By Solomon Lubambula
The Parliamentary Buganda Caucus has established a special select committee to investigate and compile a comprehensive report on the region’s longstanding and unresolved demands.
The committee will be chaired by Buikwe South MP, Dr. Lulume Bayiga, and comprises Wakiso District Woman MP Betty Ethel Naluyima, Kiboga East MP Keefa Kiwanuka, Mukono South MP Fred Kayondo, among others.
Muwanga Kivumbi, the Chairperson of the Buganda Caucus and MP for Butambala County, stated that Buganda Uganda’s largest region has consistently been sidelined in key government projects, lagging behind economically, socially, and politically compared to other regions.
Kivumbi revealed that the select committee is expected to submit its report by April 4, 2024. The findings will inform a formal pronouncement and guide further action to demand government accountability and equitable development for Buganda.
Following a closed-door meeting, Kivumbi emphasized that MPs from Buganda had deeply examined the challenges facing their region, ranging from poor economic opportunities and inadequate social services to political underrepresentation.
“we formed a task force to go on the ground, gather evidence, and develop a clear policy proposal that can be adopted as a framework for redress,” Kivumbi explained.
He further expressed concern about unequal access to government programs:
“We have realized that without a unified voice, without a common front, it is becoming difficult to achieve parity with the rest of the country. We are losing out on funds allocated under the Parish Development Model; Buganda receives the least amount of money. We have fewer health centers and the lowest number of constituencies,” he noted.
In addition to its advocacy, the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus extended heartfelt sympathies to residents of the Kalangala highlands, who were recently affected by devastating cyclone winds. The MPs urged the government to provide immediate aid to the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Caucus also congratulated His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the Kabaka of Buganda, on his upcoming 70th birthday, which will be celebrated on April 13, 2025.
“We take this opportunity in a special way to congratulate our King and join all the people of Buganda in celebrating 70 years of his youthfulness and leadership,” Kivumbi added.
