A Banyankore owned pornographic newspaper in Uganda has fired the first shot in the much awaited NRM campaign to undermine Kabaka Mutebi’s authority and influence among increasingly nationalistic Baganda, masses over the next 9 months. The Red Pepper, which was originally sponsored by Museveni’s brother Salim Saleh and run by Banyankore and Bakiga, claims that the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, signed a secret with Dr. Kizza Besigye over the future of Buganda.

Since Museveni was forced to cancel his tour of Buganda, in late 2009, due to hostile questions about CBS Radio by peasants, there has been chatter in Kampala’s Balaalo political circles and from sources close to his state house that a new plan to neutralize Kabaka Mutebi in the works. Its objective is to minimize the influence of the the Lion of Buganda on 2011 elections. Key contributors and advisors to the plan include Museveni himself, one Mafabi, Tamale Mirundi, Robert Sebunya, Karoor Okurut, Joseph Kakooza, Sam Kuteesa, Salim Saleh, Haj. Katongole, Robert Kabushenga, Freddie Ruhindi, an unnamed Indian and others. At least two Mmengo officials, who cannot be named at this time, in order to protect our sources, have also contributed. All run businesses that heavily rely on Museveni’s government contracts.

A seasoned former Mmengo official with extensive contacts among closet Baganda nationalists in the NRM occupation government has told Buganda Post that the Red Pepper story had fingerprints of ISO and Museveni’s statehouse and seems to be the start of a campaign against the Kabaka. He explained: “These chaps are masters at throwing together loose facts and sprinkling a little speculation on them to fabricate fake anti-Buganda stories. And they do it with confidence that,  in the absence of an opposing response from Mmengo, Baganda will believe the lies over time. For example, it is an open secret that a large majority of Mmengo officials have bought into claims by Mayiga, Walusimbi, Makubuya, Jolly Lutaaya and retired Bishop Nkoyoyo, that Buganda’s future is at the mercy of Uganda politicians like Besigye and Museveni.

“It is also an open secret that the NRM, DP and FDC have infiltrated Mmengo. And most Buganda officials, including seemingly nationalist Nambooze, Lubega, Mpuuga and Mpanga frequently face a conflict between their personal or political ambitions and Buganda’s national interests. In fact is also an open secret that many of these Mmengo officials routinely lie to and mislead Kabaka Mutebi, simply to protect their personal interests. Other equally public information is that there are also high-profile Baganda political figures like Kyanjo and Nsubuga Nsambu, who have spine and publicly insist that the future of Baganda is up to Baganda.”

Our analyst explains that the Red Pepper story takes these pieces of common knowledge and uses them to create a fake story whose only goal is to make Kabaka Mutebi look like a coward who is putting the future of his kingdom in the hands of a Mukiga man whose political career is based on a long term fight with Museveni over a Mulaalo woman.  According to the analyst, Museveni’s people know that if this image of a weak and Besigye-worshiping Kabaka Mutebi becomes strong in the minds of young Baganda and those in the diaspora, his popularity will quickly fade. In their evil minds, Museveni’s team reason that if Baganda start to believe that their Kabaka is beholden to Besigye, then they will be so demoralized that they will abandon Buganda nationalist dreams.

The analyst asks: “If Kabaka Mutebi signed an agreement with Besigye, under what law did they sign it; Museveni’s law? Are all Baganda stupid enough that merely signing a piece of paper would stop Besigye from even abolishing kingdoms after becoming the new Uganda dictator? Museveni and NRM are using the Red Pepper to make the Kabaka of Buganda appear beholded to this Mukiga called Besigye.”

Below is the Red Pepper story that analysts believe was planted by the NRM occupation government to humiliate Baganda and their Kabaka:

Besigye, Kabaka Sign Secret Deal
(Red Pepper – January 18, 2010)

The Mengo establishment has secretly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with President Museveni’s leading political rival, Col. Dr Kizza Besigye. The development was a result of pressure from some Buganda clan leaders, advisors of the Kabaka, and opinion and religious leaders. Red Pepper has reliably learnt that the MoU was signed about a month ago. A decision was also taken to keep it top secret for fear that its leakage might annoy the Central government and further delay the reopening of CBS radio.

Recall that at all its sittings last year, the Lukiiko (Buganda Kingdom Parliament) consistently urged the Kabaka to reciprocate NRM hostility by openly fraternising with its political rivals. The Lukiiko members advanced two reasons. The one was the fact that most NRM rivals had been active in defending the Kabaka against the Central government. The other was that openly fraternising with the opposition would increase Mengo’s relevance among anti-NRM Baganda. This was also seen as the only way to blackmail the NRM into giving in to Buganda’s demands.

DETAILS
NRM cadres have always dismissed Besigye’s promise of Federo to Mengo as mere political rhetoric, questioning why he doesn’t put it in writing. Red Pepper has learnt that to neutralise such criticism, Besigye has put a list of concessions to Mengo in writing.The concessions have been attached on the secret MoU. Some of them are: Unconditionally returning what Buganda perceives as their 9,000 square miles (mairo akenda), County headquarters (embuga z’amasaza), and all schools and institutions in the central region that once belonged to Buganda kingdom.

Other properties Besigye commits himself to returning include Butikkiro (Katikkiro’s residence) which is currently occupied by the Joint Clinical Research Centre, and all the titles for land (in government hands/use) that is owned by Buganda kingdom. The Supreme Court building in Mengo is another property whose return Buganda continues to demand.  Arguing that returning all these at once would paralyse government operations, the Central government has been dragging its feet and promising to pay rent to Mengo, in vain.
As we write, Mengo is demanding billions of shillings in rent arrears. In fact as of June 2009 (when Mengo read its 2009/10 budget), the arrears stood at about Shs9bn. Lukiiko members then directed Attorney General Apollo Makubuya to sue the government for court to force a pay-up or Government vacates the premises.

BESIGYE VS MAO
Our ever reliable sources revealed that Mengo ministers were initially divided on the Besigye/Kabaka MoU.
The Majority agreed that since he was likely to remain the second most popular Ugandan politician after Museveni for many years to come, Besigye was the best ally Mengo could have. Others preferred Democratic Party’s Norbert Mao. Saying DP was seen as a Baganda party more than the FDC, the pro-Mao Mengo ministers had argued that the secret MoU should be signed with him (Mao) instead.

This, however, failed for a number of reasons, including consideration that the Kabaka personally believes in Besigye more than in Mao.The other reason was that it would take years for Mao to obtain the size of political following Besigye currently enjoys nationally.The never-ending squabbles in DP also worked against Mao. The party was contrasted with Besigye’s FDC which appears to be relatively more organised, with a predictable future.

Some Mengo officials wanted none of the two parties, saying they were both not Baganda. They argued that Mengo should instead flock with Bidandi Ssali’s People’s Progressive Party, Kibirige Mayanja’s JEEMA or Dr Abed Bwanika’s PDP.All these were, however, rejected after a research confirmed that they had little chance to win even within Buganda region.

MENGO CONCESSIONS
To reciprocate Besigye’s big concessions, Mengo will ensure more FDC-friendly Baganda are given more visible roles both in its establishment and in organising the Kabaka’s mobilisation tours in future. In fact, sources revealed, since a good number of his ministers are eying parliamentary seats, the Kabaka will announce a new cabinet in the last 10 months to the next general elections. This reform will also be reflected in the Katikkiro’s department. Because Eng. J. B. Walusimbi’s four-year contract ends in 2012, his deputies will either be asked to become prolific in bashing the NRM, or be replaced with more militant names of the Dan Muliika brand.

In fact, Muliika might be recalled either as Deputy Katikkiro or to serve in a powerful ministerial position that will allow him do political mobilisation like he did in the run-up to 2006 elections and shortly after. The other concession will be reflected in Besigye and other opposition leaders being allowed to address crowds at public functions graced by the Kabaka this year. The optimism Mengo has in Besigye perhaps explains what we saw last week at Najjanankumbi when FDC nominations placed  Besigye against Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu.

One of them is to face off as a party flag bearer with President Museveni in 2011. All known FDC officials with linkages at Mengo openly embraced Besigye against Muntu. These included Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, Joyce Sebugwawo, Sam Njuba (Kabaka’s personal friend) and Prof. Bwogi Kanyerezi (brother to Joyce who mothers Daudi Mpanga and Kabaka’s Principal Private Secretary Peter Mpanga).

His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda,  Muwenda Mutebi II, formally closed this year’s Buganda Conference on December 17, 2009. Although the conference was dubbed a Buganda conference, it seemed to focus on appeasing non-Baganda and the NRM, in the hope that they will look kindly at Buganda’s quest for Federo. Indeed, the prime speaking spots were given to Supreme Court Judge George William Kanyeihamba (Munyankore), Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao (Achooli),  Colonel Kiiza Besigye of FDC (Mukiga) and Maj. Ronald Kakooza Mutale, a Museveni adviser on military affairs and notorious human rights abuser.

In a move that shocked many ordinary Baganda, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi brought in government owned Bukedde Radio to broadcast the conference proceedings on radio. This is despite the common knowledge that one of the many reasons why the NRM occupation government keeps Buganda’s CBS Radio closed is to give competitive advantage to Luganda radios owned by the government and NRM diehards like Peter Sematimba. This writer spoke to 10 Baganda in Nakulabye after the conference ended and a surprising 9 of them said that they were not interested in what Mmengo is doing anymore because they cannot trust the Katikkiro and close allies. All the 9 also said that they had not listened to or read about the Buganda conference because they were boycotting government radios and newspapers. It appears that the gap between what Mmengo is doing about the governance of Buganda and what ordinary Baganda expect seem to be getting wider and fast.

Below is the full text of Kabaka Mutebi’s remarks.

REMARKS MADE BY SSAABASAJJA KABAKA RONALD MUWENDA MUTEBI II WHILE CLOSING BUGANDA CONFERENCE 09 AT HOTEL AFRICANA, KAMPALA, 17TH DECEMBER 2009

Distinguished Participants

I thank you all who have presented papers at this conference and contributed in any way to the holding of this important meeting. I wish to particularly single out for special thanks to the organizers and sponsors of this conference who have sacrificed their time and other resources to bring us here today.

Buganda is a microcosm of Uganda due to our treasured tradition of openness. Everyone is welcome here and that is how our Kingdom came to prominence in this region two centuries ago. We value our past, but we also live in the present and think about the future. We are sometimes, dismissed as conservative, but at least all recognize that we have something of value to conserve.

Our colonial masters did not write on a clean slate in Uganda. They found well-established nations which they brought together to form the Uganda Protectorate which became the sovereign state of Uganda in 1962.

Buganda was around before colonialism; colonialism emasculated but did not kill her. Even when monarchial institutions were abolished in 1967 and Buganda was erased from the map of Uganda, she remained alive in our people’s hearts. That is why the restoration of the Buganda Monarch in 1993 was very popular, the symbol of Buganda’s identity is their Kabaka, that identity was restored and we are all very grateful.

I have always believed that Uganda can accommodate all of us and that we can live in peace and harmony. I also believe that peace and harmony requires that we should be able to talk to each other honestly and dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect. All this costs us nothing but priceless. We should never tire to talk to one another as members of one family Uganda. However, it is important to recognize that members of our family have their peculiar needs and concerns which should be seriously attended to. That is how our family can be kept happy and prosperous.

Take the theme of today’s conference: The Question of Federalism for Uganda. It is a very old issue which was partially resolved in the 1962 constitution. I say partially resolved because this system of governance did not embrace the whole of Uganda. This was a major weakness which independent Uganda should have resolved a long time ago by creating a uniform system of federal governance throughout Uganda. It is clear from the findings of the Odoki constitutional review commission that the overwhelming majority wanted to have that system of governance in Buganda and sixty percent outside Buganda. That was the authentic voice of the people. Why deny them that right?

I am happy that you deemed it worthy to discuss a very old question in Uganda. We should not tire of debate because debates are liberating and good for the soul. It took a long time to build democracies in the west; I have no illusions about this. It will take us time to build genuine democratic institutions here, but I hope at the end of the day, people will see their aspirations to fruition. Thank you for your erudite deliberations.

I now declare Buganda Conference 2009 closed.

Uganda’s iron fisted dictator, Yoweri  Museveni, is in the middle of a hurriedly arranged tour of Buganda under the pretext of promoting  ”Bona bagagawale” (”prosperity for all”).  However, Mr. Museveni has attracted such small audiences that his state house has banned all newspapers from publishing photos from the rallies. The decision was taken as soon as Museveni’s handlers observed that when Museveni went to Kyaggwe, in the Kisoga area, he received  crowds that were substantially smaller crowds than the ones his opponent, Kiiza Besigye, had attracted  a few weeks earlier. To further complicate matters for Uganda’s warlord, his crowds tend to be dominated by village idlers and pickpockets and are not always friendly.

One email from a source close to Museveni’s state house says: “The state house simply had no choice but to stop everyone from printing pictures when the crowds in Kyaggwe and Rakai do not even come to even 20% of what Kabaka would attract. And they are also clearly smaller than what Besigye gets. To make things worse, when Kabaka goes places, people roll themselves in the dust on the road asking him to walk over their back. When  the president goes anywhere, people ignore his length speeches and as soon as he finishes start complaining  about everything from terrible roads, land grabbing by ‘foreigners’ and drunkard husbands. In a couple cases he has been asked to explain why he does not leave Kabaka alone.”

In a related development, another Uganda government source who is in contact with Mr. Museveni’s convoy in Rakai, Kooki county, sent us an email to say that Mr. Museveni is spending two days in the area to have more time with his local spies regarding the deteriorating security situation in both Buddu and Kooki counties. And, reportedly, to dish out bribes to local NRM operatives and other locals with a long-term goal of undermining  both Omutaka Kabumbuli and the Kabaka in Kooki.  Museveni reportedly gives out the bribe money  during secret night meetings and, while in the Kooki area, he is sleeping only about 3-4 hours a night.

Zakaria Kakumba

Nyendo – Masaka, Buddu

Luganda (Original)

Mwana waffe Ssemujju, tufunye ensisisi okuwulira nti olanze mu butongole nti oli mu FDC era kati otambulira ku bilagiro bya Mukiga Omuhororo Kiiza Besigye ne mukyala we ‘katula kebise buka’ Omulaalo Winnie.  Wadde simanyi kusoma luzungu naye mbadde nenyumiririza nnyo mu bigambo by’owandiika kubanga babinkyusiza bulungi abavubuka. Ate on’omugu w’eddalu bweyali tanaba kusalako radio yaffe, nga sikusubwa ne madamu ticha Nambooze ku Kiriza oba gaana. Nze awamu ne mukyala wange ffena otulese bubi nnyo, kubanga tubadde tumanyi nti oli musajja mugezi nnyo era omanyi ebyafaayo bya Buganda. Era nga omanyi nti banamawanga bonna okuva ku bazungu ku Muteesa I okutuuka ku Museveni ku Mutebi II balwaana kumalawo Buganda. Oyo Omukiga namwe abakozesa bukozesa nga kondomu era olunamala nga asuula mu kyolooni. Olowooza bwebinatuuka ku nsonga enkulu ennyo ez’ebyaama bya FDC Besigye oba Winnie Byanyima banabyogerako nga waliwo omuzirango Ssemujju?

Ssebo mutabani, eriso ly’omukulu, awaddugala wewalaba. Kyenva nkusaba wekube mu kifuba ogende mpola ku banamawanga. Ye ddala enjawulo wakati wa Museveni ne Besigye egenda kuba etya? Olowoza ba Seguya, Abu Mayanja, Kisekka nabo si bwebeewa Museveni mbu kubanga yali aleeta enkyukakyuuka ez’omoggundu? Mutabani bazaamu, senga Besigye awangula nga bwolowooza, emirimu ggyonna egy’amaanyi anagiwa ani? Oba tomanyi, kankubireko nti Abakiga bajja kwongera ku kyebalya naye omulyo era gujja kusigala mu be bugwanjuba. Ku bya Buganda, agenda kwegaana endagaano zonna nga Museveni bwakola kati. Kubanga ssenga Abaganda tufuna Federo eya 1962 ne mailo 9,000 tuba tujja kuyitawo nnyo. Teli munamawanga mu Uganda, abe Mukiga, Mulango, Munyoro oba Musoga, ayinza kukikkiriza. Wadde Omuganda nga Haji Nasser Sebagala senga awangula, tagenda kukiriza.

Bulijjo ffe tumanyi nti omutima gwo gusibira ku bya Buganda na Ssabasajja. Mutabani kyaali kiwaani? Anti wadde ffembi tuli basilaamu naye tukimanyi nti okugenda okukuwoowa n’omukyala omulala nga gw’olina kati mulwadde tolina zimujanjaba, biba bya Ekanya. Kituluma okuba nti luli obadde n’omulamwa ogwa nabaddala era nga nebwogwaako ekizibu okuva mu ba NRM tumanya ensonga. Kati omulamwa ggwo gufuuse ki okujjako okutendereza Omukiga Besigye? Bwebanakuba ebiyiso, onotugamba nti babikkubira Bakiga na Balaalo?

Katusabe Mungu akuwe emirembe era bwekiba kisoboka akuzibule amaaso, otegeere nti ebintu bya Uganda bya ‘lubaale mubbe’. Bano abasajja, nga ne Besigye mw’omutwaalidde, ba luganda abajja okunyaga Buganda. Bwebayomba mbu FDC oba NRM, tewemalaayo nnyo kubanga ‘ab’oluganda bita, bwebikonagana tebyatika’.

Ssabasajja Awangaale.

Notes and English Translations By Buganda Post Writers

On October 29, 2009 Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, one of the most prominent pro-Buganda journalists in Uganda announced that he had joined FDC. Prior to the announcement, Mr. Ssemujju was known to be relatively independent of Ugandan political parties although he showed sympathy for FDC and JEEMA and openly opposed the NRM. For details of  Ssemujju’s announcement see “SSEMUJJU NGANDA: Why I have joined FDC” or visit the Observer website at www.observer.ug.

English

Our son Ssemujju, we were shocked to hear that you officially announced that you are FDC and will now take your orders from the Muhororo Mukiga Kiiza Besigye his Mulaalo ‘katula kebisse buka’ (‘sweet looking bitter pill’) Winnie.  Although I don’t know who to read English, I have been very proud of what you write because the young people here translate well for me. And before the mad man closed our radio station, I would never miss listening to you on the “Kiriza Oba Gaana” (”Take It Or Leave It”) program. You have left both me and my wife in a very bad situation because we were confident that you are an intelligent man who knows the history of Buganda. And that you know that foreigner, from the time of the British with Muteesa I to Museveni with Mutebi, are always fighting to take Buganda off the map. That Mukiga will also use you like condoms and afterwards throw you away in trash. Do you really think that when it comes to discussing sensitive FDC matters Besigye or Winnie Byanyima will do it in the presence of a Ngo clan member Ssemujju?

Son, the dirty part of an elder’s eye is what sees. That is why I am begging you to rethink your decision and go slow with these foreigners. Really, what is the big difference you expect between Museveni and Besigye? Son, think about it, if Besigye wins as you believe, who is going to get all the important jobs? In case you don’t know, let me tell you that Bakiga will eat more but, overall, everything will stay with the westerners. On Buganda issues, he will simply deny having signed any agreements as Museveni has done. Because, if Baganda get the 1962 Federo plus the 9,000 square miles they may develop very fast. No foreigner in Uganda, whether Mukiga, Langi, Munyoro or Musoga would allow it. Even if a Muganda like Haji Nasser Ssebagala wins, he will not allow it.

All along, we were sure that your heart is with Buganda and Ssabasajja Kabaka. Son, were we misled? That is because, though both of us are Muslims, we know that running to marry a second wife when you have money problems and your first wife is sick, is ridiculous. It pains us that up to now you had a clear agenda so that even if the NRM people gave you problems, the reasons would be clear. Now, what is you agenda except to praise and promote Besigye? And if they inject you with funny chemicals, will it be for Bakiga and Balaalo?

We shall pray to God to give you peace and, if possible, to open your eyes so you can understand that Uganda politics is a case of ‘lubaale mubbe’ (”the bag is empty”). These people, including Besigye, are all of one family and they came to ransack Buganda. Even when the fight over FDC or NRM politics, don’t get too involved because  ‘ab’oluganda bita, bwebikonagana tebyatika’ (”brothers are like wine gourds, when they knock each other they never break.”)

Ssabasajja Awangaale.

For several days this week, a letter has been circulating on Baganda Internet discussion lists, allegedly written by Peter Sematimba, offering the NRM advice on how to weaken CBS FM Radio.  The alleged letter, which was supposed to be highly confidential, is addressed to the minister for Security in the NRM occupation government, Amama Mbabazi. It refers to a previous discussion on the subject with David Mafabi of Museveni’s state house.

Our state house sources most familiar with the activities of David Mafabi were not aware of any specific contacts between Sematimba and Mafabi. However, they confirmed that,  since the Kayunga civil disturbances, Mafabi has gotten more involved in activities to subdue Baganda. The source said: “Since the Kayunga riots, even Museveni now knows that Kabaka Mutebi could take him down, if he had enough bright and brave people in Mmengo to support him (Mutebi).  Because state house staff know that Museveni was shaken,  each one is trying to show that they have the best idea about how to isolate the Kabaka, scare the few bright and loyal Mmengo officials, strenghthen JB Walusimbi and disorganize the Baganda youth and Diaspora movements. In this environment, it would not be surprising if two money hungry people like Sematimba and Mafabi cooked up juicy deal along the lines of this letter. But I have no information to confirm it.”

On Sematimba’s part, he declined to reply to our email message, sent to the address he uses for business, info@superfmstation.com, inquiring if he could confirm or deny the letter. Calls to his radio station numbers 041- 272777 / 0782-222885 also got a “Boss is not in office” response.

On reading the anti-Buganda letter, a leading Buganda analysts based in New York,  claimed that serious Baganda should only be happy when Buganda’s enemies are exposed like this. He explained: “Many so called intelligent Baganda are still subconsciously slaves to the belief that a foreigner like Museveni or Besigye will save them. Others are equally delusional by thinking that some fast talking Muganda president of Uganda, like Abedi Bwanika or Samuel Lubega or Frank Musisi will help. Such Baganda are either ignorant or afraid to face the fact that Museveni and his Banyankore and Rwandese kin have ransacked the Uganda experiment. It  is a failed state! So, what does Uganda have to offer to Buganda anymore?”

The analyst continued: “What would stop Bwanika or Musisi from becoming a Sematimba once he gets power? The more intelligent Baganda know that a Muganda president of Uganda will have to go anti-Buganda, in order to maintain support from the other groups, who are uniformly anti-Buganda. This letter by Sematimba, is good for demonstrating that, Mulondo, Nsibambi, Bukenya, Mulwaanyamuli, Katende, Sekandi and Tamale Mirundi were not the last to betray Buganda. More like Bwanika, Musisi and Lubega are coming, only they might even be worse than Muwanga. The only way out is independence for the Buganda Kingdom. Fortunately, the younger Baganda who are the majority seem to instinctively understand it and that is why they are 100% behind Kabaka Mutebi.”

The controversial letter is reproduced in full below:

TO: The Minister for Security

Cc; David Mafabi O/P

Date: 2^nd/October/09

 RE: INPUT ON THE IMPACT OF THE CLOSURE OF FMs AND THE WAY FORWARD.

     Honorable minister, we discussed with Mr David Mafabi (office of the president) regarding the closed Radio stations, and i raised several issues with him which I present to you and may as well share with the powers that be at an appropriate time.

 First, I wish to express my reservations for the Broadcasting council for not doing enough to forestall the mess in the electronic media especially the fm stations more so in view of what befell the country .

  As much as we have endeavored to set standards at Super fm, we have been let down by our competitors who either out of fear for positive competition or deliberately for failing fulfill the requisites of professional broadcasting.

 With regard to the three closed stations, its my belief that the major protagonists are CBS and AKABOOZI while SUUBI FM is a nonentity in this jigsaw. It’s my conviction that you critically focus with CBS and AKABOOZI given their burgeoning presence in the FM industry.

Both FMs are a sister act especially with regard to violating the ethical code of conduct as per the press and journalist act 1995 and electronic media statute 1996 as well as the broadcasting council guidelines put in place for the electronic media to adhere to.

 We at Super FM can use this time of relative normalcy before the closed FM stations  are re-opened to fix the situation both on behalf of Government and the party as well as check on the activities of the broadcasting council on their part.

  Action Plan

I request that through your office you create a special desk where you can identify NRM cadres who can ably articulate party/ Gov’t issues on the air waves.

If this is implemented, am ready to offer a weekly program preferably during the day in fulfillment of this mission.  This will help us mobilize.

 Honorable, we are aware of the imposing status of these two stations and the expected new sense of belonging upon re-opening I think that there is a need to covertly reduce their influence in the industry.

 The stations will re-open with a bang and every listener will naturally want to associate with them after all this time in suspension. Its against this that if  no advance counter measures are put in place the bubble will bust  and you might not achieve the goal of their closure.

  For instance you can do this by demanding that they unconditionally shuffle various presenters in unfamiliar programs, i.e. from presenters to newscasters and vice versa.

  By so doing, you can institute an “independent” survey to rate FM stations and am positive that  the programs will be rating low after some time or/ and even most of the presenters will be disenchanted by the new set up  and may end up thinking twice.

Through this scheme, we can make amends by promoting those stations that are on the same page with the system

(e.g Super FM) and by the time they re-organize it will be after months when we have steadily set off.

  Alternatively, like we discussed with Mr. Mafabi, we can sweet talk a couple of presenters and draw them to the realization of not risking their careers and instead switch to the operating radio such as Super FM.

Personally am targeting two from CBS FM and two from AKABOOZI. For the fact I know that the management of both stations cannot agree to sack their prized presenters for the sake of re-opening them because they form the basis of their popularity.

 But I can assure you that if we cunningly implement snatching them away, it cannot take long before these presenters are beaten into line with what we want.

We has suggested with Mr. Mafabi and Tamale Mirundi that I make a presentation on the above issues so that I can give you a more practical picture on the way forward on this matter for the continuity.

Sincerely

Peter Sematimba

President Museveni ordered the closure of Kabaka’s CBS FM Radio after learning that the organizers of Ssabasajja’s tour of Bugerere had used it so effectively mobilize Baganda.  By Tuesday CBS the information put out on CBS by “commander” Betty Nambooze, the chief organizers of Kabaka’s tour of Bugerere has become so effective that some Mmengo officials were estimating that a few hundred thousand people would accompany Ssabasajja. When Wednesday came, the commitments exploded, especially after rumors spread that Kabaka Mutebi told Museveni off in a phone conversation.

In a clear sign that Museveni was losing control the Banyarwanda community, who are deeply entrenched in Museveni’s intelligence agencies, announced that they support Kabaka’s visit and donated twenty lorries. Similarly, Nubians, Iteso, Basoga and other communities started calling on all their members to accompany Kabaka Mutebi to Bugerere. Even FDC’s Besigye went to CBS FM to challenge Baganda who keep saying “woligwa wendigwa” to prove their commitment by going to Kayunga; promising that he was going himself. Soon Baganda analysts were estimating that about 1 million Baganda and others would be in Kayunga on Saturday.

According to state house sources, after the Kampala riots on Thursday, Museveni was advised by Robert Kabushenga and Temale Mirundi that hell would break lose by Friday if CBS Radio was left to control the news. Museveni instructed the Rwandese chairman of the Broadcasting Council, Godfrey Mutabaazi, to switch off both CBS channels,  88.8 and 89.2. The two FM stations went off the air a little after 5:30 PM on Thursday.

The local press has quoted Buganda’s  information Minister, Medard Lubega Sseggona saying that military officials had forcefully switched off the main mast that is erected at Buziga Hill in Kampala. However, the disconnection would not affect the planned Youth Day Celebrations at Kayunga. The Kayunga celebrations are scheduled for Saturday September 12, 2009.

At the time of posting this report, the organizers had gone to Plan B, using SMS messages to continue taking directions from the Nambooze committee.

Baganda, opposition politicians and human rights activists cried foul yesterday when Justice Wilson Kwesiga sentenced special police constable Ramathan Magara  to a 14-year prison term for killing two Baganda men. The victims were Vincent Kavuma and Gideon Makabayi. Justice Kwesiga and Magara are both Banyankore. On February 15, 2006 Magara walked to his car, pulled out an AK 47 and fired into a crowd of supporters of the FDC president, Dr Kizza Besigye, after one of them threw a stone at his car and broke the wind shield. The then presidential candidate Besigye was meeting his supporters during a visiting to Mmengo Bulange.

The charge against Magara was murder of two people when he fired into the crowd of Besigye supporters. Justice Kwesiga rejected the argument by Magara’s lawyer, McDusman Kabega, that his client shot in self-defence. The justice said that this theory was presented only as an afterthought. Also, the two court assessors (private citizens who are appointed to guide the judge) recommended that Magara be found guilty of murder, which could have fetched a death sentence.

However, many observers, especially Baganda and opposition party members in the packed court were shocked when Justice Kwesiga said that what Magara did was more like killing “in the heat of passion caused by sudden provocation”. Based on that, the judge convicted Magara man slaughter and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. Several angry protesters outside the court complained that this lenience towards people who kill Baganda could encourage government security operatives to do the same. At the time of going to press, it was not clear if Mmengo has been following the case. Occasionally, Mmengo speaks out crimes or injustices such as ritual killings as a Ugandan problem but is usually quiet when individual Baganda are mistreated by the police and judges.

This is my last column on Buganda Post for the foreseeable future and it is dedicated to one of the few Baganda politicians who have the capacity to see beyond the “village chief” political system that President Museveni created in Uganda.  It  is Beti Namisango Kamya, the woman who threw a spanner in the Banyankore/Bakiga/Banyarwanda conspiracy to marginalize Baganda and make Kabaka and his subjects beggars in their own homeland. More on Beti later.

Why I am leaving and what it next for Buganda Post

It is always very difficult to say goodbye to the ones you love.  Even more so when the reasons for leaving a totally out of your control.  It is against that background that this columnist must tell you that this will be her last posting for the foreseeable future. The main reason for my leaving is financial. Our original sponsor, God bless his soul, is not able to continue funding me in this severe economic recession and I need to improve my income security urgently.  Maybe in future, when the financial situation is better, I may contribute again in some capacity.

In the meantime, I have recommended to the sponsor that we get other people whose commitment to Buganda and Ssabasajja Kabaka is unquestionable to take over Buganda Post and operate it on a more business like footing.  We have been offering everything for free, including advertising for Ttabamiruka, Red Cross, Human Rights Watch and other worthy causes.  However, I think Buganda Post has potential to sustain itself financially with several contributors and paid advertising. If you have any interest or suggestions you can contact the sponsor (Sam) on info@BugandaPost.com.

Now back to Beti Namisango Kamya

To understand the importance of what Beti has achieved since September 2008, you must first understand that Mr. Museveni, Dr. Kiiza Besigye and the rest of the Banyankore/Bakiga/Banyarwanda clique who now control all aspects of our lives were confident that they could carry on all their personal and political fights in Buganda while the Baganda were doing the water carrying for them.  In the NRM, Mr. Museveni was comfortable with his Baganda political henchmen like Apollo Nsibambi , Gilbert Bukenya and Sekandi. And, in FDC,  Dr. Besigye was hoping to match Museveni’s Baganda henchmen with Sam Njuba , Beti Kamya and (curiously) Yusuf Nsibambi.

Then, out of the blue, the soldier’s daughter saw the light! Besigye had manipulated the FDC constitution in Museveni style to bar Kamya from competing top the late Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu as party president.  Yet Kamya had done all the heavy lifting to consolidate FDC while Besigye was hiding in South Africa. Confusion, anger and personal doubt must have followed for Beti. But it is clear that the urge to go home and serve her Kabaka in these tough times won Beti over. Around August/September 2008  Beti started her “Buganda first” message and connected with the Ttabamiruka people in America.  That  is the spanner Beti threw in the Museveni/Besigye exclusive political sports league in Uganda.  It is a “game changer”.

Beti understands what Dr. Martin Luther King was talking about

In his famous  “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King said:  “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

I believe that my sister Beti Namisango Kamya is telling us that Buganda cannot afford the “luxury of cooling off” periods to negotiate, which Katikkiro JB Walusimbi and Mr. Museveni are forcing on us. Nor can Buganda  afford the tranquilizing drug of gradualism (“nyama ntono, okayana eri mu nkwaawa”) , the signature tactic Katikkiro Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere  and Museveni used to lead Baganda  into the Regional Tier abyss.

Omuzaana Beti Kamya is also addressing the “dark and desolate valley” of desperation where Buganda  has been forced by the Banyankore/Bakiga/Banyarwanda conspiracy.  A valley where foreigners can even stop Kabaka from visiting his subject in Buluuli. And I think that Beti  is telling us that, now is the time to lift our nation Buganda from the “quicksands of racial injustices” that we have suffered from Uganda party politics and will which will continue if we trust Ugandan political parties.

This columnist does not know if Beti Kamya has ever even listened to or read Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. But it is clear that she and her advisors understand what  Martin Luther King was talking about. For that I salute Beti Kamya and all other Baganda who are intelligent enough and brave enough to realize that our salvation will come from being and behaving like “Baganda first” – Uganda is now nothing but a looting spree! We must stand shoulder to shoulder with Beti Kamya, Mpanga, Nambooze, Kyanjo and all other loyal Baganda to build a internation buganda freedom movement to resist the looting of Buganda.

Ssabasajja Kabaka Awangaale.

Omulongo Nakato

Since mid-2008 the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Wafula Ogutu, Salam Musumba and other senior party officials have been politically pinned down by one woman, Beti Namisango Kamya. They have tried hard to politically destroy Beti (Lubaga North MP in Mr. Museveni’s parliament )  for “getting obsessed with Buganda”. But they seem to have failed because evidence is that she has literary sucked the air out of FDC in Buganda her “Buganda and Kabaka first!” message continues to infect frustrated Baganda youth like a virus. Consider that FDC have all but given up on holding local branch elections in Buganda because Kamya said “No”.

Kamya has given FDC a public relations fight in Buganda that they seem to have been unprepared for.  A Kampala based analyst told this writer that numerous stories have been planted in the New Vision and, much more so, in the Monitor and Red Pepper to portray Kamya as politically lost. “But they have had minimal negative effect on Beti mainly because she has stayed focused on the Buganda message.  She knows what the tens of thousands of Baganda youth are interested in, Kabaka and Buganda nationalism. So she rattles Besigye and Wafula and when they attack her with fake stories she (the martyr) only gets stronger. And the more the Baganda FDCs like Joyce Sebugwawo and Yusuf Nsibambi attack her the more they resemble Janet Mukwaya and Apollo Nsibambi working for Museveni.”

Kamya went in full gear in September 2008 after she returned from the international Baganda conference, Ttabamiruka ’08. She came back with a new message that you can also there in the Ttabamiruka ’08 Resolutions. The main ideas in Kamya’s message are that: (1) Baganda must stop being cowards and asking others to give them what is truly theirs; (2) Political parties have failed Ssabasajja Kabaka and Buganda, so Baganda must not support any party (including her FDC) except if it is willing to sign a contract to wholeheartedly support returning everything that has been stolen from Baganda; and (3) Baganda don’t owe anybody anything and must stop apologizing for who they are and start demanding their rights.

Kamya’s “Buganda first party later” message has affected not only FDC.  Certain Mmengo officials who have benefited from having a foot both in Buganda government and Uganda politics are literally panicking about the steady spread of Kamya’s message among youth and villagers in Buganda (on weekends Kamya make public speeches in various Buganda counties, staying on message ). And DP’s president in waiting Norbert Mao from Acholi (he created his name from Milton Apollo Obote) is also a a bit confused.

Then came the dramatic news yesterday that the FDC leadership who have accused Kamya of spying for Museveni using specially built laptops, selling party secrets and many other evils, had decided to only suspend her for 6 months.  During the suspension Kamya is not supposed to for or about the party.  During a press conference, FDC spokesman Wafula Ogutu, the FDC’s disciplinary committee had found Ms. Kamya guilty of violating the party’s code of conduct. Beti did not attend of attempt to defend herself to the committee.

A Muganda former support of FDC who is based in the USA has told this write by email: “Besigye, Museveni and Obote are the same people – Baganda abusers who are very nice until a bold Muganda stands up to demand his or her rights. Beti has exposed them and they are stuck. Ask yourself, if Beti is Museveni spy in FDC as Ogutu and Joyce Sebugwawo claim, why only suspend her? Why not kick her out of the party? My eyes are open now – Buganda and Kabaka first! I hope Baganda remaining in FDC or getting ready to be manipulated by Mao in DP will wake up soon too.”

Last weekend, Lubaga North MP did what no other Muganda politician has ever done in the history of Uganda. She told her political party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the rest of Uganda, in no uncertain terms, that she would put Buganda’s interests before those of FDC if the two conflicted.  She did it publicly and in writing, through a press release (see Beti Kamya: Baganda Must Put Buganda First and Vote As a Block). And, curiously, it very much looks like Beti may be acting on the resolutions that were passed by Ttabamiruka ’08,  the Baganda international conference which she attended in August this year.

Obviously, the FDC top brass have known of Kamya’s “Buganda first” agenda for many months. That is, since Besigye, Wafula Ogutu, Salam Musumba and Anne Mugisha, with tacit support form Sam Njuba, manipulated the FDC constitution, NRM style, to make sure that Kamya could not replace the late Hajji Sulaiman Kiggundu.  It has been months since Kamya outted Besigye as a Museveni-style dictator. To punish Beti, Wafula Ogutu and Anne Mugisha have planted numerous new stories, especially in the Indian owned The Monitor.  Monitor writers have written stories accusing Kamya of incompetence, blind ambition, spying for NRM, recklessness and any other character damaging attribute that the FDC brass got time to approve.  And Kamya has fought back, paralyzing the FDC’s activities in Buganda by successfully persuading Baganda FDC members not to participate in the party’s branch election within the kingdom.

Kamya took her “Buganda first” leadership to a totally another level when she internationalized it at Ttabamiruka ’08 in the USA.   At the annual Baganda international conference,  Kamya  found a few hundred well educated and very loyal Baganda who proved fertile soil for her words along with the popular  “Let’s have a divorce” message from Kyanjo. The Ttabamiruka Baganda fell in love with Beti’s declaration that total loyalty to Ssabasajja Kabaka and Buganda interests would guide all her future political actions.

Beti Kamya did not specifically refer to Ttabamiruka ’08 or its resolutions in her press release of last Saturday . However, Beti’s writings are in many ways aligned with the Ttabamiruka ’08 resolutions.  A contact within the Ttabamiruka community has told this columnist that Kamya’s press release has generated excitement in London and USA, especially around New York and Washington.  The contact said: “Many of us in the Ttabamiruka family see Beti’s press release as a signal that she is a woman of her word. She is acting on what we agreed on in New Jersey, especially abandoning cowardice, stopping the begging and getting Buganda rights debated across the kingdom.”

The Ttabamiruka ’08 resolutions in English are reproduced below. The Luganda version is at Ttabamiruka ‘08 Resolutions – Luganda Version.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

WE, THE CONFEREES AT THE TTABAMIRUKA 2008 IN NEW JERSEY

HAVING OBSERVED THAT:
-That the current governance of Buganda is devoid of Justice.
-That a governance without Justice breeds poverty, violence and corruption. We have observed these problems in Uganda since 1966 and continue to do so.
-We accept that it is our duty to reform the governance of our nation.

DO THEREBY RESOLVE:
1. That we are firm in our allegiance to our Ssabasajja Kabaka, traditions and customs, and we thank Ssabasajja Kabaka for his gracious message to the conference.

2. That we have abandoned cowardice, laziness and self effacement in our quest for Freedom and Justice. No officer of the Kingdom of Buganda may beg for Justice as a favour from anybody.

3. That we are proud of the courage and obedience to Ssabasajja Kabaka shown by His servants Betty Nambooze, Charles Mayega and Medard Lubega,and pledge to be as courageous as they are.

4. That it is the urgent duty of all Baganda, acting through their offices, associations and parties, to enter into direct discussions with the other peoples of Uganda on the terms of union and governance that are acceptable to all, and to draft a new Basic Law of the Land in accord with Buganda’s interests.

5. That such discussions must be based on the recognition that:
-Uganda is and remains an entity created and owned by the 14 ancient African Nations whose symbols are inscribed on the walls of the Parliament of Uganda, which came together in 1962 and agreed on the Independence constitution.
- Buganda, upon entering that agreement, was an independent nation that left British rule on October 8, 1962.
-These ancient nations created the central government to administer their common purpose, not to be an overlord.
- The assets and duties of the Central Government are granted to it by the assent of the ancient African nations that formed it. The central government has otherwise no proper title to such assets and has no right to apportion them at its pleasure.

6. That the right of the Baganda to administer Buganda internally, including control of governance and land, is not negotiable and may not be negotiated by any officer of the Kingdom. The Baganda recognize the right of the other nationalities in Uganda to assert a similar claim.

We urge all Baganda to debate these matters in their neighbourhoods, in their clans and in their councils and to publish their opinions .

We have reported these resolutions to Ssabasajja Kabaka through his representative where we are seated – 31 August 2008.