Below is a statement that was released by the Bunyoro Kingdom on May 24, 2009. A highly reliable source in Mmengo has told us that there have been no plans for Kabaka Mutebi to visit Ndaiga as the statement claims. She warned that this is may be a ploy by Ford Mirima, who is often carrying out state house directives, to distract Baganda onto yet another random topic. The official added: “I am not speaking for Kabaka’s government but, personally, I think Banyoro should start asking themselves what will happen when Baganda youths camp at Kakiri or Luweero to stop their Omukama from proceeding to Kampala. Togayanga kyeziinze! ”
The statement, which was sent to various news outlets and government officials is reproduced below:
Bunyoro kingdom to demonstrate against Kabaka visit to Ndaiga
Dear Editors;
Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom May 22, 2009 issued a statement saying the kingdom is to join Mubende Banyoro Committee on June 5, 2009, to demonstrate against among others things, the planned June 25, 2009, Kabaka Mutebi’s visit to Ndaiga to cement Buganda Kingdom’s claim on the Mailo Akenda part of (3000 sq miles) which is in Buyaga and Bugangaizi counties of Bunyoro-Kitara.
The statement issued by the Katiikiro, Mr. Yabezi Kiiza, says if the Kabaka wants to assert Buganda’s ownership of land in Kibaale District which is the land the Uganda Constitution says the Kabaka must surrender under the Land Fund in the Uganda Constitution, the Kabaka will be breaching the Uganda Constitution. The katiikiro says these counties were connstitutionally transferred to Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom. So, Buganda has no say in them.
The Katiikiro’s statement follows a resolution adopted by Mubende Banyoro Committee on May 11, 2009 in which they wrote to the Inspector-General of Police seeking permision to demonstrate peacefully against Government failure to return Banyoro land as the referendum of 1964 decrees.
Octoebr 8, 2008 Kabaka Ronald Muwenda was stopped by Police from visiting Buruuli county where he was going to celebrate Buganda’s independence Day. The Baruulli warned him not to go there before he got persmission from the Isaabaruuli, Mwogezi Butamanya. He defied the Baruuli. whereupon they deployed the youths to stop him. The Uganda Government through the Police stopped the Kabaka from going to Nakasongola.
Last week Buganda Government made arrangments for the Kabaka to visit Bunyala county (Bugerere) but the Banyala, through their Cultural Head, The Isaabanyala, Captain Kimeze, warned him not to step in Bunyala unless he has official permission from the Isaabanyala, the Cultural head.
In in1961 the late Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Muteesa used force to visit Buyaga county,at Karutguuza, where the Banyoro had warned him not to go. there. The Banyoro erected roadblocks to stop him, but the Kabaka, using Kawonawos, stormed the road blocks and went to Karuguuza Market where he found Banyoro buying and selling goods and he shot and killed nine Banyoro, including the Market Master, Ntogota.
Today Buganda Kingdom says the Kabaka is going to go, by force, to Bunyala county, and to Ndaiga. The Banyoro are already mobilising themselves to stop the Kabaka from going to Ndaiga.
Now get the official statement from Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom issued by the Katiikiro.
Henry Ford Miirima
Press Secretary of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara
May 29th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I guess this so-called Press Secretary of the Bunyoro’s Omukama must be nuts. While evidently many Baganda know that he stays in Kibuli which is in the centre of Buganda, no Muganda has ever touched him on account of his being a Munyoro who is hellbent on bringing disharmony between Bunyoro and Buganda by inciting hatred of the Banyoro against the Baganda. How about if the Baganda were also to begin doing his crazy stuff of stopping the Bunyoro’s Omukama from stepping on Buganda’s soil, how will that be Mr. Mirima?? How also about if the Baganda in Kibuli were to begin inciting crazy stuff about him and other Banyoro in Buganda, huh??? Mr. Mirima and his Omukama must really stop this nonesense!
Wangala nyo ayi Ssabasajja Kabaka!
May 30th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Seruganda Busagwa,
I am sorry to carry the bad news naye oyo Ford Mirima is not nuts at all. He is only representing the “Bunyoro think tank” which prepared the press statement and the Omukama who approved it. And they act on the solid experience that since the 1960’s Baganda are mostly talkers. And Walusimbi’s Mengo is toothless to act.
Your questions like “What if Baganda were also to…” are some of many I have read on the Internet or heard people bring up over the last few days about Mirima. Naye until Mirima and his masters see real Baganda action they have no reason to take us seriously. Not because they are nuts but because we remain in denial, not willing to accept that many of us are cowards who stop at talking.
Wabula don’t togwaamu maanyi. tulina enough institutions which can help us overcome. Nkoba za Mbogo, Akaliba Akeendo, Bazukulu ba Buganda, Baana ba Kintu, Ttabamiruka USA and others are doing more “doing” than “talking”. Era lye suubi lyaffe. Support them!
Akuume, DK