By Norman S. Miwambo

10^th January 2011

Kasubi Tombs Fire: A Kingdom under threat?

A Uganda born US Marine is among many Diaspora Ugandans who have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi over the controversial “Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Bill”.

Capt. Frank Musisi, who sources say has a large Ugandan following in the USA, wrote to Ssekandi on behalf of other Ugandans.  In his petition, a copy of which Uganda Correspondent has seen, Capt. Musisi said:

“…Mr. Speaker, while the issue of this Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Bill is controversial, difficult and emotional, the leaders and members of Buganda Kingdom…in the United States cannot sit on the sidelines as an issue of such national importance is being debated in the homeland”.

The US Marine also told the Speaker that the majority of Baganda in the US treasure their culture and allegiance to their Kabaka [King] Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II so much that they can’t merely be passive observers to things designed to destroy those very things that they hold dearly.

Capt. Musisi added that, “…the purpose of this letter is to add my voice and voices of Baganda/Ugandans in the United States of America to the voices of our brethren in Uganda, especially the Buganda Kingdom that have urged your Parliament and government not to table the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Bill in its current form”.

The Marine also said that if the NRM governments acts unilaterally and passes the controversial law in its present for, it would undermine and destroy Buganda Kingdom and the Kabakaship.  That, the US Marine warned, “…is a recipe for tension and may lead to unfortunate consequences for the entire country”.

Capt. Musisi said many people suspect that the motive behind the Bill is to target His Majesty Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II because it has come on the heels of the stopping of the Kabaka from visiting his subjects in Bululi [Nakasongola], Bugerere [Kayunga], and the mysterious arson that caused the destruction of the Kasubi Royal Tombs.  According to the US Marine, “these can’t be inadvertent incidents”.

He further argued that the majority of Baganda in the United States believe that like the Land Bill and Kampala City Bill, it seems the introduction of this latest Bill by the NRM is meant to weaken the Kabakaship.  “…It is unbelievable that some of the originators of this Bill are the same people who have benefited from the hospitality accorded to them by the Baganda”, Capt. Musisi said.

The US Marine also said the Bill is geared towards causing “unnecessary tension” at this critical time in our nation’s history.  He warned Speaker Ssekandi further and said:

“…Mr. Speaker, I need not remind you of Dr. Milton Obote’s laws that abolished the Kingdoms and also of…Idi Amin’s Decrees which abolished Mailo land and the culture.  Despite the hardships and suffering the Baganda went through, including the long forced exile of the Kabaka, today, the Baganda, especially the young treasure their Kingdom more than before.  Obote’s Laws and Amin decrees are now only a reference in history books”.

The US soldier advised Ssekandi that as Speaker, he should be concerned that the laws that Parliament passes today will also be laws that he will be proud of after he finally retires.  Parliament, the Marine said, “…should make laws that benefit the people not laws that…divide them”.

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