On 11th Monday, the Katikirro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga had a press conference to mark his 7th year as the Prime Minister of Buganda. On the same event, he told the press about a book that he was soon to launch and unveiled some of the achievements of his seventh year.
Yet, behind the press conference was a coded message. It was the Katikirro’s farewell speech. We can now reliably confirm that as soon as the Lockdown is fully lifted, the Kabaka will unveil a new Katikirro.
According to our sources, the Katikirro had planned to use the press conference to prempt the news of his replacement. “He had not planned to mark his 7th anniversary. But he felt it best to set the record straight on his achievements before his replacement is announced. He has not had it easy. There have been many unfriendly forces,” Mugwanya tells us.
Mugwanya continues; “one of the things the Katikirro did was to streamline processes. He put in place things such as approval matrix. He formalized the procurement process at the Kingdom. By doing this, he earned himself many enemies. Take an example of the Majestic brands, it meant that to work with the Kingdom, you had specific targets and deliverables. This did not go well with many people. Many were selling off land in the Kingdom without following process, Katikirro made it practically impossible for all this to continue.”
As such, Katikirro told the press that although the journey had not been easy, there were some things to celebrate. He talked of Masengere for example. But he could not explain the flattening of Ngule as the Kingdom beer brand.
But his body language was revealing. It revealed a hurting man, hurting, angered, betrayed and feeling like his reign had been nipped short in the bud. He took swipes at some of his public enemies, Tamale Mirundi and Frank Gashumba.
He described Mirundi as a drunkard and Gashumba as a conman. Only a man on his way out could afford to go bareknuckle. We can confirm that Mayiga has begun delagating most of his duties as he prepares to handover. “He tried to ask for an extension. But the Kabaka thinks it is time for a fresh pair of gloves. His replacement is equally young though less charming. Kabaka thinks after seven years, there is not so much someone can turn around. Katikirro will be remembered for etoffali and kyapa mu ngalo,” Mugwanya opines.
The Central Government will have Katikirro to thank for a fonder relationship between Buganda and the NRM government. It is these ties that he fought hard to mend. A part of him realized that he could win more through friendship than having rifts. Yet never before had many people dared to attack the institution of Buganda than in his time. “Remember when Sheikh Muzaata took him on. Remember when many poor Baganda defied the kyapa mu Ngalo. At some point Mayiga’s problem was shooting beyond his reach. He had to temper his ambitions. He tried to catch more than he could handle. It is this humility that was lacking. He saw himself as Mr. Superman, Iron Man. He thought past Katikirros were docile. He did not bother to learn from them but little did he know that Buganda was not built in one day. We cannot say that he failed to try, let us say he tried and failed.”
It will be the end of a reign for a man who came in seven years ago. The youth in Buganda will miss him. But eventually even the best of dancers exits. To some, Mayiga had become as big as the institution he represented. That has a way of getting into people’s heads. It was his undoing. Over-ambition flared with over confidence.
