The Bunyala Cultural Institution in Kayunga District has dismissed as “mere drama” a recent move by a section of Ssabanyala Maj (Rtd) Baker Kimeze’s family members to elect another cultural leader.
Last month, some offspring of the late Nathan Mpagi, the first Ssabanyala and father of the reigning Ssabanyala Baker Kimeze Byarufu II, convened a meeting in Kyerima Village, Kitimbwa sub-county, during which they elected Fred Sseruzi, Kimeze’s elder brother, as the “new Ssabanyala”.
The election marked the peak of a long-standing land dispute between Ssabanyala Kimeze and some family members, who claim he illegally sold off about 570 acres of family land in Bbaale.
Mr Kimeze has dismissed the claims. He says the land had been used by his late father for grazing but did not belong to the family.
“The land was entrusted to our father by a friend who remained with a title deed,” Ssabanyala Kimeze said during an interview in June. The land was later sold by Ms Sarah Nanyonga to a sugar cane growing company.
A fortnight ago, some of Mpagi’s family members announced they had passed a vote of no confidence against Ssabanyala Kimeze and subsequently appointed Mr Fred Sseruzi as the “new Ssabanyala”.
But Bunyala Cultural Institution spokesperson Samuel Bukenya said the alleged election had no basis in the institution’s constitution.
“They [family members] are just acting and we are treating their acts as mere drama. None of the clan leaders was involved in the alleged election of the cultural leader as the Bunyala constitution stipulates,” Mr Bukenya told journalists last week.
He added: “One is free to call himself any title or name. In the 1990s many football players used to call themselves Maradona or Pele the football legends, but they were not the ones.”
Mr Bukenya stressed that family grievances should be taken to court instead of confusing the Banyala community.
“As far as I know the Ssabanyala is still Maj Baker Kimeze Byarufu II and we are in preparations of his 16th coronation anniversary which will take place this August,” Mr Bukenya said.
However, Livingstone Miya, mobiliser for the breakaway Ssabanyala faction and former minister of lands in the Bunyala cabinet, dismissed claims that the Ssabanyala is elected by all Banyala clan heads.
“Kayunga is a multi-ethnicity area and people of all the tribes are involved in the election of the cultural leader. At an appropriate time the Ssabanyala Sseruzi would be shown to the public,” Mr Miya said.
Mr Bukenya called on Ssabanyala’s subjects to remain calm, noting that Kimeze was still on the throne.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that some of Mpagi’s family members opposed to the Ssabanyala had sought in vain to meet President Museveni.
Background of tensions The ethnic Banyala have been at loggerheads with Buganda Kingdom since Baker Kimeze took over the throne from his late father, Nathan Mpagi, in 2008.
Kimeze has undermined the authority of the Kabaka, claiming that Kayunga is not part of Buganda and that the Kabaka has no authority over his subjects in Kayunga – a claim Mengo has always dismissed.
In 2009, this dispute led to riots in Buganda after the Banyala protested Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II’s planned visit to Kayunga District, demanding he first seek permission from the Ssabanyala, which Mengo refused to do.
The Banyala constitute only 2.7 per cent of the population in Kayunga District against Baganda who stand at 32 per cent. Bunyala, also known as Bugerere or Kayunga District, is constitutionally part of Buganda and therefore under the Kabaka’s control.
In 2010, Kimeze’s mother told the Daily Monitor that she is a Muganda and related to the Kabaka.
‘My grandmother lies buried in the Kasubi tombs. Therefore, my family harbours no ill will for Buganda and Mengo. This whole mess with Mengo is unfortunate. We would want nothing more than co-operation and respectful recognition from them.’