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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Landmark royal meeting in Uganda | Landmark royal meeting in Uganda |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Uganda's president and the king of the nation's largest ethnic group have met for the first time in four years, weeks after deadly riots engulfed Kampala. | Uganda's president and the king of the nation's largest ethnic group have met for the first time in four years, weeks after deadly riots engulfed Kampala. |
| President Yoweri Museveni and King Ronald Mutebi of the Baganda group held an hour of talks behind closed doors. Both men said the meeting went well. | President Yoweri Museveni and King Ronald Mutebi of the Baganda group held an hour of talks behind closed doors. Both men said the meeting went well. |
| The king's supporters rioted after the government tried to stop the monarch from visiting a nearby district. | |
| More than 20 people died in clashes between protesters and security forces. | More than 20 people died in clashes between protesters and security forces. |
| The BBC's Joshua Mmali, in the capital, Kampala, says officials insisted before the meeting that the two men would not discuss politics - because the king is a cultural leader, not a political one. | The BBC's Joshua Mmali, in the capital, Kampala, says officials insisted before the meeting that the two men would not discuss politics - because the king is a cultural leader, not a political one. |
| We want to hear them agreeing with each other - we are Ugandans, we are supposed to be one Kampala resident | We want to hear them agreeing with each other - we are Ugandans, we are supposed to be one Kampala resident |
| The king's supporters have long called for the restoration of a federal administration that would give their largely ceremonial king the formal political power he is currently denied. | The king's supporters have long called for the restoration of a federal administration that would give their largely ceremonial king the formal political power he is currently denied. |
| They are also seeking more control over their traditional lands, which include prime farmland they say has been taken by other ethnic groups. | They are also seeking more control over their traditional lands, which include prime farmland they say has been taken by other ethnic groups. |
| But an official statement after the talks confirmed only that the pair talked about a radio station loyal to the king which was closed down during the riots for broadcasting anti-government messages. | But an official statement after the talks confirmed only that the pair talked about a radio station loyal to the king which was closed down during the riots for broadcasting anti-government messages. |
| Collective decisions | Collective decisions |
| Before the talks, several Ugandans told the BBC's Network Africa programme they were hopeful the meeting would help resolve the issues. | Before the talks, several Ugandans told the BBC's Network Africa programme they were hopeful the meeting would help resolve the issues. |
| "We want to hear them agreeing with each other - we are Ugandans, we are supposed to be one," said one Kampala resident. | "We want to hear them agreeing with each other - we are Ugandans, we are supposed to be one," said one Kampala resident. |
| But analyst Frederick Golooba Mutebi, from Makerere University Institute of Social Research, said he was sceptical about what the talks could achieve. | But analyst Frederick Golooba Mutebi, from Makerere University Institute of Social Research, said he was sceptical about what the talks could achieve. |
| He said the make-up of the country should not be decided by two men behind closed doors. | He said the make-up of the country should not be decided by two men behind closed doors. |
| "This issue should be put out in a wider forum where it could be discussed by Ugandans collectively," he said. | "This issue should be put out in a wider forum where it could be discussed by Ugandans collectively," he said. |
| The country's traditional kingdoms were banned in 1966 but reinstated by Mr Museveni in 1993. | The country's traditional kingdoms were banned in 1966 but reinstated by Mr Museveni in 1993. |
| Most of the residents of the Buganda Kingdom are ethnic Baganda and are loyal to King Ronald. | Most of the residents of the Buganda Kingdom are ethnic Baganda and are loyal to King Ronald. |
| But many residents in the Kayunga district, where the king had intended to visit, say they have seceded from his kingdom. | But many residents in the Kayunga district, where the king had intended to visit, say they have seceded from his kingdom. |
| The government said it had feared that the king's visit would spark violence between his supporters and opponents. | The government said it had feared that the king's visit would spark violence between his supporters and opponents. |
| But some analysts believe the president is deliberately stirring up trouble within the kingdom in a bid to reduce the king's influence. | But some analysts believe the president is deliberately stirring up trouble within the kingdom in a bid to reduce the king's influence. |