KAMPALA.
During an electioneering period , no donation can just pass like that . It has to be done with deep intentions and it is this very reason why political observers are say President Museveni is up to something by donating Shs2billion to Buganda Kingdom just less than six months to the next year’s general elections .
Early this month , Mr Museveni, also the national chairperson of ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) donated Shs 2 billion to support the ongoing restoration of the Kasubi Royal Tombs. This is the second donation ,with the same amount , President Museveni is making towards the reconstruction of Kasubi Royal Tombs .
A dummy cheque from Bank of Uganda was delivered to Buganda Kingdom officials by senior presidential advisor, Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso.
Speaking at the event, Lt. Gen. Nalweyiso commended the Buganda Kingdom for its dedicated efforts to restore the tombs, describing them as a national treasure and one of Uganda’s most iconic cultural tourism sites.
“The President recognizes the importance of the Kasubi Tombs not only to Buganda but to Uganda as a whole. He is committed to supporting the full restoration and long-term preservation of all royal heritage sites in the region,” she said.
The Kasubi Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, were severely damaged by fire in March 2010, prompting a large-scale reconstruction effort involving the Buganda Kingdom, government of Uganda, UNESCO, and international partners.
The site holds the remains of four former kings (Kabakas) of Buganda and serves as a sacred spiritual and cultural landmark.
Political observer , Mr Sam Ssebwato says , any action by a politician is always with a hidden intention .
“The timing of doing something is important in politics . It is an open secret that President Museveni who performed poorly during the 2021 General Elections in Buganda region is trying to win back the hearts of Baganda by making such donations ,’’he said
For the record , Mr Ssebwato said President had earlier made a pledge of Shs2billion toward the Kasubi reconstruction project and this money was electronically wired to Buganda Kingdom bank account in 2012. In 2019 , Mr Museveni also donated another Shs300m for the same project .
He explained that if Mr Museveni’s latest donation has no political connotation ,he could have directed the Attorney General to work with Ministry of Gender ,Labour and Social Development to clear part of the outstanding debts which the government owes the kingdom in rent arrears .
“The central government owes Buganda over Shs700 billion, primarily in rent arrears for buildings and land occupied by government entities. The same kingdom also owes the government for properties that historically belonged to the kingdom, including prisons and other assets that were seized by the government over the years. So, if Mr Museveni’s intention was good , he could have used that money to settle part of these debts ,not making another donation towards completion of Kasubi Tombs , this is just politics !”
Initially , the total cost of reconstructing Kasubi Tombs was estimated at Shs 4.8 billion , President Museveni pledged Shs2billion towards the reconstruction. Buganda Kingdom pledged half a billion shillings, UNESCO Shs1.2 billion totaling to Shs3.7 billion leaving a deficit of Shs1.1 billion. Factoring in the individual contributions people in Buganda and Diaspora made the kingdom had already raised the Shs1.1billion it needed to complete the project .
During the January 2021 violent presidential elections, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine who was the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer, defeated Mr Museveni in the Buganda region, where the latter used to gather a substantial number of votes in previous five elections. Analysts say unfilled pledges, enforced disappearances coupled with rampant land evictions, amid growing corruption and impunity among government officials partly contributed to NRM’s dismal performance in Buganda during the last general election.
Mr Museveni scored 838,858 votes (35 percent) in Buganda against Mr
Kyagulanyi’s 1,453,535 votes (62 percent).Unlike Busoga Sub-region
where wins of parliamentary seats masked a loss of the national vote;
Mr Museveni’s NRM suffered defeat in both races in Buganda. Out of 78
directly elected MPs, the NRM managed to win only 23 positions. As for
the district Woman MP, out of the 27 districts that make up Buganda,
the NRM only came top in nine districts.
NRM only successfully defended 32 seats. NUP had ripped 55 seats from
its grasp in Buganda.
In the process of trying to mend fences with electorates in Buganda,
the NRM is currently sending teams, crisscrossing districts to endear
the party to the voters.