Dear my Banyoro friends,
Are you really sure that Buruli and Bunyala are independent of Buganda kingdom because, as far as I know, the Baganda and Luganda still dominate these territories, and its likely to remain so for a long time. Please, let us not divide our country more that is already divided. There are less Banyara and Baruli in the so called territories than other tribes. So, if you want to advocate for a referendum, please go ahead and see who loses out.
I’m so astonished that the discussions that raise our emotions are mainly centred on our tribal outfits. May be, most of you are not interested in the project Uganda anymore. Why don’t we hold a referendum on that before we start fighting for territories, anyway?
My conclusion in some of your arguments is that you hate the project called Uganda. If you don’t, then you don’t see that project as sustainable, a reason why you are fighting to get Bunyoro ‘kingdom’ a big share before Uganda breaks up. Honestly, if you did not hate ‘Uganda’, you would not mind Uganda being built around the characteristics of the dominant tribe (the Baganda) and their culture because this itself minimizes the future cultural divisions in the country, thus strengthening the Uganda project.For instance, because of tribal led decisions, Obote failed to build Uganda around Buagnda between 1962-71 and 1980-85, yet he had all the means to do so. Museveni has also been a victim of the same policies such that i hear he is even compiling a Runyankole dictionary- which he intends to help publish before he leaves power, though there is already one in book stores.
Critically thinking, Buganda nationalism should not be looked at as a dangerous force that could break up the country but it should be looked at as something that could ultimately erase the many more tribal outfits in the country.People should not look at those Baganda who love their Kabaka wholeheartedly as a threat to the continued existence of Uganda. All these tribal outfits could easily be more skilfully integrated and assimilated, which will defuse tribalism in the country in the long term. Our concern as elites should be about keeping the country together but I’m surprised that most of you are driven by your personal feelings against the Baganda.
Yes, the absurdity and immorality of this strategy are obvious,e.g. other tribes will feel like they are being less empowered culturally than the Baganda, and that it is immoral to advocate for erosion of some cultures in the country, but hey, the alternatives in place will keep us fighting each other on several fronts.If Obote had followed this strategy , I’m sure Luganda will be a national language by now; we would not be fighting as much as we are doing now, e.t.c. Instead, he decided to stuff things up with his tribalism, which would have worked if the Langis and Acholis were probably the majority in Uganda, but they are not.
What some of you are advocating for is dangerous in the long term because you want to build a Uganda defined by borders within. I have been told that you are a Munyoro but you reside in Buganda peacefully, speak Luagnda fluently and I believe you have never been discriminated against by Baganda, but your messages against Baganda make a guy like me kind of fear even to buy land in Bunyoro- because I fear I will be discriminated against due to my tribe.
Lots of people have been killed because of these so called borders. For instance, the USA has killed thousands of Mexicans at the border, through shooting, beatings, death by thirst, exposure to the elements, rape by brutal border law enforcement is not uncommon. Just because Mexico is not welcoming to US immigrants doesn’t make what the USA does to people is correct. Apparently, some politicians in Washington feel that they are benefiting from Mexican immigrants such that it’s time to open up borders to them. Mexicans have shagged USA women and there is some kind of integration already going on. So, what is the purpose of continued discrimination of Mexicans? I think Obama is slowly addressing this issue with his recent public proposals to allow Mexican immigrants to legally work in the USA.
Similarly, Let’s find a way to build a Uganda without nation borders within and the best way is to do so around the dominant tribe in Uganda because it is easy that way. I’m not proposing this because I’m a Muganda but I’m looking at the big picture here. Baganda are already marrying Banyankole; northerners are marrying Basoga; everybody is marrying everybody, but we need to find a common cultural aspect to keep this integration momentum going.
So, please stop looking at Buganda nationalism as a dangerous thing but instead look at it as an opportunity to build a future border-less Uganda. You cannot do that around the minority, as simple as that, and you are not going to undo all the effects of colonialism through your so called proposals. Just think about it if you really love the Uganda project to succeed.
Nze bwendaba
Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
Norbert Mao
Jul 05, 2012 @ 18:03:01
Abbey,
I like your exchange with Owek. Mirima. It takes a lot of courage to have an honest debate about the National Question.
Crafting the entity called Uganda should be a conscious choice. Ethnicity on the other hand is not our choice and therefore is really a given. The cultural diversity that comes from our ethnicity is not something negative.
This is not about homogeneity. The melting pot theory was also tried and eventually largely discarded in America. America now calls itself a salad bowl!
In Switzerland the French, Italian and German culture contended for dominance until they found a formula for accommodation. I spent time at the University of Freiburg some time back and as I travelled from one end of the country to the other by train I noticed that the language used by announcers corresponded to the area we were passing. In a territory where the French are dominant the announcement is in French and so on. As a result the Swiss school system provides for mastery of the three languages. In Belgium the French and Flemish cultures keep contending for space.
At 50 years the entity called Uganda is very young and we should continue looking for ways to glue it together and keep it together.
There are those who resent the large space Luganda occupies in the hierarchy of languages in Uganda. Owek Mirima’s inference to Buganda’s sub imperialism is not out of place. Buganda’s role as an agent of the colonial rule brings a bad taste to many mouths especially in Bunyoro. But not every Buganda monarch was a willing tool of British imperialism. King Mwanga found himself in an anti imperialism alliance with King Kabalega.
Look at the media. The media in Uganda is clearly dominated by Luganda. Any press conference in Kampala is a failure if the conveners cannot address the media in Luganda. That is the reason why Joseph Bbossa is a virtual fixture at UPC Press conferences. That is why our own Mwaka Lutukumoi as Publicity Secretary had a hard time at Press Conferences. FDCs Wafula Oguttu has to grapple with Luganda too. I have even heard Amama Mbabazi address the press in Luganda. President Museveni is often heard speaking Luganda in public functions besides drawing often from his rich granary of Nkore sayings. I have had to train my Nilotic tongue to speak passable Luganda. During the Presidential Campaign I was able to address the Bantuphone areas largely in Luganda. Todate I treasure my copy of M.B. Nsimbi’s “Siwa Muto Lugero”. Is this a bad thing? No. Does it mean other languages are inferior? By no means. But culture and language are also dynamic and market driven. Mandarin has become a hot cake in American campuses. And do you think the mushrooming Chinatowns are an accident? Why is the most popular night spot in Gulu called “Buganda Pub?”.
Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania are blessed with Kinyarwanda and Kirundi and Swahili respectively. In Kenya and Tanzania you will not see national news in Gikuyu or Sukuma. Those are for local channels. In Uganda Luganda has muscled it’s way into national news broadcasts. These are signifiant developments of the last two decades and we have to acknowledge it’s impact. Look at billboards countrywide. Luganda dominates. Even the music scene is dominated by Luganda. Acholi artistes are singing some of their songs in Luganda. Juliana Kanyomozi never made it big until she accepted that Luganda rules the music industry.
How should we think about these developments that even the blind can see and that even the deaf can hear? I propose a constructive approach. This is not just about justice and sorting out historical grievances it is about designing a better future based on tolerance, justice and an acceptable national culture. And this is not a “local” issue or even a tribal issue. A nation is made of building blocks. And if the building blocks are “no longer at ease” then the cause of the “dis-ease” must be found and dealt with.
Nze bwendaba,
Norbert Mao
Sebagala Kimuli
Jul 06, 2012 @ 01:00:50
Nobert, thank you for your insightful and articulate article. As you correctly point out, cultures and languages are dynamic and market-driven. As Luganda evolves, it has not done so in a vacuum but has borrowed words from other languages: For example, “Molokoni” and “Panda Gari” which are gradually gaining acceptance in the language. Cultures and languages enrich each other and we should celebrate this reality instead of worrying about which one “dominates” the others.
Majwara
Jul 09, 2012 @ 16:36:01
A common language in Uganda is not an issue that is urgent not even in the next 100 years.
We already have a national language that is deeply entrenched in the education system of the country and all publications are in that language, English.
Never forget History so quickly, If you have travelled around Uganda, Every ethinicity has hated Buganda for its role in the colonisation of thier territory.
As a Very Proud Munyoro and A Mubiito(Prince) of the Region, I want to be quoted right and not mistaken at all. “Luganda can never be a national language acceptable in Bunyoro”.
The matter of discussing Luganda to be a national language it self threatens the Unity of Uganda. I Respect Buganda, just like other regions like Acholi, Teso,Busoga, Ankole, Tooro, Karamoja, and all other ethinicities with in Uganda.
I enjoy the diversity that comes with our different cultures and deeds.
Note……… Every Culture is RIGHT and BEAUTIFUL.
One needs to just pick interest and you will realise this.
And do not say funny things like “a guy like me kind of fear even to buy land in Bunyoro- because I fear I will be discriminated against due to my tribe”, as this contradicts your claim of being an Elite.
In Bunyoro, any BAD person is rejected like in any other place. for the GOOD people are welcomed open handedly. and this has nothing to do with thier ethinicities.
But I think we have other issues other than a language.
Kibirige, for A good discussion, lets find issues on which Uganda Universally-with interest agrees and we discuss those first. lets leave those matters where we disagree for the future and we continue to listen to each other.
Thank you.
Anthony
Aug 09, 2012 @ 19:08:58
I think its absolutely ridiculous to say, and I quote “Honestly, if you did not hate ‘Uganda’, you would not mind Uganda being built around the characteristics of the dominant tribe (the Baganda) and their culture because this itself minimizes the future cultural divisions in the country, thus strengthening the Uganda project”
Dont you see right there that by trying to impose one culture over another, just because its the dominant tribe, is reason enough to keep brewing tribal resentment. No one tribe should have their culture as the representative culture of Uganda as your statement seems to suggest. Every culture/tribe should be free to express within Uganda as they do, without having to feel like they are less of Ugandans just because they are far from dominant.
And we wonder why others have little sympathy for Buganda’s plight, when we keep having these feelings of grandiose. We are at times delusional as Baganda when it comes to our place in Uganda. Why cant we just accept equal footing with others.