By
Davis Buyondo
Wakiso
The
government has committed its support for Kooki, and other gazatted traditional
Institutions in a bid to protect their independence and administration.
Alhaji-
Abdul Naduli, the Minister without Portfolio, said on Saturday at the 10th
Marriage Anniversary of Kooki Cultural Leader-Apollo Ssansa Kabubmbuli II and
Omugo-Rebecca Tulituuka at their home in Kitovu village, Kitende parish.
According
to Naduli, who was chief guest, this is meant to promote peace and cooperation
among all cultural institutions that were gazatted by the constitution.
He
further warned the all institutions against interfering with the affairs of
other independent cultural institutions.
“The
1896 Agreement between Kooki and Buganda Kingdom is no longer binding. Its functionality
ceased when former president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote’s regime proscribed kingdoms
and cultural rule and administration in Uganda,” he explained.
He
added that Kooki has remained with its independence before and after the
agreement until now given the fact that Kamuswaga is not appointed.
According
to Naduli, all cultural institutions that are gazatted in the constitution must
be respect each other’s independent administration.
“These
institutions, small or big, have leaders and their administration. I ask each
of them to mind their businesses,” he added.
He
further advised cultural leaders to desist from politics adding that they
should focus on working towards the development of their institutions.
Naduli’s
remarks came at the time when Kooki and Buganda loggerheads over leadership of their
institutions. On different occasions, subjects of the two arch-rivals have
clashed prompting police’s intervention to disperse them.
Kamuswaga
The
Kamuswaga thanked his wife Rebecca Tulittuuka for standing with him through
soft and tough times for the 10 years of their marriage. He appealed to her to
continue with the love and patience for the good of their family and Kooki as
an institution.
He
appealed to Kooki subjects to respect and protect their wives and husband and families
and trust God to strengthen them during the challenging moments.
He further encouraged the bakooki organise
themselves according to their cultural traditions and beliefs for the
development of the institution.
Kamuswaga
said that Kooki has already advanced from young institution to a mature and
well established institution with all its leadership structures.
Al-hajji
Idi Ahmed Kiwanuka, the Kooki Prime Minister, said that with government
support, Kooki is meant to develop socially, economically and historically.
“Our
independence gives us strength to mobilise and plan for the development of
Kooki,” he said.
Present
at the function were Amos Mandela, the Buyamba County MP, and other dignitaries.
END