Butambala County Member of Parliament (MP) Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has been named the new Chairperson of the Buganda Parliamentary caucus after sailing through unopposed.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) MP was announced the winner of the seat after 46 National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislators from the region led by Kiboga East’s Keefa Kiwanuka pulled out of elections citing bias.
“It seems ulterior motives eroded the good of the group. So on the basis of all that, we decided that now since our colleagues seem to be having a predetermined agenda, it’s not in our interest to participate in that sort of arrangement,” Kiwanuka told journalists after the meeting.
“Let’s withdraw and watch what is happening. But we made that commitment that we will be moving with them and whatever contribution we can make as a way of building a strong Buganda. That’s something we will be very happy to do,” he added.
The NRM MPs however did not walk out, but only observed the proceedings.
Some of their members including Sylvia Nayebare, David Kabanda and Diana Mutasingwa declined calls to run for different positions.
On her part, Mutasingwa turned down the offer of secretary for Cabinet Affairs saying she will use the Minister of State, Office of the President docket to serve the people of Buganda.
This allowed the NUP, which boasts of 55 MPs across the region the leeway to sweep majority seats without facing any opposition.
Key among those include; Mityana Woman Representative Joyce Bagala, Dr. Lulume Bayiga, David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga, Christine Ndiwalana who scooped information, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary for External Affairs respectively.
Shortly after being elected, Muwanga Kivumbi vowed to focus on issues of land and promised to give President Yoweri Museveni a bloody nose following his renewed quest to scrap the age-old ‘Mailo’ land policy.
“Please tell the President not to be mistaken; we are not going to shy away. This is a defining and generational issue,” he reiterated.
During the June 9 2021 Heroes Day celebrations at Kololo independence grounds, Museveni questioned the logic behind the Mailo land tenure system.
“It is really very bad and not fair but some people support it. How do you allow these things to happen? Land owners should be entitled to full ownership of their land like elsewhere in Uganda. In Ankole, nobody can chase you away from your land. You even fear,” Museveni added.
Under the Mailo Land Tenure System land is registered and owned perpetuity with its holder having a land title for it.
This system in Uganda has its basis from the allocation of land pursuant to the 1900 Uganda Agreement.
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