For the international audience: The Kampala riots explained

Posted by: kfarzaneh on Sep 11, 2009 Print PDF

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As the Kampala riots continue for a second day it may be useful for our international audience to explain exactly who are the key actors and why the violence has erupted now.

The Kabaka is the King of the powerful Baganda tribe and was reinstated by President Museveni in 1993, after having been abolished by Milton Obote in 1966. Museveni brought back the traditional kingdoms on the understanding that they would play a strictly cultural, and not political, role. However, in recent the years Mengo (the name given to the Baganda leadership) has been demanding more power from the central government. This demand has become know as federo (a monarchical-federal hybrid) and has been resisted by Museveni and the NRM, creating tension. The Kabaka and Museveni had not spoken for two years until last night.  

The short-term cause of the violence is over the proposed visit by the Kabaka to Kayunga district, within the kingdom of Buganda, on Saturday to preside over a youth celebration. In reaction to the upcoming visit the Banyala, a tribe who have their own kingdom claims in Kayunga, demonstrated against the Kabaka. The unrest led to government officials advising the Kabaka against visiting the region as the police could not guarantee his safety. On September 7th Baganda youth tried to begin setting up stalls in Kayunga town ahead of the visit but were fired on by anti-riot police. This scenario then repeated itself on the 9th. Then yesterday the Katikkaro – the ‘Prime Minister’ of the Mengo Parliament – tried to make and advance visit to Kayunga but was blocked at the district border by a high-level police delegation. As word spread of the police action baganda youth began mobilising rioters, beginning in Kisseka market. The riots then began spreading throughout Kampala city and finally to most of the districts in the central region of Uganda.

The following image shows the area of the Buganda Kingdom (Image: www.face-music.ch) :

Map of Buganda - Uganda

 

 

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written by Rachel Parsons, September 11, 2009
Thanks Jo for keeping us in the loop on Kampala happenings. Stay safe. Sam and I are in Pakistan hanging out in the mountains and scouring the internet for info on Kampala. You're doing a great job. Rachel
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written by Kim Elverding, September 11, 2009
Thanks for the information. I have been trying to get some info on what is happening these days in Kampala. People stay safe!
Additional Information
written by Mwesigye Gumisiriza, September 11, 2009
Thanks Joe for the update. I'm obliged to add more information for clarity. You mentioned the Katikkiro is a Prime Minister of Buganda's Parliament, I have to clarify that Katikiro is the Prime Minister of the Kingdom much as there is a parliamentary institution called Lukiiko. Though the Katikkiro is a member, it is headed by a Speaker.

Katikiro heads the government which has ministers charged with different duties. The Lukiiko includes these ministers and other cultural leaders drawn from the Kingdom. The Kabaka (King) appoints the Prime Minister (Katikkiro) and through him names the ministers.

While the Kabaka remains behind the scenes and appears in the public on occasion or ceremony, the Katikkiro carries out most of the administrative duties and represents the Kingdom, its interests and the Kabaka in most of the public fora..etc.
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written by Joe P, September 11, 2009
Thanks for the extra info Mwesigye.
M7 is to blame for whats happening in Uganda
written by Ggomba, September 11, 2009
All you people who are blaming Buganda for what is going on you need to understand that M7 is 100% responsible. Why should the gov. protect the Banyaala who are hell bent on causing violance if the Kabaka goes to Bugerere? This has been widely reported that, the Banyaala are ready to cause violance if Kabaka goes there. So if I threaten to cause violance, am I going to be protected by the Police? You have not heard Mengo threaten violance but the Banyaala are being protected by the police? The Kabaka has a right to go anywhre in Uganda and if Sabanyaala wants to go to kampala and the baganda threaten violance, the police should protect them and fight Sabanyaala's people instead. The police is getting its orders from M7 and you pepole get off buganda's back. Vedio tape everything going on using your cell phone and send them to CNN and BBC. I will give you their websites soon.
Joe Powel Revise Research
written by Okello Moses, September 11, 2009
I would not expect Joe Powell to be cheap like melons. You tried to spin you writing to convince the read what you seem to have little knowledge.
You exhibited the highest ignorance of the century; FEDERO is a word normally pronounced by Baganda to mean Federalism. Its not attached to monarch as you wanted us to believe. That is a sign of you swallow minded for not taking time to research before writing to the public. Had you researched first you would have exhibited your ignorance in the public.
Pick a lesson from here: What Buganda wants is not a ‘monarchical-federal hybrid’. Buganda wants Federalism which is a system where the executive power, functions and freedoms are constitutionally and the divided up between the centre and the regions.
Joe Powel Revise Research
written by Okello Moses, September 11, 2009
You went to inform that; “The Kabaka is the King of the powerful Baganda tribe and was reinstated by President Museveni in 1993, after having been abolished by Milton Obote in 1966. Museveni brought back the traditional kingdoms on the understanding that they would play a strictly cultural, and not political, role. Thanks for being Museveni’s propagandist. You seem have little knowledge of how Museveni came to power. To remind you, Museveni was just a deputy leader of the Movement chairman who happened to be Prof. Yusuf Kironde Lule. That is how the army that had almost the biggest Baganda percentage. Museveni was not even known anywhere and at the time couldn’t convince school leavers to join the armed struggle. cont......
Joe Revise Yo Research
written by Okello Moses, September 11, 2009
The war itself was waged in Buganda and many Baganda died in the fighting than any other tribe in Uganda. You’re bound to be considered senile if you don’t such information. To inform you Museveni was unpopular and even his UPM party got only one seat in parliament. It was Dr Kiyonga, Museveni lost to the current Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa in the 1980 elections. Museveni went to the bush to spill blood on pretext of stolen/rigged election. Was it Museveni’s votes stolen? Get things right first before exposing your ignorance.
You further grieve over: “The unrest led to government officials advising the Kabaka against visiting the region as the police could not guarantee his safety.”cont...
Joe Revise Your Research
written by Okello Moses, September 11, 2009
Considering your names I would only forgive you for once, because if you knew the Ugandan constitution there is no such provision to seek permission when you’re touring your area. Kabaka has a constitution right and moreover, this was not the first time the Kabaka was visiting Kayunga.
Yes, Kabaka is a cultural leader who by the constitution not allowed engaging in politics, but has a right to his belongings. The constitution doesn’t strip off his rights to own property. He is a custodian of Buganda land that is the reason why he called Ssabattaka.
Unless you have to seek permission from your neighbour to get to your garden then I will accept what you’re trying to write.
His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has been mobilising people to get immunised, why not refused then. Cont.......
Misleading?
written by sarambaramba Bohny, September 11, 2009
Mwenda

Check your history Banyala are a subtribe if anything, you haveinsinuated they have a king? all Uganda history records until M7 proped-up a UPDF army captain and made him a king for a small group known as Banyala Cultural Association, so that he (M7) could divide Buganda. The family of this army man have all disowned his aspirations to be royalty and that they have never been anything but part of Baganda as a subtribe.

I hope this helps our international readers
Joe Revise Yo Research
written by Okello Moses, September 11, 2009

Lastly, Kayunga is a district of Buganda (see the Uganda constitution) but with multi-cultural people. There has never been such conflict. Why don’t you find out, why now? From time memorial, Buganda’s hospitality is unmeasured. Baganda is the largest group in Kayunga and it lives with other group such as: Basoga, Bagisu, Baruli, Iteso, Japadhola, Kuku, Bugwere, Banyole, Banyala and other ethnic groups.
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written by Joe P, September 11, 2009
Moses - I've read your submission and while you are entitled to your opinion it seems the only fact you are disputing is the role of the Kabaka in the federo system. I have spoken to many within Mengo who would like the Kabaka to have executive powers within federo, which I why I made the reference to a monarchical element. At no point did I say that you are required to get permission before touring an area either.
"Federo" is not yet promulgated
written by Ocheto, September 11, 2009
Apparently what Mengo wants is for the Kabaka to own his security forces , collect taxes, etc - all the things independent and sovereign states - like Uganda - do. Something similar to having a Buganda Monarchy within a Uganda Democracy. "Federo" does not mean a thing until it is formally promulgated. If it were defined there wouldn't be such confusion, acrimony, and conflict between the central government and mengo. Lule was a titular head of the rebellion. Museveni is the one who openly vowed during the 1980 campaigns he was taking his UPM party to the bush to fight Obote. Strategically to win the crucial Baganda support Museveni had to front Lule, a Muganda, just as Nyerere had reluctantly accepted to front him in UNLF in the war to remove Idi Amin. Lule never had any political base; even Semwogerere beat him to the leadership of DP. To say Prof. Lule was the real leader of the rebellion would be similar to saying Prof. Ojok was the real leader of Alice Lakwena rebellion.
Lancaster conference
written by sarambaramba Bohny, September 11, 2009
People, people read your history the federal issue was resolved at the Lancaster conferece when the colonial powers gave Buganda federated stus, Obote was there too, he agreed to it. Just like Museveni is trying to hoodwink the Nation now denying there has never been a Banyala king/ryalty until Kimeze who is likely to go the same way Bokasa of CAR went.
M7 is the cause of thies urgly scenes
written by Ed Po kalcz, September 12, 2009
It is a pity M7 is taking Uganda along this route to destruction...... The events in Kampala/Uganda over this week must be squarely be blamed on M7. Why shouldn't the kabaka visit his people? What if a group of Bahororo said that they do not want M7 to go to Mpororo area, will M7 complain? what if the Baganda said that they do not want Banyala in the wider buganda,? Then why should the police, the army and the President give protection and support to people who are threatening violence against any person, even if that person is not the kabaka?...at least under the Ugandan law such eople are the ones who should have been arresred and prosecuted,! All this is evidence of yet another poorly managed M7 machination!! Unfortunately a very sad precedent has been set.....I can not wait to see the election results in 2011. Ssabasajja awangaale!!!!!
Social Intelligence Vs Political eruptions in Uganda!
written by omuzinyiomulungi, September 14, 2009
On the rector scale of Buganda's political upheavals, the 9/11/09 eruptions have been minor! The last such upheaval saw the dissolution of the Buganda kingdom and eventual unfortunate death in exile of King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi's father.
This eruption is unlikely to end the same way. The times are different and there is some level of tolerance and room for reconciliations for such eruptions in Africa, as the examples of Kenya and Zimbabwe have recently shown.
The political amalgam in Buganda might lay dormant again and everyone will go about their business; but unless the underlying lingering problems like poverty, unemployment among the the large numbers of disaffected urban youths are addressed, such eruptions are more likely than not to reoccur.

"How the Worst Bastards on the Planet Get and Keep Power"
written by omuzinyiomulungi, September 14, 2009
"Totalitarian leaders like Genghis Khan, Attila, Lenin, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao Tze-Tung, Pol pot, Idi Amin, and Saddam Hussein certainly could not kill thousands or millions of human beings single-handedly. They had to find ways to leverage the violence of others by acquiring power and projecting that power through various levels of their dynastic structures.
Typically, power accumulators - even those who have little or no evil intent - operate in approximately the same way. They generally follow a stage-wise process of building their power and influence over time. Studying some of the worst despots in history, we can readily observe four key phases:"

1. Networking
2. Coalition Building
3. Taking Over
4, Unrelenting Consolidaion
"How the Worst Bastards on the Planet Get and Keep Power" # 2
written by omuzinyiomulungi, September 14, 2009
"Many people forget - or never knew - that Adolph Hitler came to power as a result of free and open elections. But once he got to the center of the ruling coalition, the National Socialist party, he moved quickly and ruthlessly to consolidate his power. The take-over phase usually involves a significant risk and requires that the would-be ruler act aggressively in order to acquire position power in the minds of the other members of the coalition. Many aspiring despots fail at this phase, either because their rivals manage to dilute their influence, because the followers see an evil side of them that they don't like, or because the timing and circumstances don't offer the right set of imperatives to get behind an aggressive leader. The aspiring despot who succeeds in the take-over phase reaches a tipping point of influence. after which he has a more or less official entitlement in the eyes of others to decide, direct, control, reward, and punish."
Omuzinyiomulung, put it in context
written by Jude, September 14, 2009
Omuzinyiomulungi, you have just described a very interesting but rather insightful issue as far as world dominant politicians are concerned. What you have not yet done though is to put it in context of what is happening.
respond this topic
written by TrudyGUY27, July 19, 2010
That's understandable that money can make people disembarrass. But what to do when somebody does not have cash? The one way is to get the home loans and just sba loan.

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