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Mayiga hits back at Kimeze, vows to visit Kayunga
Buganda Kingdom premier Peter Mayiga. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
Background: The Katikkiro’s plan to go to Bugerere is likely to threaten the delicate relationship between Mengo and Banyala cultural association after the bloody 2009 Buganda riots that were triggered by the government’s decision to stop Buganda premier, JB Walusimbi, from going to Kayunga ahead of Kabaka Mutebi’s visit. At least 20 people died during the riots while property worth millions was destroyed. Since 2009, Kabaka Mutebi has twice visited the area.Kayunga is located in Bugerere County of Buganda Kingdom. However, the Banyala, a sub-tribe of Baganda, claim “they seceded from Buganda to form an independent kingdom”. Mr Mayiga later held a meeting with Bataka in Bugerere at the contested Bbaale Sub-county headquarters, where the Banyala are constructing their headquarters and the Ssabanyala’s palace.
Kampala. Buganda Kingdom premier Peter Mayiga has vowed to visit Bugerere County in Kayunga District again to promote development, dismissing the Ssabanyala, Mr Baker Kimeze’s earlier threats of barring him from going there as “practising childish behaviour”.
“You are claiming to be a leader where masses are poor, we come up with a coffee planting campaign to uplift the livelihood of your people and then you want to resist, that is childish behaviour. I don’t engage in such,” Mr Mayiga said yesterday as he addressed the kingdom’s Lukiiko in Mengo.
Although he did not mention Mr Kimeze, Mr Mayiga’s comments were in response to the latter’s threats that he would not visit Bugerere last month without his permission.
“Over my dead body, I am going to command this ‘war’ myself if he forcefully insists on his visit here. He would only come if I am dead,” Mr Kimeze said while commissioning a Shs2 billion Bunyala administration headquarters in Bbaale last month.
But Mr Mayiga said he would visit the area to promote coffee.
“Coffee production is the remedy to poverty. Every Ugandan must grow the crop. It has an amazing turnover compared to other enterprises. At least 70 per cent of Ugandans are farmers and we believe coffee will uplift their incomes,” he said.
Last year, Mengo launched a campaign with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority to re-popularise coffee farming and millions of seedlings have already been distributed in the kingdom as Mengo prepares to launch a coffee buying centre in the near future.
On federo, Mr Mayiga described his kingdom as a rock that ill-wishers cannot crush.
“The Kabaka wants the federo issue considered in the ongoing constitutional amendment process. Millions of people desire federo as already put in various reports,” he said.
He said wherever federo is operational, administration is easy and development is visible.
He said the kingdom will invite the Buganda parliamentary caucus to discuss the proposals on the kingdom in the ongoing amendments but added that already, the kingdom has presented its stand on the age limit and land Bills.
Eulogy
Meanwhile, members of the Lukiiko described the late Joseph Balikuddembe, a lawyer and Democratic Party stalwart, as a strong, consistent and loyal servant who performed to his best as the deputy chairman of the kingdom legal committee until his demise last week.
Mr Ffeffeka Sserubogo, a member from Bugerere, said Balikuddembe spearheaded the rescue of Baganda and other people who were victimised over involvement in the 2009 Buganda riots.
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