President Yoweri Museveni has this evening signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of emissaries of His Majesty Ssabasajja Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II that marks the return of Buganda’s properties to the Kingdom, at State House Entebbe. The emissaries included Buganda’s Prime Minister Owekitiibwa Charles Mayega, Prince David Wasajja, Owekitiibwa Apollo Makubuya and Ssabasaja Kabaka’s subject Ndiwalana Hebert.
Before handing over the signed Memorandum of Understanding to Owekitiibwa Charles Mayega, the President said: “We’ve been having a long process of discussions between the Central Government and the Mengo Administration about the properties that used to belong to the Administration of the Kingdom of Buganda .These were official estates for the Masaza, Amagombolola, properties of chiefs, markets, and a number of other properties that were taken by the provincial Government after the overthrow of the constitution of 1962. We’ve been involved in long discussions. We have now agreed and signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will be availed to the media in due course. I take pleasure in handing in the Memorandum of Understanding to the Prime Minister of Buganda.”
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by His Majesty The Kabaka witnessed by Buganda’s Prime Minister, and H.E President Museveni witnessed by Attorney General Hon. Peter Nyombi. It covers the settlement of the outstanding arrears amounting to over Ugshs 20 billion and a number of other properties. A committee to verify the properties will be set up comprising a team nominated by Ssabasajja Kabaka and the Central Government.
Buganda’s Prime Minister, Owekitiibwa Charles Mayega, thanked the President for listening to the Mengo Administration. “Your Excellency, we thank you for participating in the long talks with us and for listening to us. The properties have been a source of conflict between Mengo Administration and the Central Government. Now that they are out of the way, we shall initiate development programs to help our people get out of poverty”, he said.
Sign up below to get the latest updates from State House Uganda by email.