The Ankole elders in their memorandum to President Amin, have come out against the restoration of kingship. The elders who had gone to see the President with the former Omugabe of Ankole, Sir Charles Gasyonga, raised a number of points at the Kampala meeting, among them their disapproval of the restoration of kingdoms. The memorandum which was read by the chairman of the Ankole elders, Mr. Z.C.K. Mungonya, says that the restoration kingdoms would most likely revive political divisions and factionalism, contrary to Government policy. If Uganda is to develop as a strong united sovereign nation, divisive tendencies must not be allowed to emerge. The country faces a very heavy deficit and its financial position cannot sustain any expenditure connected with the restoration of kingdoms.
Kingship imposes all sorts of indirect taxation, all of which are undesirable, they say.
Present circumstances demanded that all our efforts and resources in the 2nd Republic should be concentrated on economic reforms instead of being used to enhance the prestige of a few. The Ankole elders felt that while there may be merit in re-examining some of the past deeds of Obote and his government, the Military Government should not be rushed into taking decisions on matters which may distract attention from and frustrate its efforts in nation building. The elders thanked the President for his goodwill towards the former rulers, and thanked him for returning the remains of the late Sir Edward Mutesa II, for the honour and respect which the Government paid at the funeral of the late Sir Tito Winyi, for the restoration of property to Prince Kaboyo and for the assistance the Government has continued to give to Sir Charles Gasyonga. The President thanked the elders for their memorandum and said that when the soldiers took over, they said that Uganda would remain a republic. The President told the elders that their memorandum will be handed to the military junta for consideration.