Bataka do not need permission to access Kabaka- former Katikkiro Muliika

The former Katikkiro of Buganda, Dan Muliika has expressed disapproval of the restrictions placed on the kingdom's clan leaders (Bataka) regarding their access to the king, Kabaka Mutebi.

He was reacting to a significant incident in July when five Buganda clan heads flew to Namibia to see the ailing Kabaka, despite the kingdom premier, Charles Peter Mayiga's advice against it.

During his thanksgiving ceremony on Friday, Muliika said it was inappropriate for Mayiga to hinder the clan leaders from visiting their King, questioning the authority the Katikkiro had to do so.

"One of the Bataka informed me that they wanted to go to Namibia to see the Kabaka, but the Katikkiro was against it. How can he (Mayiga) prevent a Mutaka from visiting the Kabaka?" Muliika questioned.

Muliika emphasised that clan leaders should have the freedom to access the Kabaka whenever they choose, without needing permission from the Katikkiro or anyone.

"They (Bataka) felt they had to seek permission from the Katikkiro before going. These are some of the issues causing division within Buganda," he stated.

The Bataka's journey to Namibia made headlines after the king's medical team there denied them access to their high-profile patient.

At the time, the Kabaka had been receiving treatment at a facility in Okunguarri, Kunene Province, located about 700 kilometers from Windhoek, Namibia.

Namibian police intercepted the clan leaders approximately 200 kilometers from Windhoek, and returned them to the capital for a brief interrogation, sparking diplomatic tensions.

This incident also caught the attention of President Museveni, who criticized the five clan leaders for what he deemed an embarrassment to Uganda.

In a letter, Museveni would urge all Ugandans to refrain from embarrassing the country by opportunistically trying to demonstrate their support for the Kabaka, adding that, aside from the Kabaka himself, the next individuals authorized to visit him had to be his family or anyone else he had permitted.

Since then, opinions have been divided, particularly among Buganda subjects, regarding whether the clan heads have exclusive access to the Kabaka.

Mayiga has consistently asserted that the Kabaka is not an ordinary individual, and thus his privacy must be respected.

Contrary to Mayiga, Muliika says clan leaders have the right to visit the Kabaka at any time without needing permission from anyone.

"No any soldier or Omumbowa (King's guard) has authority to prevent a Mutaka from seeing the Kabaka in his palace." the former Katikkiro said on Friday.