Mr. Moses Bukenya, the current Vice Chair of Gwangamujje Boston has made a posting on Buganda Post where he says that his character was slandered when, according to him, it was suggested that he supports the NRM. Bukenya specifically requested that a correction be made to reverse the impression that he is an NRM supporter and the implied accusation that he had committed the “heinous crime” of plotting against the kingdom. Mr. Bukenya’s posting does not however deny his involvement in the changing of the Ttabamiruka ’09 date from Labor Day weekend to May or July. For many Baganda all over the world, changing the Ttabamiruka date to make it less convenient to attendees is viewed as sabotage.

When contacted about Mr. Bukenya’s posting, our Boston source argued that Bukenya was trying to deflect the most important questions, “Did he, Kalemba and others (not yet to be mentioned) meet on October 26th and change Ttabamiruka ’09 to July 4, which, by coincidence, agrees with what the NRM needs?  Or is it still September 4th? And, is he a key UNAA organizer (New York and Florida), which UNAA has accepted money from Mr. Museveni’s NRM government through one Byaruhanga?”

In light of the response from our original source for the story n Boston, this reporter makes the correction requested by Mr. Bukenya. For the record, Mr. Bukenya, the Vice Chair of Ggwangamujje Boston, is not a supporter of the NRM. And he is not knowingly “working with any individual or government while transacting Gwangamujje business and/or other affairs.” We regret anyinconvenience caused.

However, we stand by our story that on October 26, 2008 Mr. Bukenya joined Mr. Kalemba and others, yet to be named, at a meeting in the greater Boston area and agreed to change the Ttabamiruka ’09 date from the first weekend in September to July 4th, 2009. And that they did it fully aware that it would advantage the UNAA convention at the expense of Ttabamiruka ’09. Additionally, Mr. Bukenya has been actively involved in the organization of UNAA conventions; and UNAA officials have received large cash contributions from Uganda’s NRM government in connection with their organizing and their conventions.

Mr. Bukenya’s unedit posting is reproduced below:

My name is Moses Bukenya, current vice chair of Gwanga Mujje Boston Chapter and I’d like to express my utter shock at the article you authored that implicated me being an nrm supporter and the insinuations that myself together with others are planning to sabotage the planned ttabamiruka convention here in Boston.

For the record, i am not an NRM supporter, am not working for any individual or government while transacting Gwanga Mujje business and/or other affairs. I AM A PROUD MUGANDA AND MY FAMILY ARE PROUD BAGANDA WHO HAVE SERVED THE KINGDOM WITH DISTINCTION. I feel betrayed that a publication like yours that claims to lobby for and advance Buganda’s interests can publish such a story without seeking out comment from the main people i.e myself you wrote about and hearing their side so as to present balanced reporting and let the readers decide who is telling the truth. If you had contacted me prior to your publishing your article, i could have said on the record that i am not a supporter of NRM and do not work for them or any other apart from doing my best to serve Buganda’s interests. And most importantly, I’d have challenged anyone to produce evidence and/or proof that i work for the NRM and that i am sabotaging Buganda’s interests here in the diaspora and in Uganda.

I will not stand for having my character slandered, defamed and dragged through the mud. Now it is true that there are differences in opinion in the way we percieve issues in the running of Gwanga Mujje in Boston and in my opinion that’s understandable among cilivised folk. But to label all those one disagrees with as NRM insiders without backing up those claims really defeats the purpose of all those fighting for Buganda’s cause and i count myself among them.

The main purpose of writing this letter is to request you and/or your editorial staff to correct this anomaly. I have been wrongly accused of what i consider to be a heinous crime i.e plotting against the kingdom and i strongly demand that the record be set straight. My email address is momobukenya@gmail.com and my cell is (617)913-5793. I am doing this because i believe in due process and due diligence. There is nonthing here that in my opinion can not and/or could not have been resolved with a simple phone call. I expect to hear from you ASAP. I believe we can clear the air promptly. I however reserve the right to seek redress, legal of otherwise if the record is not set straight.

sincrerely,
Moses Bukenya
Vice chair
Gwanga Mujje Boston

People in all corners of Buganda have now heard of Kabaka Mutebi’s journey to Buluuli, to preside over Buganda’s 46th Independence cerebrations, and President Museveni’s decision to stop him (Kabaka) from reaching his destination. Baganda also now know that Kabaka Mutebi made the decision to travel to Nakasongola after getting fed up with the increasingly  dictatorial behavior being shown by President  Museveni and his men coupled with evidence that Katikkiro JB Walusimbi may be part of the problem.

Virtually all the 46 Baganda who this reporter spoke at Nabugabo, Katwe and Nakasero Market were very happy that, by going to Buluuli, bravely exposing Museveni’s true colors on Buganda and disassociating himself from JB Walusimbi, Kabaka Mutebi made the situation 100% clear to Baganda. The 37 out of 46 who claimed to be below 35 years in age declared their 100% support for Kabaka Mutebi and claimed that they are ready to risk anything to serve him in any way he orders them to. And 21 of those 37 claimed to be members of CBS Fans Club or Nkoba za Mbogo or Baana ba Kintu.

A 27 year old Muganda young woman who runs one of seven separate hardware businesses in a single shop, next to Nakasero market, told this reporter in Luganda, “Ba ffe atukakasizza mu ngeri ye eyamagezi nti Walusimbi bamumutega butezi. Ate natumanyisa nti musajja muzira kufa era amalako nnyo. Kati katulabe buno bunamawanga obutubba abaana n’abazukulu baabwo gyebanazza ebyaffe”  (“Our [husband] has wisely given us the signal that Walusimbi is a Trojan horse. And he has shown that he is a brave man who can see us through all. Now let’s wait and see where the children and grand children of these foreign thieves will take our things.”)

In a related development, Buganda’s Minister of Information, Charles Peter Mayiga, has announced that a special meeting of the Lukiiko (Buganda Kingdom Council) has been scheduled for October 27, 2008, to discuss, among other things, President Museveni’s decision to restrict Kabaka Mutebi’s movements in Buganda.

In a highly belligerent move on October 8, 2008, President Museveni of Uganda ordered his heavily armed anti-riot police ready, with teargas, to stop Kabaka Mutebi from visiting the Buluuli Ssaza (county) Headquarters in Nakasongola. The Kabaka of Buganda was on his way to open the ceremony celebrating  the 46th year since Buganda gained independence from the British. President Museveni’s operation was executed by his minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who claimed in a statement that it is Katikkiro JB Walusimbi who first brought up the idea that Kabaka shouldn’t travel to Buluuli.

Buluuli is one of Buganda’s 18 counties. However, since 2000, President Museveni has invested more than 2 million dollars on a project to weaken Buganda by creating his own anti-Kabaka “sub kingdom” in Buluuli,  headed by a “Sabaruli”. Museveni’s current Sabaruli is called Salongo Mwogezi Butamanya. Apparently, Museveni instructed Ruhakana Rugunda to stop Mutebi from reaching his intended destination after getting intelligence reports that the Kabaka had drawn huge crowds of Baganda and Baluuli on his stops in Kakooge and Migyera towns. It was emerging that the crowd would be even be much larger in Nakasongola, which would embarrass President Museveni, who October 9th Uganda celebrations keeps shrinking.

Dear Maama,

Muliyo mutya nnyabo since we spoke on the phone. Ffe tuli bulungi. The holiday season is winding up and the pace at work is starting to pick up as the weather gets cooler and everyone runs out of vacation (leave) days.

The big thing that happened this week is that shocking story in the Red Pepper about some people planting a bomb at Bulange to get Namunswa. I don’t know if Kazibwe started bringing you printouts of Sekanyolya and Buganda Post. But we have read Buganda Post.com that the whole thing was probably a hoax by the government to create deniability for them selves in case violent events take place. Anyway please make sure to tell fellow Baganda about this evil game and warn them.

On something else. I hope Namu told you how the Ttabamiruka meeting of 2008 went. Maama, I cannot tell you how great this year’s meeting was. Absolutely you must come next year. It will be in Boston and your friend’s daughter might be one of the organizers, I don’t know yet. But in New Jersey, we made it very clear that we are “tired” of being afraid of Banamawanga in our own Buganda. I am sure that you will be happy to read our resolutions. One of them tells the whole world that we stand by Ssabasajja and drop all “butitiizi”. Your friend “madam teacher” Nambooze was a big hit even though some ministers in Mengo sabotaged her visa and she failed to come. But her video message showed what a brave woman she is. It made many of us cry. Kyanjo, Betty Kamya and Muliika really delivered. Museveni’s Nankabirwa and Tamale Mirundi were left speechless. That is why people even started discussing about setting a Buganda Government in exile, to focus on saving Kabaka Mutebi and Buganda who are victims of the cowardice and corruption of certain people you know at Mengo.

Tell Kazibwe to go to the web café and print you a copy of our resolutions from BugandaPost.Com.

I know that you will complain if I don’t say something about your “tall boyfriend” Obama. BO is doing very well now but he was really shaken by the excitement that vice president candidate Sarah Pelin brought to the Republican side. Pray for him because things change very first here. For example, in just a few days this huge economy of ours has gone into total panic and we don’t know where it will end. By the way both our neighbors have lost their Wall Street jobs. I hope you remember Schumer as well as the Rubinos. Even fellow Baganda whom you might know have been affected, please pray for them.

Let me stop here and wish you a great weekend. I might even call you on Sunday. Don’t forget the medicine as well as the Centrum. Tell Kazibwe and everyone else that we love them.

Tusabire nnyo Kabaka ne Buganda.

Loving son

JSM

The Uganda Human Rights Commission’s (UHRC) 10th Annual Report, dated July 22, 2008 exposes various human rights violations in Uganda and Government’s failure to honor UHRC rulings. The Report expresses concern with the continued practice of detaining suspects for more than 48 hours before being taken to court, restriction in access to some places of detention, persistence of torture, congestion in cells and long detentions without trial. The UHRC also is concerned about the poor general welfare of inmates, suspects continue to be detained with convicts, prisoners are hired out to private individuals and they work for long hours without food and remuneration and there are still challenges in access to medical care especially in former Local Administration Prisons and Police cells/posts. What is even more disturbing is the detention of children in adult prisons and police cells.

Over the years, the Commission has made several pertinent recommendations to government aimed at improving the situation of human rights in the country. The report tracks progress made on the implementation of these recommendations. Only a few have been fully complied with such as the passing of the Persons with Disabilities Act and the Equal Opportunities Act. Most recommendations have been partially complied with while others have not been complied with. UHRC urges compliance with all its recommendations.

Recommendations which have not been complied with include the following;
1. Enactment of various laws which have an impact on human rights:
•a law prohibiting torture,
•Domestic Relations Bill
•fixing a minumum wage
2. Establishment of a Victims Compensation Fund
3. Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture
4. Reporting to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
5. Detention of suspects in ungazetted places of detention known as ‘safe houses’. Although, there is a significant reduction in the number of such complaints there are still a few complaints. ‘Safe houses’ must completely be eliminated.