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In The Future of Freedom, Harvard trained political scientist Fareed Zakaria notes that nationalism is one of the unstoppable forces of change, added to religion and democracy. Charles Peter Mayiga in his timely well written book King on the Throne gives a live and moving catalog of the birth and growth of Buganda nationalism — and the shock waves it has braved, especially after 1993 when its kingdom was re-instated.

Book: King on the Throne Author: Charles Peter Mayiga Volume: 422 Pages Publisher: Prime Time Communications Reviewer: Yusuf Serunkuma

It is an inside story, a moving narrative and commentary from a man whose principle job has been attending and recording resolutions of key strategic meetings  of the Lukiiko and any other serious negotiations.

The well known facts: Buganda kingdom got abolished in 1966 and a vicious attack was made on the palace of the king Sir Edward Mutesa II at Bulange. The kingdom continues to demand for a federal system of government. The marriage that the kingdom entered with the current central government headed by 1981-86 rebel leader Yoweri Museveni is on the rocks. These are the undercurrents that inform Charles Peter Mayiga’s book.

Since the 1966 crisis, Buganda has never rested from the quest for a fully fledged kingdom, a federal state, and demanding its valuables that were grabbed by the Obote central government, stuck to by Amin’s, and for some, still held by President Museveni. Of course, not so much is said about Buganda and Idi Amin, much of the politics and talk is with the governments of the two Obote regimes and the Museveni reign and so is this book. But what Mayiga adds to the discourse is the around but often forgotten view that Buganda is a powerhouse in the politics of this country. A thing Phares Mutibwa does in The Buganda Factor in Uganda’s Politics when he wonders whether riots will ever cease in Kampala with the continued marginalisation of Buganda.

The 1995 Constitution was the most awaited document to rehabilitate Buganda, but after being disappointed by its very own former Prime Minister Besweli Mulondo, in the Constituency Assembly out of parochial nationalism, Buganda settled with what is popularly and mockingly termed “Byoya bya nswa”—nothing.  Since then, this monarchy has been patronized and harassed wantonly by central government and Mayiga reminds us of what Godfrey S. Lule wrote about to capture this state of affairs: “I can see the monarchy being treated like a patient in the hands of a murderous doctor who having injected painful drugs in his victims body, continues to give him doses of sedatives and palliatives to gain the patients confidence, hope and patience as the patient goes through blissful last moments of his journey on earth…”

Being that leadership and kingship are partners, although current politics pretends to separate them, the author draws an interesting comparison of the politics of sub-Saharan Africa with that of the developed world in an attempt to define the men holding the reins of this country: “political players in the west are mainly the rich and they get drawn into politics mainly to protect their economic interest …lawmakers in sub-Saharan Africa look up to the president who they think with further their political fortunes…”

And so Buganda has been a major sufferer of this blind, selfish and economic-favors-driven politics; with innumerable sacrifices, 1962-3, 1979, 1980-86, but with little to show of it, except attacks from earlier allies and wanton abuse of its officials. The Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega arrest standing out here with a passionate narrative from the author.

This book grows, from a telling of history to the participations and observations of the author who started serving this kingship in 1991. At some point, it stands as a catalog of Buganda’s nationalism, Buganda’s well entrenched ministries, and one about who is who in Buganda: From the kings to the men and women who move things in the kingdom— even those that have conspired against the Kingdom. The author gives evidence to an ignored belief in this book, although by implication: Buganda is a state with all arms of government, with programs and structures, checks and balances.

Political scientist Mahmood Mamdani agrees with this, but remains disturbed by Buganda’s unsteady sightedness. He said on the launch of the Abu Mayanja annual lecture in August: “The Baganda are the largest ethnic group in Uganda, yet when it comes to politics they behave like an imperilled minority.  The reasons for this psychology are historical, not biological”—this is the only issue that although significant, the author is less committed to engaging deeper.

But away from the above quibble, this is one of the books that deserve a front position in the Buganda Museum of History; it is comprehensive, captivatingly written and it tickles the appreciation of the history written by penchant observers. And being that the cycle of violence is yet to end in this country; politics has metamorphosed into economics; and a democracy lasts for a survival 25 year term, it is recommended for all players in national and regional politics.

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