President Museveni recently met with several clan leaders from the Buganda Kingdom at State House Entebbe. This meeting, held on June 8, 2023, has caused significant controversy, particularly with the Mengo establishment, which has distanced itself from the event and criticized those who attended.
The clan leaders sought permission to visit Namibia to check on the Kabaka, who has been ill since April. Mengo, the administrative seat of the Buganda Kingdom, did not sanction this meeting and referred to the attendees as self-seekers. This meeting follows a similar engagement last year where the President donated 2.2 acres of land to the clan leaders and promised its development.
The delegation, led by ICT State Minister Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo, held a two-hour discussion with President Museveni. During this meeting, the President emphasized the importance of wealth creation. However, Mengo officials stated they were not informed about the meeting.
Minister Ssebuggwawo confirmed that one of the key issues discussed was the clan leaders’ request for President Museveni to facilitate their travel to Namibia to visit the ailing Kabaka. She explained that due to security concerns, the clan leaders had been unable to visit the Kabaka and hoped the President could assist in securing clearance from the Namibian authorities.
Ngaali clan leader, Mawesano Deus Kyeyune, who attended the meeting, reported that they presented a joint statement to President Museveni. This statement, read by Kyadondo Kasirye, urged the President to honor his previous commitments, including financial support for their savings cooperative (Sacco) and to monitor the Kabaka’s health.
President Museveni assured the clan leaders that he would look into the Kabaka’s health situation, though he admitted having limited information on the matter.
Mengo has firmly distanced itself from this meeting. Augustine Kizito Mutumba, head of the clan leaders, emphasized in a telephone interview with the Daily Monitor that the meeting did not represent their interests. He reiterated that Mengo was unaware of the event.
This recent meeting is the second of its kind. In August of the previous year, the same group of clan leaders met with President Museveni to discuss land acquisition, a move that also drew criticism from Mengo. During that meeting, the leaders expressed their intention to build two commercial buildings on the 2.2-acre land. These buildings would house several cultural and heritage centers, including a cultural resource center in the form of a museum and a theater.
In response to these plans, President Museveni agreed to have the buildings constructed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade and pledged 200 million shillings for the Bataka Sacco.
