Jude Muleke, the Buganda Kingdom’s Chief for Buddu County (Ppokino), has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government to spearhead the return of all kingdom properties that are still under the possession of the central government. The appeal comes a week after the swearing-in of the new cabinet, with which President Yoweri Museveni will execute his next five-year term renewed in the last general elections.
Muleke argues that, for a long time, the Buganda Kingdom has waited in vain for the complete return of its properties by the central government, saying it is high time the new cabinet resolved the matter decisively.
He noted that they are particularly most interested in the Kingdom’s counties and sub-county premises that are still occupied as headquarters for the various local government units in the different parts. In 2013, President Museveni signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Buganda to return the long-demanded properties grabbed by Milton Obote’s regime in 1966.
Muleke observes that despite the undertaking by the President and the Attorney General, some local government leaders are still hesitant to hand over properties or commit to paying rent fees, which has often resulted in unwanted conflicts with the Kingdom’s officials who equally want to utilize the properties.
Accordingly, Muleke has formally sought an engagement with the State Minister of Local Government, also Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere, to raise the concern in the cabinet to have it addressed. The demand for return of Buganda Kingdom properties from the central government dates back 2014, but it has remained pending.
Earlier in 2021, at the beginning of President Museveni’s sixth term of office, the Buganda Kingdom Attorney General Christopher Bwanika petitioned the central government, raising similar concerns over the delayed fulfilment of the 2013 memorandum of understanding, including non-payment of rent arrears amounting to over Shillings 215bn.
In her response, the State Minister for Local Government, Justine Nameere observes that she cannot give an immediate response to the problem, but promised to write a report, which the ministry will present to cabinet for deliberation-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
