By Batanudde Kiwanuka-Mukono
Dear Jonathan Mwesigwa, I have read your criticism of Mengo on Federo and how they refused it over cars. I would love to know what your role was in Mengo. For some years, you were hired as Owek Apollo Makubuya’s Personal Assistant. When Owek Makubuya was in Mengo as a Minister, he was part of the team that negotiated the Regional Tier with Museveni’s government. Is it possible that at that time he saw that Federo was not possible and instead negotiated for the Regional Tier?
I remember when Owek Makubuya was appointed 3rd Deputy Katikkiro, he promised a roadmap for delivering Federo. He said that was going to be his role. By the time he left Mengo years later, there was no Federo, can you write what could have led to that? Why didn’t he deliver Federo? At that time you were his PA, so you know what happened. I have seen you post on social media that you are close friends. Can you interview him and write something?
You have spoken about the vehicles. I have seen Mr Museveni give out cars for a long time to Bishops such as your own father. I have never seen Mr Museveni giving anyone an old used car. He always gives brand new cars mainly Mitsubishi Pajeros though of course, he gave the Kabaka a Landcruiser VX during his 60th birthday. What could have prompted Mr Museveni to give Mengo ministers very old Toyota Surfs? Is it because we are so cheap so yatujooga natuwa such old cars?
I have seen the current Mengo leadership, many of them are established business people who were driving more expensive cars than these Toyota Surfs that are about 16 years old. I believe these cars were bought to help in transport than a bribe from Mr Museveni. I believe Ssaabasajja can afford these cars for his ministers.
Do you want to say that the Kabaka accepted a bribe from Mr Museveni in the form of 16-year-old cars? All the ministers sold the kingdom’s soul once they saw a 16 year old car presented to them when in actual sense they own personal cars that cost 10 times what those ones cost?
The Katikkiro as powerful as he might be, his role is to help Ssaabasajja in the administration of the kingdom. The buck stops with Ssaabasajja. Your article insinuates that our Kabaka has become senile that he can no longer make decisions on his own including determining who visits his home and who doesn’t. I think you need to apologize to Ssaabasajja because omuweebudde nnyo. I don’t know what your father, a very decent Anglican Bishop thinks when he sees you defaming the Kabaka he so loves and supports almost all the time. I think if the Katikkiro called you a young man as you allege, he didn’t mean your age rather your mind.
You talk of young bright people to be offered scholarships at world institutions. I think you consider yourself one such person. Where will the kingdom get money to send you to Oxford or Harvard Law School? Since you are so bright, why don’t you get yourself a scholarship? Is it because you got a pass degree and failed LDC as it is alleged that you have failed to get a scholarship on your own?
The Kabaka’s Education Fund has given thousands of scholarships to many people. It is an inferiority complex that makes you think that Buganda to develop must send its people abroad. Buganda developed with its people right here at home. It is the myopic thinking that makes you believe that if one organizes a conference once a year and invites Prof Augustus Nuwagaba from Kabale to give a keynote address then Mr Museveni will give Buganda Federo.
You tried albeit with difficulty to link your misinformed article to #Covid-19 with disastrous results. #Covid-19 has taught us to focus on local solutions not to think that our problems will be solved by Europeans and Americans. So your clamor for a scholarship from the kingdom to Europe or America isn’t the solution. The solution is in the Kabaka offering scholarships and bursaries to bright people who may not be as lucky to be born with a golden spoon as yourself.
The writer is a senior MugandaÂ
liviing in Mukono districtÂ