Now you may ask me: “What fault have they done to justify such attacks? Is it a sin to contest a place of leadership in Government?” My answer is: No, it is not wrong. Nevertheless it cannot be denied that this is what hurts many, this is what brings them to speak harshly in buses, in bars, in the press or else- where. This it is which incites people to molest others, to slash their crops and to do other similar acts of aggression.

Aim of this letter: guidance

I believe that some are irritated and do wrong to others because they do not understand the changes that are taking place in the government, and neither do they understand the relation between Church and State. In fact, the Church and State should have good relations with one another and work together for the common good. . In this pastoral letter, I wish to state the following two points: (a) That the forms of government may change. (b) The Church and State can work together.

I. TIlE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT MAY CHANGE.

The three forms of Government found in the world up to this day were described long ago by a Greek philosopher, Aristotle. (1) The first form is the absolute Monarchy. In that form of Government, the power to make laws obliging the whole country (legislative) and the power to judge trials and to punish (Judiciary), are all vested in the king. 2) The second form is that of the Aristocracy (Bakungu) sharing in government. Then the power of ruling is in the hands of such chiefs. 3) The third form is that in which all citizens take part and the government is that of people (Democracy).

The citizens themselves elect their representatives. However in certain countries, these three forms have been joined together, so that the government is formed of a king with the chiefs and the representatives elected by the citizens. England has such a government.

In Buganda

For a very long time, the form of Government in Buganda was of the 1st type, an absolute Monarchy, but with wide powers left to the Aristocracy (Bakungu). The absolute power of the kings (Bakabaka), in all fields, was never questioned until the Europeans made a repartition of powers. When Buganda came under the protection of the British Government, the absolute power of the Kabaka came to an end, but he remained one of’ the governing body.

Monarchy separated from politics

By virtue of the 1955 Agreement, which was signed by the Kabaka himself, His Highness withdrew from politics and a form of Government was set up known as “Constitutional Monarchy”, which means that the Kabaka does not enter personally into politics, but leaves that responsibility to the Ministers and the Parliament (Lukiiko).

However, the Kabaka retained the power, to approve, and confirm what is decided by Parliament. Since 1955, we have been given that form of Government “Democracy”: It was introduced for the first time in the government of Buganda, when Buganda began governed by elected members of parliament. However, elections were not on a common franchise: only a limited number of voters took part in them. Moreover, the elections were not on a “party” basis since Buganda had not yet accepted political parties.

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