Led by Samuel Kasirye the Prime Minister of Buruuli chiefdom, the protestors said that the function was a provocation and threat to their cultural independence from Buganda Kingdom.
Protests have emerged ahead of the installation of the Buganda
County chief in Nakasongola district.
Recently Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi appointed Robert
Ssonko to serve as his chief (locally known as Kimbugwe) in Buruuli County
located in Nakasongola district.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister
of Buganda Kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga is expected to install Ssonko as the
County chief replacing Gerald Kyanjo who retired.
Preparations ahead of the function are in high gear at
Kabaka Palace located at Nakasongola district headquarters where the function
will take place.
However, on Friday scores of Buruuli chiefdom loyalists armed
with placards and drums staged a protest near the palace demanding that the
installation be called off.
Led by Samuel Kasirye the Prime Minister of Buruuli
chiefdom, the protestors said that the function was a provocation and threat to
their cultural independence from Buganda Kingdom.
Kasirye explained that Buruuli County seceded from Buganda
Kingdom in 2004 and since then they no longer respect any chief from the Kingdom.
Kasirye added that it was an act of aggression for Mengo to
continue to appoint chiefs to further its interests against their heritage.
Kasirye also criticized the government for refusing
to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Kabaka Mutebi and
President Museveni where they agreed that Buganda hand over the land to
Buruuli.
As a result, Kasirye said that they launched protests from
Friday to Monday to express their grievances against the provocation of Mengo.
//Cue in: “So we can't…
Cue out;…until Monday.’’//
Luganda Byte
// Cue in: “Tulina abakulembeze…
Cue out;…kumutuuza”//
Ronald Sunday and Mary Nanono among subjects warned that if
the government doesn’t stop the function, clashes may be inevitable because they won't
look on as Buganda continues to provoke them.
// Cue in: “Tekisoboka kubeera nga…
Cue out;…zifuuka mbogo.’’//
But Robert Ssonko the Buganda Chief for Buruuli county
(Kimbugwe) insisted that the function will go on as planned in their territory and they have written to the Police seeking protection.
Ssonko added that Nakasongola district is a recognized county
within the Buganda kingdom and the land where the function will be held belongs to
them.
“On Tuesday, Buruuli chiefdom held its coronation
anniversary and no person confronted them so they should leave our function to
go on as planned,” Ssonko said.
But Sam Twineamazima the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson
said that the Regional Police Commander is yet to receive a letter from the Inspector General of
Police clearing the function to proceed.
“We have advised the Buganda chiefs to write to IGP seeking
clearance and security for the event but by now we are yet to get a letter from the
headquarters okaying it. So we are still waiting for guidance from IGP on
how to proceed about that function” Twineamazima said.
Although Buruuli chiefdom seceded from the Buganda Kingdom in
2004, the Kingdom refused to recognize it and still appointed chiefs to promote its interests.
There have been several conflicts between the loyalists
from the two sides and in 2017 the government was forced to stop the reconstruction
of Kabaka Palace at Nakasongola headquarters to diffuse tension.
The Palace was set ablaze, and Buganda pointed accusations at Buruuli Chiefdom loyalists. The Chiefdom denied the claim but insisted that
they wanted the palace demolished because Mengo did not have ownership
over the land on which it was constructed.
