“Katikkiro Mayiga indeed met with Minister Amongi, but they never discussed cars. The meeting was about how Buganda can partner with the government in various development initiatives. It was not about money or the cars,” Kitooke said.
Buganda Kingdom has distanced itself from the allegations altered out by the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi that the institution discussed with officials from Central Gov’t and reached a consensus on matters regarding the two vehicles which were given to each of the traditional and cultural heads from Kololo Ceremonial grounds on Wednesday.
The fact that neither the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II nor representatives were present to pick the two cars meant for Buganda, a gesture which left the people around wondering, Minister Amongi told journalists that herself inclusive and other government officials, they met Buganda officials and discussed the matter, whereby Buganda officials advised that the Kabaka would not receive the cars.
She added that they agreed that the government would instead constitute the car donation into hard cash, something which the central government accepted and handed over cheques.
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In a press briefing addressed by the Minister of Information at Mengo, Israel Kitooke has disputed the government’s account that in meetings with Buganda, they had agreed to take money instead of the government cars.
“Katikkiro Mayiga indeed met with Minister Amongi, but they never discussed cars. The meeting was about how Buganda can partner with the government in various development initiatives. It was not about money or the cars,” Kitooke said.
He also said they had made it clear to the central government that Kabaka would not be taking the sh60m monthly allowances given to cultural leaders. He said that according to Buganda’s norms, the Kabaka does not receive a salary.
He said they advised the government to invest this money in the various initiatives undertaken by Buganda.
Yesterday, Buganda declined to pick two vehicles that President Museveni had gifted cultural leaders, including the Kabaka claiming they did not need government support.
However, Amongi later said Buganda had taken the “cars in cash”, a version that has now been disputed by Mengo.
President Museveni donated two vehicles to each of the 15 cultural leaders. Each received a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 and a Toyota Hilux, with the full package worth about sh800m.
These were meant to support the leaders with transport for both the cultural head and the chief administrator.