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).

According to the  July 8, 2010 issue of NRM government mouthpiece, the New Vision newspaper, Buganda minister of information, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga has disowned popular Buganda Hussein Kyanjo’s statements that, if  Museveni’s government fails to adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law, the people of Buganda would take up arms. The New Vision further says that Owek. Mayiga dismissed Kyanjo’s the remarks as his (Kyanjo’s) personal opinion. Mayiga is quoted as saying:“Kyanjo is not the spokesperson of the Buganda kingdom. He is not a Mmengo official. Those remarks he made were his personal opinion.” However, there is no indication that Mayiga explained his claim that Mmengo officials represent the kingdom of Buganda.

Museveni’s New Vision says that Owek. Mayiga explained Mmengo’s disagreement with Kyanjo by saying: “Our strongest weapon is dissemination of information regarding our legitimate cause. If voters are informed, they don’t need to pick up arms to get what they want because our Constitution says power belongs to people.”

When Buganda Post contacted a prominent lawyer and Buganda analyst based in the United Kingdom, he responded that both Mayiga and Kyanjo refer to the Museveni’s constitution appropriately but if Mayiga is quoted correctly then he is being dishonest. The analyst also questioned Mayiga’s alleged claim that only Mmengo speaks for Buganda. The analyst explained: “Mayiga focuses on Article 1 of Museveni’s constitution, which says ‘power belongs to the people’. Mayiga, Makubuya and ordinary Baganda know that by bribing MPs to change presidential term limits, invading Congo without consulting parliament, ignoring the popular call for Federo, stealing elections and committing similar illegal acts, Museveni and the NRM usurped the people’s power and broke the constitution.

“Unlike Mayiga, Kyanjo is reading both Article 1 and Article 3 of Museveni’s constitution. And Article 3 says that ‘(4) All citizens of Uganda have a right and duty to protect the Constitution.’ and ‘(5) Any person who defends and protects the Constitution commits no offence…’ without limiting the means of defending the constitution. Mayiga and Makubuya know that Kyanjo’s position is 100% correct and legal under Article 3. It appears that  they have been compromised either by personal interests and mere cowardice.”

On the matter of who speaks for Buganda, our analyst first clarifies that, for centuries, Baganda believe that power in Buganda is vested in the institution of Kabaka, since, as Ssabataka who is not tied to one clan, he can lead and guide all Bataka and their grandchildren (Baganda) wisely and fairly. That is why the Kabaka consults and weighs everything very carefully before he speaks and why Baganda do not criticize him publicly. The top Mmengo official is the Katikkiro of Buganda, who is appointed by the Kabaka, after wide consultation with clan leaders, religious leaders and many other Baganda. All Mmengo officials are deemed to have been appointed by Kabaka and to speak for Buganda but, in reality, they are screened and selected by the Katikkiro and other Mmengo officials before presentation to the Kabaka.

He then said: “If you compare the strong statements and decisions that Kabaka Mutebi has made over Federo, Buganda land, the attempted firing of Nambooze from CBS and freedom and justice for Baganda and those made by Walusimbi and Mayiga you can see that the Katikkiro and his friend are outright disobeying the Kabaka. Don’t forget that that it was Mayiga, John Katende, Apollo Makubuya and Katikkiro Ssemwogerere who lied to Kabaka and Buganda that Museveni’s Regional Tier was good for Buganda in 2006. If Mmengo speaks for Buganda, why did the Buganda Lukiiko soundly reject Regional Tier on February 7, 2006?

“Baganda are not stupid. They can see when Mmengo is no longer serving the Kabaka or his subjects’ interests. If that is the case, then how can Mmengo claim to be to only spokesmen for the Kingdom? Mmengo is not even recognized in Museveni’s constitution, which Mayiga constantly quotes!  I disagree. I think that by siding with and appeasing the occupation NRM government so frequently, Mmengo has lost the minds and hearts of Baganda. Ordinary Baganda, who are 80% youths, are more interested in what Nambooze or Kyanjo or Nsambu or Ssemujju says than what Walusimbi or Mayiga announces. In reality, Nambooze, Kyanjo,  Nsubuga Nsambu and Ssemujju speak more for Buganda than the compromised Mmengo leaders. That is why Kabaka Mutebi has found himself having to speak out, to cancel the misinformation by Walusimbi and Mayiga. The bottom line is, every Muganda now has a duty to fight for Buganda’s freedom from the current armed occupation.”

On January 6, 2010 Ekiba Kibe program, which is broadcast to cellular telephones via multi-media message service (MMS), has accused Mmengo of incompetence and appealed to Baganda to realize that they do not need to rely on Mmengo to fight for Buganda’s rights and freedom (see “Mmengo Is Unqualified To Fight For Buganda, Diaspora MMS Radio Says“.)

Katikkiro JB Walusimbi’s efforts to convince Baganda that ,after more than 20 years of manipulation and iron-fist rule by the NRM government, their only option is to negotiate with Uganda’s warlords are starting to undermine the authority of his office.  Our sources in places as disparate as Nakulabye,  Masaka, Boston, New York and London all tell us that a growing number of Baganda are upset by Mr. Walusimbi’s undisguised efforts to show his loyalty to  Museveni, VP Gilbert Bukenya and the NRM occupation government.

On December 17, 2009, Owek. Walusimbi apologetically told the 2nd Buganda Conference, that “Buganda does not seek any type of special status” in response to demands by an Acholi, Mao, and a Munyankore cattle keeper, Kanyeihamba , that Baganda must first convince other Ugandans if they (Buganda) want Federo (see “Kabaka Mutebi and His Man Kyanjo Save Baganda Dignity At 2nd Buganda Conference” and “Katikkiro Walusimbi Tells Baganda, Stop Thinking Buganda Is Special”). Staying on message, two days later, Katikkiro Walusimbi told Buganda government workers at their end-of-year party that: “When fighting for Buganda’s freedom, you should not take the risk of becoming martyrs. We need to fight calmly.”

Since his appointment at Katikkiro, Mr. Walusimbi has not hidden his close relationship with the NRM government, especially Yoweri Museveni and VP Gilbert Bukenya. Indeed, early this year Ugandan warlord Museveni himself told a press conference: “We have no problem with Katikkiro Walusimbi … The Katikkiro is our man.”  Before September 2009, Mr. Walusimbi’s seemingly anti-Buganda actions were nearly always cancelled out by a highly tactical and excellently executed pro-Buganda campaign by committed Baganda nationalists on CBS FM Radio.  Walusimbi was no match for the dynamic team of Betty Nambooze, Lubega Ssegona, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, Daudi Mpanga, Hussein Kyango and others.

In the wake of the September 2009 NRM’s Kayunga massacre of Baganda who were protesting Museveni’s decision to bar Kabaka Mutebi from touring Bugerere county, the NRM closed down CBS FM Radio. That decision left Katikkiro Walusimbi with full control over what the public hears from Mmengo. He enjoys full access to NRM government media resources, from New Vision and Bukedde to Star FM and Bukedde FM.  All other media outlets in Uganda are barred from publishing any pro-Buganda messages, including those that praise the Buganda nation or Ssabasajja Kabaka, Mutebi II. But Mr. Walusimbi’s new found power over the Uganda’s media outlets seems to be coming at high cost to him personally and to Mmengo, the institution.   

A growing number of Baganda activists are choosing to go underground and are keeping their distance from Mmengo, convinced that the Katikkiro is Museveni’s top spy in the institution. In their view, Engr. JB Walusimbi, Peter Mayiga and Apollo Makubuya and their supporters have lost touch with the ordinary Baganda and alternative leadership is needed to deal with Buganda’s challenges.  More hope is being put on the likes Owek. Nsubuga Nsambu, Betty Nambooze and Hussein Kyanjo although they are also saddled with their continued active engagement in Uganda’s NRM dominated politics. 

It is against the above background that Baganda nationalists in the Diaspora taking on Walusimbi for what they see as his blatant betrayal of his office, for what they consider short-term financial gains.  Mr. Robert Kabuye of Boston who broadcasts on the widely popular SMS Radio program, Ekiba Kibe, spoke for many when he warned the Katikkiro to stop provocative anti-Buganda statements. In the 12/26/09 Ekiba Kibe Luganda program, Mr. Kabuye told the Katikkiro (excerpts): “Owek. Katikkiro … ggwe omuntu omu tosobola kutujjako Buganda. Abajulizi nabo baali Baganda ssebo….Tujja kulwanirira Obuganda. Oba ggwe bakuwadde kyebakuwa… ffe tetukyalina budde bwo! … Walusimbi, who are you? … Ffe tetulina kubeera nti Mmengo etumanyi okulwanirira Obuganda…” (“Owek Katikkiro … you, a single person, cannot take our Buganda from us. The martyrs were also Baganda sir … We are going to continue fighting for Buganda. If you have been bribed … we don’t have time for you! … Walusimbi, who are you? … We do not need to be known to Mmengo to fight for Buganda …”). Click on Ekibakibe_26Dec09A  to listen to Robert Kabuye’s full broadcast .

When we asked a leading Buganda analyst based  in New York to comment on the situation, he responded that Walusimbi’s behavior and the reaction it is eliciting from Baganda all over the world is typical of what happens when a nation is under occupation or captivity.  He explained: “Kabaka Mutebi has successfully overseen, especially with the help of Dan Muliika, a full re-emergence of the Buganda nation. Think about it, of the 6 or so million Baganda, at least 5 are 30 years are younger, unemployed, poor and are convinced that they are victims of a conspiracy among Banyankore, Bakiga, Rwandese, Indians and other foreigners to keep them in servitude. At the same time, thanks to Kabaka Mutebi’s steady hand, these young people know that they belong to a real nation, Buganda,  with a glorious history and legacy  worth defending.”

“On the other hand, everything the Museveni and his  NRM has done since 1986 was part of a long-term plan to impoverish and marginalize Baganda to the extent that most of them would eagerly seek other tribal identities.  Now that the opposite has happened and Buganda has become a stronger than it has ever  been since 1887 during Ssekabaka Muteesa I’s reign, it is automatic that we end up with an ‘occupied nation’ situation. That is why, over the last 2-3 years Museveni’s NRM has subconsciously adopted classic occupation force tactics. Similarly, Baganda are acquiring ever better occupation resistance skills, from street riots to underground operations, to propaganda machinery.  When you read about Nazi occupations across Europe, you will see mirror examples of collaborators like JB Walusimbi, appeasers like Peter Mayiga, business opportunists like some CBS Radio shareholders, those with divided-royalties like Baganda DPs, turncoats like Nsibambi and Robert Sebunya, infiltrators like Igiro Semajege,  traitors  like Bukenya and Ssekandi, and so on. 

“The message from Kabuye is only the first shot by outside Baganda that they might take command control of the struggle from Walusimbi and Mmengo.  In 1967 Mmengo was incompetent when it came to protecting Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa and the Namulondo of Buganda.  They lacked intelligence gathering/analysis and strategic planning skills and the same is true today. It appears that Mmengo should expect more challenge if Baganda in Diaspora agree with the masses at home  that the Mmengo of today is not up to the job.  Don’t be shocked if the signals for a future Buganda demonstrations come from Boston or New York. If I had the ear of Ssabasajja Kabaka, I would mention to him that, if he wishes, this may be a good time keep quiet and let you subjects do some work. Uganda’s pharaoh will one day have to let your people go. Ekikutte obudde kiributa!”

According to a Luganda email transmitted to us by Mr. Kitandwe, the Baganda nationalist organization, Bazzukulu ba Buganda, strongly oppose any negotiations between Buganda institutions and Museveni’s government under the current political environment in Uganda.  Bazzukulu base their opposition on the steady weakening Buganda has suffered since 1870, through the reckless adoption of foreign political ideologies by Mmengo. They say that it time to wake up and stop the damage.

Abazukulu argue that, at this time Buganda is in captivity and would only negotiate from a position of weakness. They describe the history that took Buganda from and being an independent nation down to her current “Occupied” status. They conclude that  negotiations with the occupying NRM regime are a bad idea because Buganda has nothing more to lose if they do not place. Yet they could expose Buganda to serious risk of manipulation. They itemize the following points:

• The current hype about negotiations is bait to get us tricked into accepting the enemy’s plans for us, as they have done to us many times in the past.
• We lose nothing if we spare ourselves from getting hoodwinked again.
• We lose nothing if we refuse to legitimize our enemy’s occupation rule over us.
• If we cannot find a solution, we must be willing to let other, future Baganda deal with it.
• We must not tie ourselves into a deadly knot that our grandchildren would never be able to undo.

 The full Luganda statement by Bazzukulu ba Buganda is reproduced below:

OKUTEESA KUNO TETULINA KYETUKUFUNAMU
Abazzukulu ba Buganda
December 24, 2009

 Tuyigire kubitutuuseeko

Wakati w’emyaaka 1870 ne 1888, Abaganda twawambagatira enzikiriza enzungu netuzissussa wezaali ziteekeddwa okukoma ng’enzikiriza. Obuwulize n’obugoberezi eri obwakabaka bwa Buganda obutukakatako twabugyayo netubuteeka mu madiini.

Kkajjampuni eyava mw’ekyo ate n’okuzzukuza  n’azzukuza, kwali ffe fenyini kukozesebwa bannanyini madiini ago okumaamulako Kabaka Mwanga II mu 1888. Olwokuba nga amadiini amagwira twagasussa ekifo ky’ago, gaatulwanaganya ffekanaffekka ebbanga eryo okuva mu 1888 okutuuka mu 1890.

Okugootaana kw’obuwulize bwaffe eri Nnamulondo, n’okulwanagana kwetwali tubaddemu mu ntalo z’amadiini okwaddirira byanaffuyiza ddala Buganda. Olwo omuzungu eyali atidde okwanganga  Buganda n’atuma Capt Lugard ajje amenye mujjenje ekkalu y’etwalire ekiwedde mu 1890 nga gugwako.

Buganda eyali enafuyiziddwa olw’okuva ku nkola entonde ey’ennono, teyalina kyakukola kirala okugyako okukkiriza Bungereza bye yali eyagala mu ndagaano ya 1890.

Omuze gw’okuwambagatira enkola engwira ezituleeterwa n’etutazipimira kkomo; gwayamba nyo era gwagondeza Abazungu omulimo gw’okutudyekadyeka nebatukkirizissa byebaali baagala netubateerako n’omukono. Ekyo kyekyaliwo mu 1890, 1892, 1893/4, ne 1900, mu ndagaano Lugard, Portal ne Johnson z’ebakkaka N’okudyekadyeka Abaganda.

Enkola y‘okudyekadyeka (“okuteesa”) baagyeyambisa nate okuzikiza olutalo l’wobwetwaze Ssekabaka Mutesa II lweyali akoleeza mu 1953; bwebaamala okumuwangangusa nebakakozesa ng’akakwakkulizo okutukkaka  okudyekebwadyekebwa mu “Ndagaano” ye Namirembe eya 1955, mwe baazukusiza embiranye z’amadiini e Mmengo nga bayita mu dimokulaase (kyabaangi) owekiboggwe eyakaka  Olukiiko lwa Buganda okulonda Katikiro.

Nate Abaganda bwe beefukulula nebattukiza okusaba obwetwaaze, omungereza yatutega akakiiko ka Lord Munster mbu kanoonya birowoozo byafe, gyekaamalira nga Munster azzizzaayo Abaganda mu “kuteesa” –okudyekebwadyekebwa okwaggweera e Lancaster ne ndagaano ya 1962 eyatukwenyakwenya n’etusuuza obwetwaze ng’etukookoonya Federo eyatukkirizisa obufuge mwetubonabonera

Tetulina kyetufiirwa

• Okuteesa okuyimbirirwa kugendererwamu kutudyekadyeka nga bwe bazze batukola; kutukkirizisa bufuge bwabwe tusseeko n’ekinkumu.
• Tetulina kyetufiirwa  nga tetugenze kutudyekadyeka.
• Tetulina kyetufiirwa ng’omulabe tetumuteereddeeko kinkumu kiraga nti tukkiriza obufuge bwetulimu.
• Kyetutasobodde kukola tukirekere Abaganda abaliddawo balitandikir’awo.
• Tetusiba kituttwa kirirema baliddawo kusumulula.

 Wangaala Buganda.

Awangaale Ssaabasajja Kabaka!

According to the government’s official website, www.buganda.or.ug, “preparations for Buganda conference are in full gear and all signs are promising for a successful event.” The conference is to take place on December 17, 2010 and Ssabasajja is expected to appear at the occasion. The venue is Hotel Africana on Jinja Road.

This is the second Buganda national conference organiszed by the Government. The armed occupation of. Buganda by the foreigner led NRM government presents huge challenges to the organizing committe. For example, since warlord Museveni closed CBS Radio the coomittee is having a difficult time promoting in Uganda.

On the other hand, although hundreds of Baganda will in the mother land in December, and would be happy to pay even $50 to attend, the organizers do not seem to have considered this in their scheduling or promotion.  According to the statement the the government website, secretary to the organizign committee, Mr. Uthman Mulindwa, “many people are not aware of the conference because of the absence of CBS radio on air”. However, he does not indicate if the committee is trying other channels, such as  using Baganda media outlets in the Diaspora. Yet many Baganda back in the NRM occupied kingdom now get their news from relatives living outside.

Buganda Post will bring its readers any new information that becomes available on the conference. Some the Kabaka’s representatives in the Diaspora may also provide information on the conference. We will communicate where and how Baganda and friends the Diaspora can send their financial support for the Buganda Conference as soon as the information is available.

The statement from the Government website is reproduced below:

BUGANDA CONFERENCE 2009

Preparations for Buganda conference are in full gear and all signs are promising for a successful event.

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

It is also part of the celebrations to commemorate coronation anniversary. However, due to the numerous problems witnessed by the Kingdom during the past two months, the conference could not coincide with the anniversaries and was therefore shifted to December under the theme “a Federo System of Governance for Uganda”.

According to the committee Secretary, Uthman Mulindwa, shifting the conference to December will not change its main goals and objectives.

He however cited limited publicity of the conference as one of the biggest problems encountered by the committee. He explained that this has occurred due to the break down of the communication network within the Kingdom.

Mulindwa added that many people are not aware of the conference because of the absence of CBS radio on air.

He added that due to this communication break down, the committee is incurring very high costs on advertising the conference which has necessitated for the setup of a registration fee of 25000 per participant to help in the proper planning and preparations of the conference.

The registration exercise and the sale of cards are carried out at Bulange, Mengo in the ministry of Economic planning room TF8 on 3rd floor.

The committee therefore appeals to the public to spread the gospel about the conference to other people.

According to a Boston based improvised radio station, using multimedia SMS messages to broadcast, Kabaka Mutebi will shortly travel to South Africa on November 10, 2009, to visit his subject Betty Nambooze. The SMS broadcast, which one of our readers downloaded and emailed to us, carries the “Ekiba Kibe Program”, presented by Robert Kabuye. In a charismatic brave voice Kabuye first announces that Betty Nambooze is in terrible medical shape and appears to face certain death. Apparently, because “her intestines fast disintegrating.” Kabuye repeats what Nambooze has said for years now, that Museveni’s security people injected her with some suspicious chemical when she was in police custody.

Also in the SMS Kabuye, who keeps saying “Museveni must go” throughout his broadcast, claims that Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi will travel to South Africa on Tuesday this week, to visit Betty Nambooze Bakireke. We have not been able to independently confirm if Nambooze is facing certain death or whether Ssabasajja will indeed travel as Mr. Kabuye says. Click on this link Ekibakibe_09Sep09A.wav to listen to Mr. Kabuye.

Mr. Kabuye has made himself a name as a very effective communicator, who has mastered the multi-media SMS technology. His messages get to hundreds of Bagadna phones in the USA, Europe, Uganda and other countries. Sources also tell us that Mr. Kabuye is a very strong supporter of Frank Musisi, the former UNAA president. Indeed he intially started his SMS radio to campaign for Musisi when he was running for UNAA president. The same sources tell us that Mr. Kabuye’s energy and excellent communication skills also did a lot to get over 300 to attended the recent Emergency Buganda  Conference, organized by John Mayanja (see “Resolutions of the Buganda Emergency Meeting in Boston on October 17, 2009‏”).

In another related story, the people of Buganda were gripped by anxiety, anger and despair over the weekend after rumors spread by text messages that Betty Nambooze had died. Our source in Kayembe, near Nakasero market, told this writer: “The situation was tense and we feared that if the rumors got confirmed, anything could explode. The problem is that one could not tell where the rumor started. And because of the CBS Radio shut down we did not know who to listen to. Now, we have gotten to know that in fact the rumor was intentionally spread by ISO on instructions from Museveni’s statehouse.”

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.

A source close to Eng. JB Walusimbi has told us that the 65 year Katikkiro of Buganda has is losing interest in position and could be looking for ways get out of the 4-year contract with the kingdom. The source, who is a member of the Katikkiro’s Magunda sub clan (ssiga) of the Ffumbe (civet cat) clan, said: “Since even before the Kayunga riots, Engineer Walusimbi has been facing pressures to leave the office from all sides, even our clan elders, or show more that he is loyal to the Kabaka. Even we his own brothers and sisters have been pressuring him in our own ways because he is shaming our whole clan. By the way, when he was appointed Katikkiro, many of us who are insiders tried to oppose because we knew his background but we were not properly consulted.”

Our source told us that since the Kayunga riots, it appears that Engineer JB Walusimbi has been rethinking his part time job as Katikkiro. She says: “First,  it looks like JB realized during the riots that Baganda youth might one of these days kill him or some of his 6 children because of the image that he is on Museveni’s side. As a person, he wants to be Katikkiro but it is impossible for him when he is much closer  to Gilbert Bukenya and Museveni than he is to Kabaka Mutebi. And the way that Baganda youths are attacking him, is giving him high blood pressure. That is why he is really losing interest, because no one trusts him. Not even most of us members of his Magunda ssiga.”

Many Baganda were incensed with the statement that Katikkiro Walusimbi issued after the “gun on your head” Kabaka Mutebi was forced to have with Uganda warlord, Yoweri Museveni on September 30, 2009 (see “Katikkiro JB Walusimbi Praises Gunpoint Meeting Between Kabaka and Museveni“).  Since then, Katikkiro Walusimbi, has all but abandoned making pro-Buganda public statements or associating himself with the hundreds of Baganda who were murdered or continue to be arrested and tortured by the NRM government. The Katikkiro is even low key on the arrests and continuing harassment of Kabaka’s officials by Museveni’s security forces. He reportedly avoided assisting Kabaka’s official ,Betty Nambooze, with her medical problems, for fear of annoying Museveni who hates her.  According to local press reports, Kabaka Mutebi was forced to personally get involved in Nambooze’s case, working through other obedient ministers to provide her with much needed medical care.

If it is true that Engineer Walusimbi is losing interest his position as Katikkiro, there is evidence that he could be developing a new interest. Over the last two weeks, Katikkiro Walusimbi’s high profile engagements were closing the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) trade show and presiding over the Rotary Club announcement of free medical operations program for the poor. At the UMA event, Owek. Walusimbi surprised many in the audience when he promised that Buganda would never reclaim the 9,000 square miles from its illegal occupiers but only partner with them to generate income from the land. The subject of how the 9,000 miles would be administered has never been discussed by the Buganda Lukiiko. Many of Engineer Walusimbi’s critics are also upset that this “Kabaka ow’ebweeru” was giving attention to Rotary Club medical operations instead of putting priority on getting Betty Nambooze the urgent surgery she needs.

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.