David Kasozi

I have just watched the US ABC TV network program 20/20 and seen a story on child sacrifices in Uganda. Although the story is professionally done, I was surprised that it said nothing about  the the economic and social chaos which provides the environment for this bizarre practice of  child  sacrifices. For example, the story did not talk about the cult-like NRM dictatorship government in Uganda for over 20 years, with over 50% of its budget funded by the foreign donors.  The story also fails to mention that Uganda is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and is a haven for  smugglers, ex-convicts, money launderers and others with satanic practices. How could they have missed all the stories on the corruption in Mr. Museveni’s own family?

In a sign that all black African are the same to ABC TV, the story leaves out information about the fact that a huge majority of the child sacrifices are happening in Buganda and that the victims are mostly Baganda. Yet, the practice of child sacrifices was unheard of in Buganda until  the Uganda army occupied Congo and NRM top brass from Western Uganda started looting gold and adopting child sacrifice and other strange practices from Eastern Congo. The only authoritative Muganda who was interviewed, Sekagya, a Muganda , made it clear that child sacrifice was unknown in his culture. ABC did not ask him what his culture (Baganda) is.

The coverage of the ABC investigation is also surprisingly shallow because it is limited to the small fish. The story claims that the NRM government has created a 1,000 man police unit  to fight the sacrifices but does only shows two poor peasants and small time businessmen peasant for examples. Surely, how come the 1,000 strong police unit has no convicts to show?  Even a  6 year old Uganda child will tell you that 1,000 people force is only a channel to tap in American aid dollars but not to fight anything.  Otherwise how come that the NRM government’s police failed to deal with hig profile cases such as the mass fire sacrifices of girl virgins at Budo Primary School (see http://www.bugandapost.com/main/archives/347) or the famous case of Edwin Muguluma case (http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/513533)?

When the Rwanda genocide happened many international  news organizations claimed that there were no warning signs. The truth is that these organizations were too ignorant about African people to see the sign. To them all Africans are the same, with no strong cultural differences that can even cause a genocide. That is why ABC News and their 20/20 program say in their story that “Uganda is thriving”. How can a country thrive when its budget is 50% funded by foreign aid? They could not see that Buganda and that is under armed occupation by the Ugandan NRM dictatorship. They even missed the bloody Kayunga civil disturbances and police massacre late last year. They don’t see that the failed state status is a clear sign that genocide could very easily happen in Uganda.

The ABC News story helps to expose the severe failures of Museveni’s NRM government to protect Uganda taxpayers. However ABC wasted a big opportunity to understand the background, root causes and long term effects of child sacrifices in Uganda.

You can find the ABC story by searching on “Child Sacrifice in Uganda” at www.google.com.

A report in the April 8, 2009 issue of the Uganda government Bukedde newspaper that, the day before, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi laid a flower wreath at the mass graves of victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide has upset some Baganda. Our reporters in both Masaka and Kampala have told us. According to the reports, most ordinary Baganda in Buddu and around Kampala think that it is a good thing to commemorate the terrible killings that took place in Rwanda. But a large majority of them are asking why the Katikkiro of Buganda found time and money to buy flowers for graves of Banyarwanda although he did not have time to accompany Kabaka Mutebi to Buluuli last October fearing to upset Museveni.

The Kampala people are especially unhappy that incidents like the Budo Junior fire and child sacrifices which target Baganda are just  quiet form genocide but Owek. Walusimbi does not take expensive flowers let alone mabugo (condolence funds) to the victim’s families. Some also complained that Katikkiro Walusimbi has not cared to officially investigate why tens of Baganda children are murdered every month without government action. Yet when one mulaalo child was killed around Kiboga in Ssingo county, the police commander even personally camped in the area until some people were arrested.

On October 8, 2008 Mr. Museveni’s armed soldiers stopped the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II from going to Nakasongola to preside at the 46th anniversary of independence from Britain. The president later stated that, while Kabaka Mutebi was being harassed, Katikkiro Walusimbi was in telephone negotiations with David Tinyefuza and Mr. Museveni’s state house. Nakasongola is the main town in Buluuli county of Buganda. October 9, 1962 is when Buganda formally joined the other parts of today’s Uganda to become a federal republic. Under the terms of the 1962 independence agreement, Buganda remained a kingdom under Kabaka and retained control of its own education, healthcare, police and local administration systems. In 1966 then prime minister Milton Obote overthrew the constitution, used Idi Amin to attack Kabaka’s palace, made the kingdom illegal, exiled the Kabaka and stole 9,000 square miles of Buganda native lands and numerous other properties.  After decades of persecution by Obote, Idi Amin and Obote II, the Baganda joined Mr. Museveni and thousands of  Rwandan Tutsi refugees to remove Obote II and make it possible for the Kabaka to return to his kingdom.

In 1993/94 thousands of  Rwandese Tutsi refugees used Uganda army weapons to take power in Rwanda, in the middle of a genocide which started after that country’s president Habyarimana was assassinated. After more than 20 years since Mr. Museveni and his Baganda and Tutsi partners removed the Obote II regime, Mr. Museveni has refused to return the 9,000 square miles of native lands that Obote stole. He also refused to recognize the Baganda rights to return to the status as a federal state within the republic of Uganda. As the Baganda continue to demand that Mr. Museveni act honorably, the relations between the Buganda Kingdom and central government have become increasingly hostile. And many Baganda, especially the youth, are demanding that Katikkiro (head of Buganda government) Walusimbi resign due to conflict of interests because of his strong business and personal relationships with both Mr. Museveni and Rwanda government.

The parents of on the victims to the fire that killed 20 students at Budo Junior school are fear that the ongoing court case is scam designed to cover up what was a mass sacrifice of Baganda children on April 14, 2008.  Through an email, the mother of one of the victims told us that after attending one court session she felt like vomiting in court on Thursday because of the obvious the way Banyankore and Banyarwanda are trying to cover up a mass murder.

The grieving Muganda mother writes, “Please tell Baganda to ask themselves why although Budo is in Buganda, all the people who were in charge of the security of our children are Banyankore or Banyarwanda. And why did President Museveni go to the school and, even before the police had searched the site, ordered that those responsible should be prosecuted for ‘criminal negligence’. If that is not enough, ask yourself why even this man Mugabo who is the judge in the case is a Munyarwanda. Are you shocked? One more, Kale Kayihura the Uganda police boss (see picture) is also100%  Munyarwanda!”

Pleading to Kabaka Mutebi and all Baganda for support, the angry mother adds: “To many of us parents this is a cover up. The police and many of us already know that Kayongo moved students around into Nassolo dormitory days before the fire. And, as Tamale Mirundi assured us Kayongo sent his (Tamale’s) daughter Namuddu and those of other senior government officials home without good reason 2 days before the fire. My daughter cannot come back but I ask all Baganda and especially Ssabasajja to watch this case very carefully, ask themselves why so many of  those involved and Banyarwanda and Banyankore except when it comes to the victims (75% are Baganda). Please be concerned that there is a quiet plan to make Baganda mentally paralyzed by killings like this. Should you wait until they kill your own child or close relative in the next genocide human sacrifice?”

We can report that the former headmaster of Budo is not a Muganda of Kkobe clan as his name suggests but a Munyarwanda, with many relatives living back home in Rwanda. Budo is located in Busiro county of Buganda with a predominantly Baganda population. Yet all those implicated in the fatal fire are Banyankore: Damallie Basirika (matron) and Julius Tumusiime, Andrew Byamukama, Matia Tumuhairwe and Stanley Basirigara (the security guards). And the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Vincent Mugabo is a Munyarwanda.  Notably, the official charger against the Banyarwanda and Banyankore is “Neglect of duty”, very much in line with what Mr. Museveni declared when he visited Budo Junior on April 15, 2008.

The lawyers for the defendants are curiously Baganda. Kayongo is defended by one Sserunjogi while Joseph Kasozi represents Basirika. The Banyankore guards do not have lawyers. A list of the children who perished in the fire as presented below. Of the 20 victims, at least 14 were Baganda and only 3 could be Banyankore or Banyarwanda, although sources at the school indicate that about 30% of the pupils at Budo Junior are the time of the fire were from these two groups.

Victim List (Baganda in Bold)

1.   Barbara Natugonza

2.   Betty Kawula

3.   Evelyn Zawedde

4.   Evina Nalwoga

5.   Faith Asiimwe

6.   Joan Nabbosa

7.   Judith Nakavuma

8.   Juliet Lunkuse

9.   Juliet Nambalirwa

10. Latiffa Namuleme

11. Mariam Nakato

12. Merciful Wesonga

13. Mercy Akite

14. Patience Namakoye

15. Patience Namuyanja

16. Patricia Nakazi

17. Samantha Ntunda

18. Sonia Tendo

19. Sylvia Nakandi

20. Yvonne Namaganda

Solomon Kyabayinze Mpalanyi, one of Buganda’s foremost novelists and Luganda language experts is dead. According to family sources, Omutaka Mpalanyi died from a spike in his blood pressure which could not be controlled at the run down Mulago Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 8:00 PM on February 2, 2009. Mpalanyi has been part of the generation of exceptional Baganda literary masters who are credited for creating Buganda’s popular novel industry. The most famous of his books is Basajja Mivule, followed by Ndikumma Okulya (Nenkulyoowa Omwooyo). He also wrote Ssanyu Teribeerera, Nnaku Teba Y’omu and a few others.

The family sources add that Omutaka Mpalanyi’s health has been generally alright. And that the high blood pressure attack occurred when he was in his farm at Kabuwambo, Ssingo county. He has been teaching Luganda at Nkumba University and Lubiri High School in Kabaka’s Palace. He has also been an active member and former secretary of Ekibiina Ky’Olulimi Oluganda (Luganda Language Society).

Solomon Mpalanyi was born in Ssekanyonyi, Magala, Ssingo county. He attended Nnabagereka Primary School and Mityana Junior School before going to King’s College Buddo, Nagalabi, Busiro county. After Buddo, he joined Kyambogo Teachers’ Training College where he qualified as a high school teacher and soon joined the East African Community Printing Office. In 1968 Omutaka Mpalanyi joined London University for post-graduate studies in literary and publishing studies.

Sources in Washington DC have informed us by email that the Baganda Community in the USA capital and other cities have take the news very hard. Omutaka Mpalanyi was popular with friends of his son William Mpalanyi who lived in Washington DC for several years. And he was also remembered for his presence and brief but very impressive presence at Ttabamiruka ’07. The late Omutaka Solomon Mpalanyi is survived by number of children and grandchildren.