Writes Leo Odera Omolo

BUGANDA Kingdom has joined a list of organisations and institutions that have drafted strategies for the 2011 general elections. In its strategy, the kingdom intends to back aspirants who would support and pursue the interests of the kingdom regardless of their political parties.

The kingdom’s information minister, Charles Peter Mayiga and his deputy Medard Lubega Ssegona, separately confirmed they have a strategy for the 2011 elections.

They said they would not ally with a particular party, but in each party, they will support candidates who are willing to advocate their cause.

“Of course we have a strategy, which we shall unveil at the right time and we do not want to shy away from it. But at the moment, we urge the voters to go and register and vote for the right candidates who would support Buganda’s interests,” said Mayiga.

Mengo officials declined to say who they would be supporting. However, a number of Mengo loyalists have been linked with the 2011 parliamentary race.

Among them are Moses Kasibante, a former news anchor on CBS FM, who is heading to Butambala; the Mengo deputy information minister, Medard Lubega, eyeing Busiro East; Betty Nambooze for Mukono Municipality and Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda in Kyadondo East.

Others are Mathias Mpuga the Buganda youth minister who is set to vie in Masaka Municipality, Beti Olive Kamya in Rubaga South, Isha Ntumwa in Mawogola County, JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo, John Chrysostom Muyingo in Bamunanika and Erias Lukwago to stand again in Kampala Central.

Buganda’s state minister for co-operatives George Kumama is going to Bbale county, Kayunga district. Aloysius Kyeyune, commissioner of education in Mengo government and a teacher by profession, is standing in Busujju county, Mityana district.

Dr. Lulume Bayiga, who is standing in the Buikwe south constituency in the newly created Buikwe district on the DP ticket, is also a strong advocate of Mengo’s demands.

Asked why they were mobilizing voters at this time and not in the past, Mayiga said Buganda Kingdom would like to consolidate the democratic principle of backing candidates who can give them what they want.

“In the past there was no need to come up with a strategy, but today the need is there. It is important that we tell our people the right candidates to vote for when the right time comes,” he said.

In a separate interview, Ssegona said they would not publicise the details of their strategy. “Strategies are not discussed, but know that we have one for 2011,” he said.

Last week the Buganda king, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, urged the people of Buganda to turn up in large numbers to register for elections and subsequently vote for leaders who will support Buganda’s interests.

While meeting his representatives from Buruli county, Kabaka Mutebi urged Mengo loyalists to vie for various elective offices in 2011. The meeting took place at Buganda’s seat of power, Bulange.

Ssegona defended the Kabaka Mutebi’s remarks, saying the king was free to mobilize his people to participate in democratic activities.

“The Kabaka has always mobilised his subjects to respond to the government’s programmes, like immunisation and taking their children to school,” he said.

Ssegona noted that Buganda has interests it is pursuing, like seeing that the Kingdom is granted a federal status, which they had chased after for a long period of time, but in vain. Ssegona noted that the Kabaka’s voice was louder this time because he was disappointed by the failure of Government to grant Buganda’s demands.

Ssegona criticized the argument that cultural leaders should be excluded from politics. He said as long as they are not support a particular political party, there was no problem with them being in politics.

“Cultural leaders nurture the political maturity of their subjects because of the strong bonds which exist between them and the subjects,” he said.

On the issue of whether Mengo had the power to influence the electorate to vote the leaders the Kingdom wants, Ssegona noted there was no doubt BUGANDA Kingdom has joined a list of organisations and institutions that have drafted strategies for the 2011 general elections. In its strategy, the kingdom intends to back aspirants who would support and pursue the interests of the kingdom regardless of their political parties.

The kingdom’s information minister, Charles Peter Mayiga and his deputy Medard Lubega Ssegona, separately confirmed they have a strategy for the 2011 elections.

They said they would not ally with a particular party, but in each party, they will support candidates who are willing to advocate their cause.

“Of course we have a strategy, which we shall unveil at the right time and we do not want to shy away from it. But at the moment, we urge the voters to go and register and vote for the right candidates who would support Buganda’s interests,” said Mayiga.

Mengo officials declined to say who they would be supporting. However, a number of Mengo loyalists have been linked with the 2011 parliamentary race.

Among them are Moses Kasibante, a former news anchor on CBS FM, who is heading to Butambala; the Mengo deputy information minister, Medard Lubega, eyeing Busiro East; Betty Nambooze for Mukono Municipality and Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda in Kyadondo East.

Others are Mathias Mpuga the Buganda youth minister who is set to vie in Masaka Municipality, Beti Olive Kamya in Rubaga South, Isha Ntumwa in Mawogola County, JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo, John Chrysostom Muyingo in Bamunanika and Erias Lukwago to stand again in Kampala Central.

Buganda’s state minister for co-operatives George Kumama is going to Bbale county, Kayunga district. Aloysius Kyeyune, commissioner of education in Mengo government and a teacher by profession, is standing in Busujju county, Mityana district.

Dr. Lulume Bayiga, who is standing in the Buikwe south constituency in the newly created Buikwe district on the DP ticket, is also a strong advocate of Mengo’s demands.

Asked why they were mobilizing voters at this time and not in the past, Mayiga said Buganda Kingdom would like to consolidate the democratic principle of backing candidates who can give them what they want.

“In the past there was no need to come up with a strategy, but today the need is there. It is important that we tell our people the right candidates to vote for when the right time comes,” he said.

In a separate interview, Ssegona said they would not publicise the details of their strategy. “Strategies are not discussed, but know that we have one for 2011,” he said.

Last week the Buganda king, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, urged the people of Buganda to turn up in large numbers to register for elections and subsequently vote for leaders who will support Buganda’s interests.

While meeting his representatives from Buruli county, Kabaka Mutebi urged Mengo loyalists to vie for various elective offices in 2011. The meeting took place at Buganda’s seat of power, Bulange.

Ssegona defended the Kabaka Mutebi’s remarks, saying the king was free to mobilize his people to participate in democratic activities.

“The Kabaka has always mobilised his subjects to respond to the government’s programmes, like immunisation and taking their children to school,” he said.

Ssegona noted that Buganda has interests it is pursuing, like seeing that the Kingdom is granted a federal status, which they had chased after for a long period of time, but in vain. Ssegona noted that the Kabaka’s voice was louder this time because he was disappointed by the failure of Government to grant Buganda’s demands.

Ssegona criticized the argument that cultural leaders should be excluded from politics. He said as long as they are not support a particular political party, there was no problem with them being in politics.

“Cultural leaders nurture the political maturity of their subjects because of the strong bonds which exist between them and the subjects,” he said.

On the issue of whether Mengo had the power to influence the electorate to vote the leaders the Kingdom wants, Ssegona noted there was no doubt Buganda could.

“Those doubting Buganda’s potential to influence its subjects should judge from the past and presents events. When the Kabaka asked his subjects to take their children for immunisation after many had refused, the turn up was overwhelming,” he noted.

Buganda Kingdom and the central government have lived in harmony for yearsuganda could.

“Those doubting Buganda’s potential to influence its subjects should judge from the past and presents events. When the Kabaka asked his subjects to take their children for immunisation after many had refused, the turn up was overwhelming,” he noted.

Buganda Kingdom and the central government have lived in harmony for years,but of recent their relationship has been strained.

Ends