told a Buganda conference on Friday at Hotel Africana.
"It is unfortunate that the majority group in Uganda has a minority psychology. The Baganda have the potential to lead, but it seems as though they'e unwilling."
Mamdani, who introduced himself as a Muganda, presented a paper on the link between cultural reforms and development.
"If you are to lead Uganda, you should not only talk about Buganda issues," he advised the hundreds of participants. Talk about the war in northern Uganda, the oil in Bunyoro and all other national issues outside Buganda."
He further suggested that while agitating for federalism, Buganda should advocate for a territorial entity (Buganda region) rather than a tribal one (Baganda tribe). The professor of political science at Columbia University in the US also urged Buganda to accept the reality of many "migrants" living in the kingdom and find ways of bringing them on board. He said the unity the NRM built during the Luwero war was the reason it came to power but "it no longer exists."
During the one-day conference marking the 15th anniversary of his coronation, the Kabaka denied that he was involved in active politics. "One wise man defined man as a political animal, but of course I am an exception. I am not included in that definition," Ronald Mutebi said.
There have been allegations that the Kabaka is being drawn into politics, particularly by opposing the proposed Land Bill. Mutebi described his kingdom as a partner in Uganda's development, not a competitor. "What we need, in order to achieve development, is the right political environment where our activities are not regarded with suspicion by other players," he said.
"We take great pride in accommodating everyone from within and without. This is our strength and it is on this basis that we should be judged."
While launching the Buganda website (www.buganda.org), the kabaka urged his subjects to transform their ideas into action. He paid tribute to fallen baganda nationalist figures like Abu Mayanja, Erisa Kironde and Sulaiman Kiggundu, describing them as important guides.
Relevant Links
Additional reporting by Moses Mulondo and Titus Kakembo
Read comments. Write your own.
I, a muganda i agree with the proffesser. Because, if we take up the leadership of this country, we can be able to defendour rights, being that, we have be the taget for every leader. Who has ever ruled uganda.
Iam very, greatful for this website.
Long live our king of buganda. God bless buganda.
Indeed, Buganda has to take up it's rightful place in the Sun in Uganda. Uganda can never be stable with a subjugated Buganda. M7 is currently raping Buganda with impunity but let M7 be warned that we are not stupid.We shall resist his TUTSI invasion of Buganda, no matter what until victory. M7 has mischarged this one because all TUTSIs and Balaalos who have stolen Buganda land in NGOMA, MAWOGOLA,SINGO,BUGERERE, BULEMEZI, and many parts of KAMPALA their days in Buganda are numbered !! We shall throw them out !!!!
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To add on the topic, going for national leadership alone is not enough.
What has to be done is that all banganda should register according to our clans.Its important to verify the number of baganda. The reason being that, many people use kiganda names to black mail baganda. And, i believe, time has come to stop beging the central gevernment for federo and so on, because, to me its like we are dealing with our anemies. Baganda are very educated, very rich and the most understanding people on the planet.We can stand on our own, and do some thing. How… [Read Full Text]