More than 200 Kooki elders and ministers staged a protest calling Buganda Kingdom’s recent reshuffle in Kooki, a direct attack on the person of the Kamuswaga-Apollo Ssansa Kabumbuli II and the institution.
They
said the November 1, 2019, reshuffle of Buganda’s county leaders undermined
Kooki by appointing Kamuswaga and his deputies.
They
further disowned the appointed deputies saying that Buganda cannot appoint the
Kamuswaga or any one to lead Kooki.
Mayiga
referred to Kamuswaga as a Prince saying he retained his position in Kooki.
Gertrude Ssebugwawo, the former first Deputy Katikiro of Kooki, was appointed
First Deputy Kamuswaga and Nelson Lubambula as second Deputy Kamuswaga).
This
did not please Kooki leadership and its subjects. During the protest at Kooki
Royal Park in Rakai, the furious elders and subjects warned Mayiga and Buganda
kingdom to desist from provoking Kooki and respect their independence as a
gazatted cultural institution.
The
protest further prompted the members of Kooki Parliament (Lukiiko), to convene
to chat a way forward pertaining to the matter.
“We take this opportunity to warn Mayiga not
to cross his boundaries when it comes to Kooki matters. Unlike the past prime
ministers of Buganda, Mayiga has provoked us since his appointment up to now,”
said Richard Ssegwanyi, the speaker to Kooki Lukiiko.
He
claims that much as Kooki accords respect for all cultural institutions, Mayiga
has not treated Kooki and its leaders with respect.
“While
Buganda subjects in Kooki respect the Kamuswaga as a cultural leader, Mayega
has continued demeaning its leaders which may spark clashes between the
subjects of the two institutions,” he argued.
Ssegwanyi
further explained that Kooki has never been under Buganda but they became partners
for development and protection reasons.
He
explained that the Buganda-Kooki agreement ceased to function when Dr. Apollo
Milton Obote’s government abolished monarchies in Uganda. “This means the
binding agreements that existed then were null and void”, he said.
Yusuf Ssekalaala, the Kooki Elders Committee Chairperson, wants Mayiga and Buganda to apologise to Kooki, Kamuswaga and its subjects for violating the traditional rule by appointing deputies for Kooki and belittling the Kamuswaga.
According
to Ssekalaala, Mayiga cannot interpret the Uganda gazatte which ranks Kooki
sixth out of 13 independent cultural institutions in Uganda. “We regard his
remarks as complete trash. And disregard the humiliating appointments”, he
noted.
He
further explained that the absence of Kooki Radio has hindered their campaign
to enlighten the subjects and Ugandans about Kooki. He further appealed to the
government support them in order to get their own frequency for development and
educational purposes.
Dickson
Ssebyaala, the Kooki Cultural Minister, said Mayiga is applying different
strategies to disorganise Kooki which we will not accept.
He
noted that Mayiga has been fueling differences between Buganda and Kooki.
“Neither will we neither retreat nor surrender because we are recognised
nationally and internationally by other cultural leaders. Mayiga wants to make
history by attacking Kooki,” he said.
Eliyazaali
Lwanga, the chairperson of Kooki subsounty Chiefs, further suggested legal
action against Buganda/Mengo as an institution or get a restraining order
against Buganda.
He
further appealed for government intervention for redress before the situation
runs out of hand.
Kooki
Premier
“We strongly take a stand to ban Mayega and his so-called deputies from Kooki. They should only make personal visits if they so wish. We don’t want you (Mayiga) to regret”, Alhaji Idi Ahmed Kiwanuka, the Kooki Prime Minister declared.
He
explained that Mayiga has no mandate, whatsoever, to appoint Kamuswaga and his
subjects. Kiwanuka added that Mayiga’s ‘arrogance’ has erased the relationship
between Buganda and Kooki as partners.
“Okay,
if he claims powers to appoint Kamuswaga, then he should use it to sack him in
case the Kamuswaga annoys him. He must be logical in his statement than making
a nuisance of himself,” he said.
However,
the lukiiko also resolved to petition the President, speaker of parliament and
the Kabaka over the matter.
Appointed
Deputy
Gertrude
Ssebugwawo, who was appointed Deputy Kamuswaga, denied Kooki’s claims saying
she was appointed as a coordinator to perform Buganda’s duties in Kooki.
“Kamuswaga is a cultural leader who cannot be
appointed whatsoever. And I respect him since I served in his cabinet as deputy
Prime minister in Kooki before. He is a cultural leader and hereditary”, she
said.
Therefore,
she added, no one can dare to appoint the Kamuswaga and his deputies.
Buganda
Responds
Noah
Kiyimba, the Buganda information minister, said that the matter concerning the
reshuffle was blown out of proportion. He explained that Kooki is one of Buganda’s
Key Counties with Hereditary leader.
“That’s
a reason why we never tampered with its leadership. Mrs. Ssebugwawo was
appointed Buganda’s coordinator in Kooki because she understands Kooki where
she served for some time,” he noted.
However,
Kiyimba explained that Mayiga will have a statement to clarifyabout the
reshuffles.
Gov’t
Intervention
In
May this year, Peace Mutuuzo, the State Minister for Gender and Culture, met
Kooki officials to resolve the long-standing dispute between the Kooki and
Buganda Kingdom.
According
to the minister, the grievances between the two institutions could be resolved
better through negotiations.