While speaking at his 28th coronation anniversary ceremony held at Nkoni Palace in Lwengo District on Saturday, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II revealed that Buganda Kingdom will not relent on advocating for what belongs to its people.
The Kabaka wondered why it is only Buganda being targeted by different people yet other areas of the country have land too.
“We condemn those who deliberately create a situation to derail us from reminding government on what belongs to us. We have heard many people discuss about land in Buganda and many have said it is curtailing Uganda’s development. This is not true. Those who say this want to weaken the kingdom of Buganda,” Kabaka said.
“Such things bring sorrow to our hearts and make us question why land in other parts of the country is not mentioned ( as it is with Buganda). Buganda does not or has never wished to split from Uganda, neither has it and will never kick other citizens out(of Buganda).Why is the Buganda spirit of welcoming everyone being misinterpreted as a weakness?” Kabaka asked.
Many Ugandans have interpreted Kabaka’s speech as an indirect response to President Museveni about Mailo land. It should be recalled that earlier this year, President Museveni termed the Mailo land system as a bad land policy.
“For the last 28 years, we have been at the forefront of demanding for justice, federal, land and our buildings. These and other things, we call themEbyaffe,” Kabaka Mutebi said.
“I want to emphasize that we shall not relent in our quest forEbyaffethrough negotiations as we have done in the past. It has been 28 years while emphasizing this issue and we know it will be concluded in peace and love.”
The Mailo land tenure system is one that includes an inconstant taxation fee on land ownership and presumed squatters and has been practiced in Buganda for over a century.