Kabaka Mwenda Mutebi II warns gov’t over Mailo land talks

By Nakanwagi Annet,

Buganda has today celebrated Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi the second’s 28th coronation anniversary. The event has taken place at the King’s palace Nkoni, Buddu county in Lwengo district.

Speaking at the event, the Kabaka has warned that his government and the Lukiiko (parliament) will not relent in its push for a federal system of governance and demand for property still being held by the central government through negotiations.

Kabaka’s remarks follow president Museveni comments on Heroes day in which he referred to the Mailo land commonly in Buganda as an evil land tenure system causing to endless land disputes in the country.

Government has since started on drafting land bill likely to see the mailo land abolished and some land laws amended.

The Kabaka has however castigated people who are pushing for the abolition of Mailo land tenure system, saying they are bent on weakening the kingdom.

“For those who want to scrap Mailo land their goal is to weaken Buganda. This prompts us to ask, why land in other parts of Uganda is not talked about. Why Buganda land?” he said

Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has vowed not walk the talk on demanding for Buganda’s federal, land and other properties commonly referred to as “ebyaffe.”

“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 them Ebyaffe,” he said.
“Í want to emphasize this, we shall not relent in our quest for Ebyaffe through negotiations as we have done in the past.”

Coronation Background:

It should be remembered that Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II  rise to the throne was much celebrated as Buganda had gone 27 years without having a ‘Kabaka’ following the 1966 crisis where Obote’s government had abolished all kingdoms in Uganda.

The then kabaka Edward Muteesa I had been forced into exile in the United Kingdom where he spent his last days on earth. However, at the time of his demise he had left behind a crown prince who is now the legitimate Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II .

The Kabakaship was restored on July 31, 1993 as one of the pledges Museveni had made in return for the overwhelming support the Buganda kingdom had offered to the NRA rebels in their 5 year guerilla war in Luweero.

July 31,2021, marked the 28th coronation anniversary of the Kabaka of Buganda.

The virtual coronation anniversary due to containment of COVID-19 was attended by top officials from Buganda Kingdom led by the Prime Minister (Katikiro) Owek Charles Peter Mayiga, former Ugandan vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, political and religious leaders in the Country.