The Quest for Federo, and the sins of the Aristocracy

By Hopes N. Kikonyogo

The year 2004 ended on a bad note with a clear absurdity of opportunism and greed in a simple Ugandan life galloping alarmingly at a fast rate into the aristocracy and middle classes. The year 2004 witnessed alot of lows in Uganda's history, but perhaps the utmost disregard of the significance of the union to Uganda's political safety and sovereignity stood high above.

The opportunism blinded most of the main stream media even to the evident unfolding dangers to which our nation would be exposed to, should we find it fitting to permit the dissolution of the union. The mentality behind all this theatrics seemed to be the ill conceived concept of "nfuniramu wa?" to the detriment of serious concerns scarcely discussed! The question here is how insufficient has the present union been to cause agitation for its disintergration, even when we are reminded that no political system is devoid of material imperfections.

There is evidence that even Mengo, is not ready for a sudden transformation of the political landscape. What, for instance, will be Buganda's future if her thirst for federo is quenched? Do we as Baganda then have to shelve nationalism to backroom counters to be seen as fully embracing the monarchy?

There is scarcely anything that can wound the pride of a soveregn nation and its inhabitants on international stage than agitation for self determination within that nation. This, on several occasions, has led to disintergration of profound sovereignities! Its interesting then to imagine Buganda's predicament on signs of aggression from 'neighbouring sovereignities' if the above scenario occured. Probably she will incurr foreign debts in such times of imminent peril for the preservation of her existence.

There is this 'cancer' of the lost territories. What happens to Singo, Bugangaizi, Bugerere etc valuable territories in Buganda's possession which by express stipulations, ought long since to have been surrendered? Equally important, are all other Ugandans entitled by nature to a free participation of resource exploitation in areas encompassed by the monarchy, and a free navigation of water bases like the Nile, L. Victoria etc? The list of concerns goes on and agonizingly on!

The notion of "like it was, it will ever be" in these increasingly changing times forms the basis of the aggressive attittude towards democratising of Mengo by Federo proponents. This is probably the first sign of aristocracy/middle class conspiracy to turn the clock backwards to the culture of class exploitation that usurp basic freedoms supposedly guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human rights adopted by the UN General Assembly. Land owners/Lords, Bataka, all the priviledged etc are chanting federo rhymes, not because they appreciate federalism as a system of governance that can be given a chance, but because as typical capitalists they foresee increase in capital wealth accumulation at the expense of the bakopi.

It is laughable to even imagine a singular instance of the capriciousness of the human mind, that after all the troubles we have gone through, there should still be found reputable men and women who object to the white paper's good intentions of punitive measures annexed to depature from the supreme law of the land by the aristocracy. The concept that all men are equal before the law seems to be challenged by these selfish opportunists.

If no man is above the law, then why should we not embrace a sanction attended to the law of the land for disobedience, for they are laws of the land and not just recommendations.

It is manifested that the Kingdoms/monarchys will comply with all Uganda's constitutional requisitions and that their respective self interests are indeed common interests that will preside over sanity between themselves and the central govenment. However, out of experience we have learnt that the true springs by which human conduct is actuated towards the inducement of civil power is always turned around in self destruction.

Buganda's ultimate survival depends on both Ugandans and the subjects of the monarch. Poor strategic planning and stinky diplomacy on behalf of the Federo proponents is culminating into the disintergration of the mornachy (as witnessed by the coronation of the Sabaruli) even before they see that elusive light at the end of the tunnel.