Africa-Press – Uganda. Buganda Kingdom has tabled fresh demands to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, saying the institution needs to work with the central government on programmes aimed at improving the welfare of the ordinary people.
Speaking to the media yesterday after a closed-door meeting with NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong yesterday, Katikkiro (premier) Charles Peter Mayiga said the country cannot move forward if leaders do not meet to plan for citizens.
“There are certain aspects of the programmes the central government has that we are interested in such as skilling the youth, poverty eradication, public health and innovations,” he said.
The katikkiro said everyone must be skilled at something in order to serve, adding that the kingdom has realised that many youth are unemployed because they lack skills.
He said the kingdom has a poverty alleviation campaign called Emwanyi terimba (a programme aimed at promoting coffee farming). He asked the government to support farmers, especially those in hard-to-reach areas.
“We have tried to sensitise farmers to adopt modern farming systems and improve the standards of their products but we need more stakeholders to join the drive,” he said.
The kingdom premier revealed that they also talked about health issues, saying the kingdom is passionate about promoting health and the government has several health programmes.
“Since the Kabaka of Buganda was appointed by UNAIDS as an ambassador to fight the spread of HIV and eradicate it by 2030, we are currently working with the government in areas of HIV/Aids prevention,” he said.
Katikkiro Mayiga commended the government for championing a campaign to fight malaria by distributing free mosquito nets across the county.
On engagements with different leaders, the premier said leaders have to meet because it is the only way they can solve problems.
“A problem may seem very big when you do not meet but when you do meet, you realise the problem is not all that big. Leaders not only meet to talk about problems but to exchange ideas about different issues,” he said.
Mr Todwong said they have shared a lot of ideas on how they can work together with the kingdom to push developmental projects.
“The only way we can plan for our country is by having several engagements with different leaders and institutions. The meeting with the kingdom means a lot when it comes to development,” he said
He added that cultural institutions, religion and government are like the “three cooking stones that must be on the same level and work concurrently in order for the public to be served”.
“It’s only mountains that do not meet. Human beings meet and when society expands the needs also change and increase. We are all in the public domain to serve the interest of the country,’’ he said
Mr Todwong added that the central government and Buganda Kingdom are not enemies and the Katikkiro has always welcomed people to consult and share ideas on different issues.
Federal system
When asked about the federal system which Buganda Kingdom has been demanding for years, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong said the government is still discussing the matter, adding that they are now implementing the decentralisation system.
“Government is discussing on how to improve decentralisation system focusing on sectors that can be merged in sub-region or particular areas,” he said.
He added that it’s not yet conclusive but it’s an ongoing discussion and the government will make a pronouncement over the federal system at the right time.
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