The Buganda Royal family council has singled out the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga as the big problem of Buganda kingdom having usurped the powers of the royal family and that of the clan heads and treating himself as a royal King.
The Royal family council also called on Katikkiro Mayiga to resign before its too late and urged the people of Buganda and the clan heads not to turn up or participate in the coming Coronation anniversary due 31st July 2024 unless the Kabaka is present It also threatened to mobilise members of the Royal family and the Baganda at large and match to the Katikkiro’s office with a statement demanding for the Kabaka.
Addressing the Royal Family council at their headquarters (Kigango hall) on Balintuma road Mengo, the speaker of the Royal family council, Ssabalangira Alex Kikulwe, said that Katikkiro Mayiga, is putting more effort in frustrating, sidelining, undermining and despising the two top pillars of the kingdom, namely the Royal family (Olulyo Olulangira) and the Clan heads (Abataka b’obusolya) which the monarchy rotates on. He said the third pillar of the Kingdom is the Katikkiro and his administration whose responsibility is to provide services and implement decisions passed by the two pillars through the Kabaka.
Ssabalangira Kikulwe however exonerated the central government saying that it is Katikkiro Mayiga who is misleading it. “We have no problem with President Museveni or Salim Saleh, he is the president of the whole country, the problem is Katikkiro Mayiga and we are appealing to President Museveni to intervene and help us with this problem”, Ssabalangira Kikulwe told the Royal family council. He also appealed to President Museveni to return a Royal Drum which they borrowed and was used during the war in crossing Katonga and Danze rivers.
Ssabalangira Kikulwe lambasted at Katikkiro Mayiga of abusing the Ganda norm of suspending all functions meant to be done by the Kabaka when he is not around. He recalled the 1953 when the late Sir Edward Muteesa II was exiled, all functions done by the Kabaka including Masaza and Clan football competitions and canoe regatta were suspended and expressed concern over Katikkiro Mayiga’s action of transforming himself into Kabaka and kicked off the football tournaments which are still going on.
Ssabalangira Kikulwe also criticised Katikkiro Mayiga for barring the royal family and cultural heads from visiting the Kabaka unless they get permission from him. Some of the cultural heads like Kasujju Lubinga and Nadduli Kibaale and some Royal family members have periodical cultural functions with the Kabaka. He expressed surprise at rumours that there plans to create a Trustee of three people, comprising of Kintu Wasajja, Katikkiro Mayiga and Princess Nabaloga to run the affairs of the kingdom until Kabaka recovers and said that it is unacceptable and illegal and even if it was to be done, it is the role of Nadduli Kibaale but not Mayiga or any other person
He also attacked the Buganda Land Board and Mayiga of planning to sell off the Bumera hill where Kabaka Kimera first made a stop over from Bunyoro and is a heritage for the Royal family. He further accused Buganda Land board and Mayiga of being behind the selling off of cultural land with an aim of turning Buganda Kingdom into a briefcase kingdom like that of Aga Khan which is driven by money.
Ssabalangira accused Katikkiro Mayiga and his administration of sidelining the Royal family in issues concerning the kingdom and in some cases, using Prince Kintu Wasajja to represent the Royal family yet the Royals have a council and its head. He also cited the Kingdom budget adopted recently where the royal family was not included and only want to use the Royal family for his own selfish interests. He mobilised members of the Royal family and clan leaders whose cultural land has been sold off by the Buganda land board or under the influence of the Mayiga administration to get precious stones and script Mayiga’s name, his family and that of Buganda Land Board boss for future reference as those who championed the sale off Buganda cultural land.
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