Kabuye adds: “Bino ebitu tetwelabira. Abaganda aberabira baafa!” (“On these matters, we shall not forget.  The Baganda who forget died a long time ago.”)

Click on Ekiba_Kibe07Feb10 to listen to Kabuye’s full February 7, 2010 broadcast in Luganda.

Mr. Galiwango’s email says: “My schoolmate and long term friend is now one of Kabaka’s ‘bakungu’. He lied to me that he had passed my paper to Owekitiibwa Makubuya and that I should wait for the official invitation to Buganda Conference. As time passed, I started to call my friend because I wanted to make travel arrangements to go to Buganda Conference but he would never pickup. By December 7th, I was so frustrated that I called a mutual friend in Kampala to find out if he knew anything. That is when I found out the painful truth.  Apparently, my schoolmate and friend, whom I have trusted for nearly 40 years,  trashed my paper on Federo and then started telling people that I was writing terrorist propaganda against Buganda. Can you imagine?”

The betrayed Muganda did not reveal the identity of the Mmengo official who double-crossed him. However, he requested us to print the paper, in the hope that many Baganda would still get a chance to read about his ideas this way. He concluded: “I think my friend is now more concerned about his stomach. As you will see when you read my paper, my message is simply that the ‘Federo’ slogan is a smoke screen – Federo cannot help Buganda. The only way is to go for what Buganda knew for 800 years –  independence. Clearly, my friend has lost his loyalty to Buganda and I have lost the trust I had in him all these years. Please help me to publish my paper, so that his bad motives can be defeated.”

We print Mr. Galiwango’s paper (in Luganda) below:

Federo Tesobola Kuleeta Mazima na Bwenkanya Mu Nfuga Ya Buganda
By Samwiri Galiwango
Pa, USA

Enyanjula
Ssabasajja yayima mu Lubiri lwe e Mmengo omwaka guno 2009, nga avudde mu kulambula essaza lye erye Buvuma, nategeeza Obuganda nti, waliwo enfuga ez’ewulo nga Federo ne Regional Tier ezogelwaako, naye ekikulu kiri nti “ffe kyetwagaala ge mazima n’obwenkanya” mu ngeri abantu ba Buganda gyebafugibwaamu. Ebigambo bya Ssabasajja bino yabikusikamu amagezi mangi nnyo era byetaaga kunyonyola, kubanga n’abakungu be abamu balabika tebabitegeera.

Oluvanyuma lw’okunyonyereza n’okwebuuza mu bakugu mu byafaayo (history), eby’obufuzi (politics) n’eby’okulowooza (philosophy) abenjawulo tukakasa nti, ebigambo empewo za ba Jjajja ffe zebyateeka mu birowoozo bya Ssabalongo bitegeeza kimu: Abaganda tulina obutemalira nnyo ku ngombo (slogans) nga Federo, Regional Tier, n’ebilara ng’ebyo. Twesibe ku kinyusi kya “mazima n’abwenkanya.”

Naye manya nti mu byafaayo by’abantu bonna (human history), teri bantu bali bafunye mazima na bwenkanya (truth and justice) nga tebalina ddembe (freedom) ate era teli  ggwanga lyaali lifunye ddembe tuufu nga lisabye ssabe. Mu ngeri eyo, ba Jjaja ffe abalwaana ennyo okuzimba Buganda kirabika baayita mu Kabaka wafe Mutebi buterevu okutulabula nti Obuganda bujja kugwaawo okujjako nga ffe abaliwo kati twetegese okulwanirira eddembe lyaffe ery’omugundu, erinatutuusa ku mazima n’obwenkaya byetweetaaga.

Tusinziira ku nsonga ezo wagulu okwebuuza nti, ddala Federo (federal system) kye ki? Era esobola okuyamba Buganda mu mbeera eriwo kati mu Uganda?  Ye Federo ensabe obusabi esobola okuwa Abaganda eddembe  erinatutuusa ku mazima n’obwenkanya mu ngeri gyetufugibwaamu Kabaka waffe byayogerako?  Tuddamu n’okumelengula ebibuuzo bino mu lupapula luno.

Federo Kye Ki?
Federo (federal system of government) ekolebwa amawanga oba ebitundu ebyenjawulo (states), nga birina ensonga enkulu ezibigatta, nebitta omukago okwekolamu ensi emu n’okuteekawo gavumenti eyawakati, obuyinza obumu ne budda wakati ate obulala nebusigala mu mu gavumenti ezebitundu. Ebyafaayo by’eby’obufuzi mu nsi ezenjawulo (world political history) biraga nti emisingi egikola Federo enyweevu mubaamu okufanya olulimi, eby’obuwangwa ebifanagana, okufananya empisa, ebitundu okufananya obutonde, okufananya eddiini, okubeera mu ssa erimu ery’ebyenfuna n’obuyigirize. Oluusi, n’okubeera n’ebizibu oba abalabe ebifaanana kiyinza okuyamba Federo. Mu bimpimpi, Federo eba nga omukwaano ogutandikira mu kuss’ekimu, gegusajjuka era ne gufuuka omukago.

Obubonero Obulaga Nti Federo Tejja Kukola

Waliwo obubonero obw’enkukunala obuyinza okulaga oyo aba ataddeyo omwooyo nti embeera eriwo tesobola kukiriza Federo kumalako. Ebyafaayo by’ebyobufuzi biraga nti Federo ezisinga okulema z’eezo ezitandika nga mu begatta mulimu abakakibwa. Anti guba nga mukwaano mukake era oyo akakibwa bitera okuggwa nga aliko obuvune, awamu n’obusungu. Federo ezisinga okuba ez’etututumu mu kubonyabonya abantu n’okuyiwa omusaayi omungi ennyo mwemuli eya Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Nigeria, East and West Pakistan,  awamu n’eya Uganda eya 1962.

Ebyokulabirako Bya Federo Eza Nnamaddala
Federo ezimanyiddwa enkukutivu mu nsi yonna mwemuli eya Girimani (Germany), eya America (USA), eya Canada, eya Switzerland awamu ne ya Buyindi (India). Wewaawo muzino zonna, waliwo enjawulo mu bitundu ebizikola, olusi ziri mu diini, obuwangwa, enimi, n’obugagga. Ekikulu kwekuba nti enjawukana zino si zamanyi kimala okulemesa ebibagatta. Oja kusanga Federo zino enzigumivu nga zirina enfuga eya democracy, era teziguminkiriza ba nakyemalira (dictators). Mu zonna, gavumenti eyawakati yekola ku by’okwerinda kw’ensi, ensonga z’amamawanga ag’ebweeru, emisango ejiyingiramu state ebiri oba okusingawo n’ensonga endala enkulu nga zikwaata ku state ebiri oba okusingawo. Obuyinza obukola ku nsonga ez’omunda mu ku buli kitundu, busigala mu bitundu (states). Muno mubaamu poliisi (police), emisango egiteyingizaamu state ndala, ebyenjigiriza (education), eby’obulamu (health), eby’ettaka, (land administration), n’ebirala.

Ekyokuyigirako Kya Federo Ayagwa:  Soviet Union
Mu Soviet Union, aba Communist bakakaka amawanga (states) nga Estonia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia n’amalala okubeera mu Federo ey’empaka nga abantu baago tebeyagaridde. Baatekawo enkola eya Communist Movement nga mu Uganda bwemuliimu NRM, era nga emirimu emirungi ne contract za business enene okubifuna olina kubeera wa Movement. Naye olw’okuba nti enjawulo mu butonde, ediini, obuwangwa, amadiini n’ebikula by’abantu mu mawanga gano byaali byamaanyi nnyo, Soviet Union yatagulukuka.  Gavumenti yawakati okuwalana n’okusosola mu mawanga, n’okunyaga ettaka n’obugagga bw’ebitundu ebokakibwa byafuuka namuginga eyasuula Federo eno nga ekyali nto ddala.

Ekyokuyigirako Kya Federo Efungamye:   Nigeria
Nigeria ekyaali Federo ne leero naye nga ekeesa lukya nga nkoko ya mutamivu. Abangereza baakaka amawanga agatakwatagana okwegatta okukola Nigeria okuva nga October 1960. N’okutusa leero entaalo ezaava mu kukakibwa kuno zikyayinda. Olutalo lwa Biafra ng’egezaako okwekutula ku Nigeria mu 1966-1967 lwafiramu nkumi na nkumi naye ne lero bikumi ebifa buli mwaaka nga aba Igbo bakyagezaako okulwanyiisa amagye ga gavumenti eyawakati olw’okubalyazaamanya n’okubasosola.

Ate waliwo entalo ez’edini nkumu kubanga mu mambuka ga Nigeria esingayo Basiramu ate mu maserengeta n’ebayo ba Bakulisitaayo n’abasamize. State za Nigeria ezimu zifugirwa mu mateeka ga busiramu aga Sharia, ate nga mu ndala atanywa mwenge bewuunya ekimuguddeko.

Enjawukana mu nimi, eby’enfuna, obuwangwa bya maanyi nnyo era Abanigeria abamu omuntu gwebasinga okutiira ddala kunsi ye Munigerai munaabwe. Mu ngeri y’emu Abanigeria bangi ekintu kyebasinga okunyagisa essanyu eringi ze sente z’omuwi w’omusolo Omunigeria. Ekidirira kwekubba obululu awamu n’okukola empapula ne sente eby’ebichupuli

Ebyaafayo Bya Federo Mu Uganda
Federo ya Uganda eya 1962 y’emu kuzaali zisinze okutandikibwa ku musingi omunafu ennyo. Ekisooka, abegatta okukola Federo bali balina enjawulo mpitirivu obungi. Buganda, Bunyoro, Tooro ne Ankole gali mawanga agetongodde ate nga gayimiridde ku missing gy’obwakabaka. Buganda ne Bunyoro zali zibaddewo okumala emyaaka egissuka 800 buli limu. Abantu baago nga balina ekikula kya Bantu group era nga bogera enimi ezifanana. Abakiga bali bamaze byaasa nga tebafugibwa Kabaka wamanyi. Abasoga, nabo bali mu kikula kya Bantu group, bali bafugibwa baami abanafu ddala era y’ensonga lwaki Kyabazinga wa Busoga eyasooka yali Muganda, Semei Kakakungulu. Abagisu n’Abasamya nabo bali mu Bantu group naye nga tebaalina bwakabaka era nga bafugibwa baami ba byaalo.

Abakaramoja bo balinga Abamasayi be Kenya. Federo ya Uganda weyatandikira nga Abakaramoja bali mu kwediima kubanga gavument eya wakati yali ebagaana okugenda mu kibuga e Moroto nga bali bukunya era n’okunyaga abakazi awamu n’ente mu ntalo zaabwe n’Abatulukana be Kenya ezabuuli mwaaka. Abakaramojja okuyita obwerere ate nga bo Abaganda tebalya nga tebanaabye mu ngalo y’emu ku nsonga omugenzi Michael Kintu, eyali Katikiiro mu 1960, zeyawa lwaaki Buganda yalina okugaana okuyingira mu Uganda era esigaale gwanga ery’etadde.  Yagamba nti, wakiri obwa Katikkiro okumusuba naye yali tasobola kuwagira Federo egatta abantu abataliko kakwaate kona mu butonde, okujjako okuba nti ffena Abazungu batufugako.

Wadde abantu ba Uganda abasigaddewo baali bagunjufu okusingako katono ku Bbakaramoja,  naye era Buganda teyabalinaako kakwaate ka butonde kona. Abacooli, Abalango, Abalugwaala, Abateeso, Abajaphadola (abamannya gatandika be ‘O’) tebalina kintu kibakwaaganya na Buganda mu butonde. Era y’ensonga lwaaki buli Uganda lwebadde n’abavuzi abava engulu abantu bano balaze obukambwe bungi nnyo eri Abaganda.

Okuwunzika, Federo ya Uganda eya 1962 yali tesobola kukola kubanga teyalina wadde ekisanyizo ekimu kw’ebyo byetulaba mu nsi nga India, America, Canada oba Switzerland. Yali yakukaka Baganda okwegatta n’abantu  abatali bagunjufu ate nga baavu. Era kyeyava esatulukuka my myaaka nga esatu gyokka Banamawanga nebatutwaala mu buddu n’obuwambe mwetufugirwa nakati.  Okuva mu 1962 tewali kintu kya nsonga Buganda kyeyali efunye okuva mu Uganda. Kwekugamba, Federo ya 1962 Buganda yagitwaala mu mbeera ya kunyagibwa na kunyigibwa.

Buganda Teyeetaaga Federo Mu Uganda Ya Leero
Kirina okujjukirwa nti mu 1960-1961, omulamwa gwa Buganda gwaali kwefuga nga ensi eyotongodde era n’entekateeka zali zitandise okugulawo ebitebe eb’yebweeru (embassies) mu London, Washington DC, Cairo n’awalala. Ekyalemesa be bakungu ba Buganda abamu, naddala mu Mmengo, abataatunula wala nebanyigiriza nti “nyama ntono, okayana ekuli mu nkwaawa” (compromise). Bazukulu babamu kubakungu abo kati balya mu kasasiro wa Banamawanga.

Mu mbeera eriwo kati mu Buganda ne Uganda, kyelaga kyokka nti Federo Buganda gyeyinza okufuna leero ate eba mbi nnyo okusinga n’eya 1962. Anti kati Mmengo Federo gyenoonya ya kumala kwegayirira balabe baffe nga Abanyoro, Abacooli, Abalaalo n’Abakiga bakirize okugituwa.

Ebitabo ebitukuvu bitugamba nti, “Abamu balina amaaso naye tebalaba, balina amatu naye tebawulira.” Naye ffe tulowooza nti kiri mumusana nti Banamawanga bonna mu Uganda, mpozzi okujjako Abatoro, tebagala Buganda kubeera ya maanyi.  Amazima gali nti kuba kwelimba na butitiizi okugamba abaana n’abazukulu baffe nti Buganda esobola okufuna Federo eyeyagaza mu Uganda ya leero, nga tuyita mu kusomesa (“okwegayirira”)  Banamawanga abatuwalana. Mu byafaayo, Kabaka waffe amazima n’obwenkanya bye yatukutiira tewali bantu bali babituuseko nga bayita mu kusomesa na kwegayirira abalabe baabwe.

Olwo Tukole Ki?
Tumaze okwanjula bwiino n’ensonga lwaaki Federo tesobola kukola mu Uganda. Federo ya 1962 yali nnungiko kubanga Buganda teyayita mu kwegayirira okugifuna. Ate Banamawana bali tabanaba kunyaga bintu bya Buganda nga mailo 9,000, ettaka ly’embuga, ebibira awamu n’ebizimbe. Embeera eriwo kati mbi nnyo kubanga ne Katikkiro wa Buganda musuubuzi era nga ebyenfuna ye byesigamye ku mirimu gya kuzimbira gavumenti eyawakati. Bwegutyo, ne ba minisita mu Government ya ssabasajja abasukka 50% nabo basubuuzi oba bana byabufuzi by Uganda. Ekirala kiri nti Federo ya 1962 teyatesebwaako mu nkukutu. Naye kati Mmengo yakifuula muze okuteesa n’abalabe ba Buganda mu nkukutu nebakomawo kututegeeza butegeeza ebyavuddeyo.

Kyetuva tuwunzika nga tugamba nti, okusookera ddala, Katikkiro wa Buganda asaana yetondere Ssabasajja n’Obuganda bwonna olw’okulemwa okutukiriza emirimu gye era n’obutabuulira Ssabasajja mazima nti mu mbeera eno eriwo, Buganda tesobola kufuna Federo ya nnamaddala.  Ekiddilira, abakungu be Mmengo batandike okubuliira Ssabasajja n’abantu ba Buganda amazima ku nsonga ya Federo. Nga mukadde wange omu abeera e  New York bweyanyinnyola emabegako, Buganda yali nsi eyetadde (independent nation) okumala emyaaka nga 800 n’okusoba. Federo ya Buganda yaliwo emyaaka egitawera 4, okuva mu October 1962 okutuuka mu May 1966, era neefa. Okuva mu 1966, emyaaka 43, Buganda efugirwa mu buwambe na kunyagwa (occupation).

Ekubo etuufu Buganda lyesaana okukwaata kwekuddayo kunfuga yaffe eyatukolera okumala emyaaka egisukka mu 800. Nga Katikkiro n’abakungu be Mmengo ababadde bawabya Obuganda ne Kabaka waffe nti Federo ey’okulupapula (theoretical) nnungi bamaze okwetonda, ekiddilira kwe kusomesa abantu ba Buganda nti tuli mu buwambe (occupation) okutandika embagirawo. Ekyo kiddirirwe okuyigiriza abantu baffe obukodyo bw’okulwaanirira okwejja mu buwambe.

The Government of Buganda has published the press conference on the second Buganda Conference, slated for December 2009. The government is bravely taking on this challenge in the midst of a military occupation by Uganda’s NRM government, led by Yoweri Museveni. Most Buganda analysts think that it is too early to tell what Museveni will do about the conference.

The press conference, which appears on the official Buganda website, www.buganda.or.ug, is reproduced in full below:

BUGANDA CONFERENCE FOR 17TH DECEMBER 2009

Buganda Kingdom is organizing the second annual Buganda Conference to be held on the 17th December, 2009 at Hotel Africana under the theme “a Federo System of Governance for Uganda”.

The conference is an annual event graced by the Kabaka of Buganda with an aim of creating a platform for debate and interactions on the Kingdom’s issues.

According to the chairman organizing committee who also doubles as the Kingdom’s attorney general, Apollo Makubuya, the conference is expected to attract over 1000 participants from across the country.

He explained that discussion on federalism for Uganda is very important because many people have mistaken it to be an issue for only Buganda.

According to Makubuya, the conference will enlighten people within and outside Buganda that federo is not about Buganda seceding from Uganda or attaining a superior position but to grant power through the law to people in various parts of the country to work on developing their regions.

He added that the conference will also discuss the regional tier government among other issues and why Buganda Kingdom does not want it.

Makubuya reassured that the conference will be addressed by prominent scholars from various parts of Uganda and renowned international scholars on federalism from countries like Nigeria, USA and the United Kingdom among others.

He explained that unlike last year’s conference which was free of entry, this year’s event will require registration with a fee of 25000 Ugandan shillings each. He added that this fee has been set to help the organizers in the preparations of a successful event.

The conference was first held last year as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 15th coronation anniversary. However, due to the numerous problems encountered this year, the Kingdom was forced to shift the event to a later date.

Given it’s success last year, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi was greatly impressed and resolved that the conference be held annually.

The conference which was themed “Development and Governance of Buganda in Uganda” attracted several scholars including renowned Professors Ali Mazurui and Mahmood Mamdhani among others.

It should however be remembered that last year’s conference was interfered with by the arrest of three Buganda Officials Medard Sseggona Lubega, Charles Peter Mayiga and Betty Nambooze Bakireke. Sseggona was arrested early morning before kick off of the conference while Peter Mayiga and Betty Nambooze were captured late night after the conference. The trio were held hostage and incommunicado for a week during which they were dragged into several cells in various parts of Western Uganda including Bundibujo, Masindi, Ibanda, Kabarole, Kagadi Fort Portal and Kyenjojo.

The sale of invitation cards to the public shall be announced very soon.

According to an unaccredited news story on the Buganda Government official website, Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee has resumed its campaign against the campaign anti-Buganda policies and laws by the NRM government. Its scope has, reportedly, been redefined to put more emphasis on the Federo system of governance.

The committee, which was personally appointed by Ssabasajja Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi, is credited for awakening Baganda to the reality that Mr. Museveni and his NRM are committed to destroy Buganda through unjust and discriminative laws such as the Land Act. It is chaired by the indefatigable and exceptionally popular Betty Nambooze.

Frustrated by the effectiveness of Kabaka’s Central Civic Education Committee, president Museveni ordered the kidnap and torture of Betty Nambooze and two other Buganda officials, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega Ssegona in August 2008 (see “Museveni Quietly Retreats On Fake Nambooze and Lubega Case“). After several days of police torture and depravation, Mr. Museveni ordered the release of all three Baganda under pressure from human rights groups, United States and other foreign aid donors and a defiant Baganda population.

The article on the official Buganda Government website is reproduced below.

CENTRAL CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE RESUMES DUTIES

By Our Reporter

Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee has resumed its duties and this time it will put much more emphasis on the essence of a federo system of governance to every one across Buganda and Uganda in relation to Ssaabasajja Kabaka’s call for truth and justice.

The committee started with a one day sensitization workshop for all its members in which it was agreed that the theme “truth and justice” is quite extensive and require absolute attention.

Committee members further agreed that with truth and justice in place, the Kingdom will live in harmony since most of the injustices will be dealt away with.

The workshop was opened by an official for community mobilization in the office of the 1st deputy Katikkiro, Ssewava Sserubiri who also emphasized that where there is justice, there is likely to be no encroachment on other people’s land and no oppression from anyone which will lead to fundamental development in the Kingdom.

The Member of Parliament for Kampala Central, Erias Lukwago who is also a committee member advised that Buganda should come out and put to task all the members of parliament from this region to show their stand on the issue of federo. Lukwago argued that this will help the Kingdom to determine the support for federo in the Ugandan parliament and be able to vote wisely in the forth coming elections.

The chairperson of the committee, Betty Nambooze Bakireke announced a new system of mobilization whereby telephone contacts of everyone in Buganda will be obtained and various messages on various issues will be sent to every one in Buganda for development purposes.

The workshop was closed by the minister of state for research in Buganda Kingdom, David Mpanga who said that the recess period has been so useful because members have been able to identify their weaknesses which have been ironed out and are ready to face their prey with no major obstacles.

The tough-talking Lubega told the excited crowd that when President Museveni’s government kidnapped him and held him hostage for about 10 days in August this year, the experience only increased his resolve and strength to continue fighting for Buganda’s rights. He explained the only reason for his arrest and that of Betty Nambooze and Charles Mayiga was because they were publically fighting for Baganda’s land rights.

The problem is that Bamweyana and Kaddu, both officials at Mmengo, were self-appointed agents. Worse still, they were charging the visa applicants about US$3,000 for the visa, which they could not even guarantee. Although some of the applicants got the visas, others, like the one that this reporter spoke to, are having trouble finding Kaddu to get a refund.

Ahmed Bamweyana is a minister in the Kabaka’s government. Previously he was the Chief of Protocol at Mmengo, a position that he used to cheat Baganda who wanted USA visas for the 2007 Ttabamiruka of thousands of US dollars. Some Mmengo experts believe that Katikkiro Ssendaula moved Bamweyana from the Protocol position because of the 2007 visa scandal and because of allegations that he was charging Baganda for audiences with Kabaka Mutebi.

Bamweyana is also regularly accused in Baganda Internet discussion lists of being a Museveni plant at Mmengo, without concrete proof. This reporter has however confirmed that Bamweyana, a former senior clerk at the Uganda High Commission,  in London, is currently the Financial Controller in President Museveni’s Education Service Commission.

“Madamu Tica” Betty Nambooze returned to CBS Radio in what most Baganda saw as a clear sign that Kabaka Mutebi has lost confidence in Katikkiro Walusimbi’s judgment and commitment. She is the Chairperson of Kabaka’s Civic Education Central Committee and widely credited for discrediting and causing the embarrassing failure of Mr. Museveni’s Bibanja (land tenant) Owners Association in Buganda. Nambooze was suspended from CBS Radio after she was freed from more than a week of captivity in the hands of Uganda Statehouse operatives. Her return was marked by participation, Wednesday night, in the program “Kiriza oba Gaana” (Agree or Disagree), which was moderated by Meddie Nsereko Sebuliba. Back in her usual form Nambooze assured listeners that she and her committee will continue in their work and emphasized that their job is more important now than ever.

Nambooze was kidnapped together with Buganda ministers Charles Mayiga and Medard Lubega Ssegona and kept in captivity for about one week on allegations of, among other things, treason.  Later, Mr. Museveni’s government charged Nambooze and Lubega of committing sedition before releasing all the three Buganda government officials. Many Baganda were shocked to find out that instead of publically declaring support for his officials and demanding for their release, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi chose to enter secret negotiations with President Museveni and his security operatives. The shock turned into anger when Katikkiro Walusimbi caved in to Mr. Museveni’s pressure and, in turn, ordered the management of CBS Radio to suspend Nambooze.

Katikkiro Walusimbi, who has been in office for over six month, seems to have underestimated the determination of Kabaka Mutebi to eradicate duplicity and award patriotism at Mmengo. All reports indicate that Katikkiro Walusimbi either forced or blessed Betty Nambooze’s suspension by MD Kaaya Kavuma of CBS Radio, bowing to pressure from Mr. Museveni. In an unprecedented move Kabaka Mutebi is reported to have intervened and ordered that Nambooze’s program continue on CBS Radio without interruption. Observers see Mutebi’s decision as a clear sign that he has lost confidence in Walusimbi’s judgment and ability to put Buganda’s interests before his business and personal relationships with President Museveni and Vice President Bukenya.

In a related development, Betty Nambooze has announced that she will temporarily suspend her work as Spokesperson for the Democratic Party and concentrate on Ssabasajja Kabaka’s work and her family. Nambooze’s decision comes at a time when opposition political parties seem to be falling apart due to steadily increasing discrimination against Baganda by other nationalities. Only 20 days ago, Beti Kamya resigned from the leadership of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) citing dictatorial tendencies on the part of Dr. Besigye, its president, and wide spread discrimination against Baganda in the party.

CBS Radio, which is the official radio station of Buganda government and Ssabasajja Kabaka, is by far the most popular Luganda radio station in the country. After more than 10 years in operation and carrying popular personalities such as Betty Nambooze, Betty Kamya, Hussein Kyanjo and Medard Lubega, it’s considered the source of truth by a majority of Baganda. Since the departure Katikkiro Mulwaanyamuli Ssemogwerere President Museveni has regularly accused CBS Radio station to be the mouth piece of his Statehouse opponents and frequently threatens to close it. On July 18, 2008 Mr. Museveni took the first steps towards closing CBS Radio when Mmengo officials, Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega were kidnapped and held captive for a week, apparently for using CBS Radio to “abuse” the NRM government. Not to upset Mr. Museveni Katikkiro Walusimbi ordered CBS Radio management to tone down all their programs and to discontinue broadcasts by Betty Nambooze, only to be overruled by Kabaka Mutebi.

During their visit to Bulange, Bukedde FM management assured the Katikkiro that the Uganda government owned radio was ready to be a channel for the Buganda government to communicate to Kabaka’s subjects, very much like Bukedde newspaper. They praised Katikkiro Walusimbi for what they called his great efforts to eradicate poverty in Buganda. And they bought Buganda certificates worth 2 million Ushs. However, they reported to the Katikkiro that there are certain Mmengo officials who “harass” them and deny them cooperation.

A jovial Katikkiro Walusimbi expressed his gratitude to the Uganda government radio station, Bukedde FM, and requested the management to add programs that “tell people the truth” and help them develop. He added that it is necessary to fight laziness among Baganda and promised. He revealed that that he was going to start coordinating his plans with LC 5 chairmen to fight poverty starting with making sure that bars can only open after 5 P.M.

Since Kabaka Mutebi’s intervention against the Katikkiro’s decision to discontinue Betty Nambooze from CBS Radio, Katikkiro Walusimbi appears between a rock and a hard place. On one hand he cannot directly disobey Kabaka Mutebi and on the other he cannot afford to ignore Mr. Museveni’s demands that CBS Radio be tamed.

Members of the Uganda North American Association (UNAA) convention organizing committee are reported to be confident that they have put a dent in this year’s Ttabamiruka ’08, thanks to the huge financial assistance they have received from President Museveni and the unexpected cooperation that the Katikkiro’s office has extended to them. Ttabamiruka ’08 is planned to take place in New Jersey, USA while the UNAA convention will be in Florida, USA. Both meetings will start on August 29 and end on September 1, 2008.

A member of the UNAA organizing committee, who could only speak off the record, boasted that Mr. Museveni has given their convention a boost by sponsoring at least ten MPs and government officials including Mmengo, UPC and DP leaders. This claim was confirmed by an email from the President of UNAA, Captain Frank Musisi, where he announced that former Katikkiro Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere has been sent to represent the Buganda Kingdom’s position on the Land Bill.  According to the same email, “Hon. John Ssebaana Kizito, President General of the Democratic Party, and several senior officials of the Forum for Democratic Change, FDC will have a political debate with ‘The ruling party, NRMO’ led by HON AMAMA Mbabazi, Hon. Minister Kinobe, and Mr. Moses Byaruhanga.”

A source close to Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, has informed Buganda Post that they approached Katikkiro JB Walusimbi as early as May 2008 to jointly work on organizing Ttabamiruka ’08 but he was unwilling to participate. He also offered no assistance and even rejected the idea of Kabaka attending. However, it appears that the Katikkiro’s office has provided active support to the Uganda government officials behind the UNAA convention by arranging for advertisements on CBS Radio. Buganda Post has also received firsthand accounts of people contacting the Katikkiro’s office and being told by Mr. David Ntege that there will be no Ttabamiruka this year and advising them that Buganda issues will be discussed at the UNAA convention.

It is an open secret in the Ugandan community in the North America that Mr. Museveni has invested heavily in the UNAA convention of 2008 after the unexpected success of Baganda Ttabamiruka ’07. Mr. Museveni was especially unhappy with former Katikkiro Ssendawula and Ahmed Bamweyana for failing to protect the State House delegation from being denied a platform. It appears that Katikkiro Walusimbi decided not to repeat the mistake by simply boycotting Ttabamiruka and ensuring that Kabaka Mutebi does not attend either.

Many in Mmengo viewed Walusimbi’s aggressive efforts to get Nambooze fired, on Museveni’s instructions, as implicit disobedience to Kabaka Mutebi, who appointed Nambooze to educate Baganda on land issues. Within less than four hours, a split developed pitting Katikkiro Walusimbi and other NRM friendly individuals in Mmengo against the predominantly younger and nationalistic Buganda officials, CBS employees and die hard listeners.

According to Nambooze, she has had two meetings in connection with her work. She met with Mr. Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma and his CBS management team and they discussed the harassment that the radio station and its presenters face from the Uganda government. She also met the Katikkiro to discuss various matters, which did not include her CBS Radio employment. When asked to comment on the alleged discontinuation of her programs Nambooze responded that it is the responsibility of the management of CBS Radio to inform the public about the status of her employment as well as her programs on CBS.

Nambooze has been on CBS as a commentator, moderator and presenter since the late 1990s. She currently hosts a talk show titled “Twejjukanya” (Let’s Remember) on Sunday nights and is a panelist on the socio-political talk show “Kkiriza Oba Gaana” (Agree or Disagree) on Wednesdays. The programs are by far the most listened to in the country. In addition, Betty Nambooze is the Chairperson of Buganda Kingdom’s Central Civic Education Committee, a position to which she was directly appointed by Kabaka Mutebi. And the Kabaka has publically commended her work most of which she does on CBS Radio.