Cultural institutions should stay out of politics, the leaders of Uganda and Libya agreed in New York.
By Vision reporter
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni and Libyan Leader Moammar Gadaffi have agreed to support development through the restoration of African traditions but emphasised that cultural institutions should stay out of politics. “Cultural institutions must have nothing to do with politics. Politics can spoil monarchies and monarchies can spoil politics,” Gadaffi was quoted as saying by State House. The two leaders had face-to-face talks at Libya House in New York where they attended the United Nations General Assembly summit on climate change. “They agreed to support social and economic development through the restoration of the Africa social fabric, heritage and tradition,” the State House press release said. “Among other things, the two leaders discussed the role of cultural institutions in modern societies and emphasized that cultural institutions have nothing to do with politics.” The press release explained that although Museveni spear-headed the return of cultural institutions in Uganda to promote social and cultural integration, he is against cultural leaders being involved in politics. This, according to the press release, is mainly because they failed to protect the sovereignty of Africa, which is the reason why Africa was colonised. “They, however, have a role to play in supporting African integration through promoting cultural values.” The meeting comes two weeks after Museveni accused his Libyan counterpart of using the kings in Uganda to undermine him. Speaking to Buganda Members of Parliament on the night the riots broke out in Kampala and elsewhere in the kingdom, he said he had received intelligence information indicating that Mengo got funding from Gaddafi. The President reportedly explained that Gaddafi was fighting him because of their fall-out at the 2007 African Union summit in Accra, Ghana, when Museveni refused to support him to become the first African president. “He has thrown out Thabo Mbeki and I am now his next target. He wants to achieve his ambition through kingdoms. But we can’t allow this,” Museveni was quoted as saying. In his recorded speech broadcasted on UBC (Uganda Broadcasting Corporation) the same night, Museveni said he got information that Mengo elements received foreign funds “to further their aims of fighting the NRM (National Resistance Movement) and undermining the Constitution”. He said the Government was following those reports closely. “We shall defeat those elements involved. I encourage my friend, His Highness Kabaka Mutebi, to distance himself from the Judases. The NRM fought many battles; we shall win this one as well.” Gadaffi, who currently chairs the African Union and calls himself the ‘king of kings’, told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that he was speaking on behalf of 1,000 kings of Africa. Many Ugandan royals have visited Libya in the last few years at the invitation of Gadaffi. The Libyan leader also built a palace for the Toro kingdom in Fort Portal, and Gadaffi National Mosque in Old Kampala. In addition, the Libyan government holds several investments in Uganda, including Tropical Bank, National Housing, Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe and Tamoil, the oil company where Libya sold a controlling interest two years
