It was a major public relations score when the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr.  Cyprian Kizito Lwanga spoke in support of his (Walusimbi’s) omumuli program, which is supposed to be funded by grants from Mr. Museveni. And more of the embattled Katikkiro’s prayers were answered when Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II went to a previously scheduled visit to Busujju county, which Mmengo dubbed “the launching of omumuli”.  In what some might intepret as support for Katikkiro Walusimbi’s money deal with President Museveni, Kabaka Mutebi called on Baganda to spend less time listening to radio talk shows and more on working hard.

Mr. Museveni’s government is indirectly assisting the Katikkiro’s public relations campaign, with the government New Vision and Bukedde mouthpieces, along with Aga Khan’s The Monitor putting a spin on what the Kabaka and the Archbishop said to magnify the support Walusimbi enjoys from these very important figures.

The quick succession of Mr. Walusimbi’s  two public relations triumphs has left many Baganda political analysts, including his strongest critics, admitting that the Katikkiro, and his political advisor, VP Bukenya, can show impressive political skills.

However, according to one youthful Buganda government official, Katikkiro Walusimbi’s publica relations success may be short lived because they are based bending the truth and on the belief that president Museveni can keep promises. The official who requested that his name not be revealed for fear of being persecuted told us: “The Katikkiro keeps telling us Catholics that the ‘‘Bapoto’ [protestants] and Basiramu [Moslems] are not against the money but only want to bring him down. Obviously, many of us, especially the youth know that he is not telling the truth. The corrupt people here in Mmengo are from all religions. And the champions of Buganda political and human rights like Nambooze, Ssengona, Mpanga, Kyanjo and so on also come from all religions. It is like the Katikkiro is saying that any Catholic who says that our kingdom must not be manipulated with Shs 350 Million is stupid and being misled by non-Catholics. Money which cannot even buy 3 acreas in Kololo!”

The official went on to predict that Katikkiro Walusimbi’s claim that the Baganda opposition to Museveni’s money is an anti Catholic conspiracy is what may bring him down. He explained:  “The most predictable thing about Museveni is that he never keeps a promise. Soon or later he will either refuse to deliver all the Shs 1 Billion or he will introduce some strange conditions like pushing for some Banyankore from the Auditor General office to look into Mmengo accounts. Or, because weak accountability systems Mumuli is borrowing from Mr. Museveni’s corrupt NAADS, most of the money will end up misused.  The looming disaster for Walusimbi is that, since nothing which depends on Museveni’s promises works, the Katikkiro will end up hugely embarrassing both the Kabaka Mutebi and Archbishop Lwanga when his Mumuli delivers nothing but more corruption. It may be worse than Regional Tier because this time Museveni will be able to arrogantly say, ‘Nabawa bu miliyooni 350 nebubalema!; kati Federo mugisobola mutya?’ ['You have failed to manage a mere Shs 350 Million; how can you deal with the federal system you demand?']”

On April 20, Katikkiro Walusimbi announced to the Buganda Lukiiko that he had already accepted Shs 350 Million (US$162,790), as the first payment of what he claimed to be an unconditional grant of Shs 2 Billion (US$ 930,232) offer from President Museveni to fund the mumuli program. A large section of the Buganda population were angered by Katikkiro Walusimbi, with many in the Buganda youth movement accusing him of selling Buganda, at Shs 430 per person. Some have even threatened Mr. Walusimbi with death (see Katikkiro Walusimbi Takes Museveni’s Money, Puts His Life At Risk).

On March 9, 2009 Buganda Post exclusively reported that Katikkiro Walusimbi had convinced Mr. Museveni to pay that  to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Museveni’s vice president Gilbert Bukenya. (See “Katikkiro Walusimbi Dodges Talks, Leaves Museveni Holding A Bag Of Stones“). According to our State House sources, the Shs 350 Million that Mr. Walusimbi accepted is art of this agreement.

Reports from various corners of Buganda indicate that the overwhelming majority of  Kabaka’s subjects are upset with Katikkiro Walusimbi’s decision to accept a Shs 2 Billion (US$ 930,232) offer from President Museveni.  And within the Baganda youth movement there is talk of giving him the traditional punishment for treason. Katikkiro Walusimbi announced his unilateral decision to take Shs 350 Million (US$162,790), as the first payment of what he claimed to be an unconditional Uganda Government grant,  during an April 20, 2009 meeting of the Buganda Lukiiko (equivalent of a parliament). However, Owek. JB  Walusimbi promptly contradicted himself by adding that the funds came from Mr. Museveni’s NAADS program, which is funded by donors and is widely known to have many strings attached.

Reaction from nationalist members of the Lukiiko was swift. One member told Mr. Walusimbi that Mmengo must not take the  Shs 2 Billion because it was an attempt by Mr. Museveni’s government to introduce their corruption into Mmengo and have an excuse to bring Uganda Government into Bulange under the guise of checking accountability. Another pointed out that Mr. Museveni should pay the over Shs 8 Billion he owes to Buganda before Mmengo accepts a gift of Shs 350 Million. Owek Walusimbi only hit back. He literally quarreled with the opposing voices, telling them: “You need to understand who Walusimbi is. I have handled huge sums of money for many years and I cannot be bought by Shs 1 Billion. I don’t need it and I would not look at it even if you put it in front of me.” And in what appeared to be a veiled attack on the increasingly influential nationalistic Baganda in the Diaspora, Walusimbi said: “In 2009 Baganda should focus on hard work and not politics like the people who criticize me. Those who criticize me are people who can afford to eat sausages at breakfast time and go on to have lunch, evening tea and dinner with red wine.” And, in a move which  Baganda youths in the gallery called a “Museveni style bribe”, the Katikkiro gave each of the Lukiiko members present a “transport refund” of Shs 20,000.

By Tuesday evening, the resistance to the Walusimbi/Museveni Shs 350 Million transaction had spread beyond the Lukiiko. A leaflet titled “JB Walusimbi Atunze Obuganda” was circulating around Kampala. It pointed out that Walusimbi had sold each native of Buganda for Shs 430. It includes his image with the caption “Kayungirizi”, a term reserved for local land agents (see picture). Our investigations have revealed that the document was circulated by members of the Buganda youth movement, who enjoy full support from about 50% of Buganda cabinet and a huge majority of ordinary Baganda. A Buganda minister, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told this reporter that after seeing the leaflet, a combative Walusimbi threatened members of his cabinet that he knew who among them was fighting him and he would defeat them. Only a day later another message from still unknown Baganda was delivered to Walusimbi, warning him that if he continues on his current path, his head might get put on stakes at Bulange. Sources close to Walusimbi tell us that the Katikkiro has told President Museveni that his life is at risk. And he is now receiving protection from President Museveni’s Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB).

On March 9, 2009 Buganda Post exclusively reported that Katikkiro Walusimbi had Mr. Museveni to pay that  to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Museveni’s vice president Gilbert Bukenya. (See “Katikkiro Walusimbi Dodges Talks, Leaves Museveni Holding A Bag Of Stones“). According to our State House sources, the Shs 350 Million that Mr. Walusimbi accepted is art of this agreement. And the lunch allowances he gave to Lukiiko members appears to be the first step towards getting Mr. Museveni’s money into the Buganda Lukiiko.

A source in the Uganda Media Centre, has told this reporter that one of the best known Baganda clan leaders is the main author of Namwatulira, a pro-Museveni propaganda column in a government owned newspaper. The same clan leader is reported to have been on Museveni’s payroll, on and off, for many years. The Namwatulira column is specifically designed to send subconscious level messages to Baganda to always be moderate and patient when dealing with Mr. Museveni. From time to time it pretends to speak against government decisions on Buganda while also consistently painting Mmengo as unreasonable. Indeed, over the past several months it has been softly promoting negotiations and reconciliation between President Museveni and Kabaka Mutebi.

According to the source, “This elder has a long history in the journalism field. The problem is that he is permanently faced with major financial problems due his show-off lifestyle. President Museveni noted these weaknesses in the early 1990s and recruited the gentleman elder to spy on Mmengo and Banda and to quietly push for government’s position on things like Butikiro and Regional Tier. His busiest and most profitable time was when Muliika was the Katikkiro. Because he is much discredited among ordinary Baganda, especially since Katikkiro Ssemwogerere left, writing Namwatulira is now his primary way to earn his state house income, via the government paper.”