Despite lack of recognition and, sometimes, outright hostility from some Buganda Government officials, Abazzukulu ba Buganda are widely recognized one of the leading groups in protecting Buganda’s rights. Abazzukulu, as they are often referred to, have for more than 10 years actively argued that Buganda has been under occupation since 1962, and needs to free herself. They are responsible for exposing many anti Buganda plots by Museveni and at Mmengo. For example, in the 1990’s Abazzuklu ba Buganda led the ejection Princess Ndagire from Kasubi tombs after she was hired by Museveni to discredit Kabaka Mutebi by calling him a son of Daudi Ocheng.  Another example was in July 2004, when Abazzukulu challenged Mmengo over Shs 800m which Museveni’s government is alleged to have secretly paid to members of Katikkiro Ssemwogerere’s team to disorganize planned Baganda demonstrations for Federo.

Except for the brief period when Dan Muliika was Katikkiro, the relationship between Mmengo and Abazzukulu over the last 15 years, has been quite tense. In 2006 the group did not spare, even Muliika, when they accused him of being soft for glorifying Federo. Abazukkulu insist that Buganda has been under occupation, since 1966. Federo is a cowardly compromise that demeans what our ancestors died for and the only solution is full national independence under our Kabaka.

Below are the minutes (in Luganda) of a meeting members of Bazzkulu had with Katikkiro JB Walusimbi on August 31, 2009. This was less than two weeks before the infamous genocidal massacre of Baganda by Museveni’s NRM police and army. Throughout the meeting, Abazzukulu expressed disappointment with what they view as incompetence, corruption and anti Buganda activities at Mmengo.

ENSISINKANO Y’OLUKIIKO LWA BAZZUKULU BA BUGANDA NE KATIKKIRO OWEK J B WALUSIMBI NGA 31/08/09 

Ebikulu ebyaali mu nsisinkano eyo

Okussoka kwa byonna tukwebaza olw’omukisa okutusisinkana n’okubaganya naffe ebirowoozo ku nsoga zaffe, wadde ng’ezimu tewazinnyonyoka.  Ekituwandiisizza kwekulamba ensisinkano yaffe naawe kulw’okulondoola byetwayogerako.

Ettemu eriyinda

Olukiiko lwakulaga obweraliikirivu bw’Abaganda ku butemu obugenze mu maaso okumala ebbanga; ng’omwo mwemwaali n’okwokya abaana be Buddo.  Lwakutegeeza nti kati mu Buddu, e Kyannamukaaka, Kyesiiga, Kiziba, Mutondo ne Bisanje mwaali mutemuddwaamu abantu naddala ng’abatemu beeyita abalwanirira federo n’ettaka.  Naye gavumenti egamba nti abo babbi.  Ekyo olukiiko lwakigerageranya n’ekyokuttirimbula abaganda nga Joseph Mubiru ku mulembe gw’Amin- naye ng’akabinja akabatemulanga kaasasulirwanga gavumenti ya Nyerere.  Ate era nga mungeri y’emu abaganda abattibwa e Nankulabye mu 1964, gavumenti yakiteeka ku batamiivu.

Olukiiko lwakutegeeza nti okutemula abantu naddala abaana kati okudenda mu maaso kukkweekeddwa mu “kissadaaka abaana”. Kati bakugasseeko n’okubba abaana abawere mu malwaaliro mu Buganda.

Olukiiko lwakulaga nti lubuusabuusa nti ebyo sibitegeke butegesi ebigenderera okuteekesaawo etteeka eriyingirira ebyobuwangwa byaffe..  Era olukiiko lwakutegeeza nga bwekiwulirwa nti waliwo etteeka nga lyayitaako n’emungalo za Dr Nambatya nga lisuubirwa okukola ng’erya 1929 eryawera ensinza n’enzikiriza Nansangwa.

Olwebyo olukiiko lw’Abazzukulu lwakusaba okuzuukusa enkola ya Gwanga mujje eyambeko abaganda okwewa obukuumi.  Era lwakusaba okuteekawo okulondoola obutemu buno obugenda mu maaso ng’okundoola gavumenti ya Rwanda eweebwa Bungereza sente okugula ettaka lya Buganda. 

Olukiiko lwagattako n’okulondola ebitebe by’amawanga ag’ebweru agali wano ng’ekya Bungereza ne Sweden, n’ebitongole byaabyo ebyobwannakyeewa ebikolera wano.

Kyalabika nti naawe obweraliikirivu obulina naye ng’obusobozi obukola ku nsonga eyo olina butono.  Era walaga obweraliikirivu ku bavubuka abatalina mirimo abangi, abanywi bejaaye okuba nga bayinza okweyambisibwa okukola ettemu eryo.

Ku kyokuzuukusa enkola ya Gwanga Mujje wabuusabuusa obusobozi bwaayo okukola mu kibuga nga Kampala kubanga abantu beefaako bokka tebakyakolangana n’abannaabwe.  Naye walaga essuubi nti mubyaalo enkola ya Gwanga Mujje eyinza ob’olyaawo okusoboka okukola.

Olukiiko lukkiriza nti tolina busobozi bummala.  Naye era lukimanyi nti osobola okubaako ky’okola mu mbeera eno.  Twaakuwa amagezi okweyambisa ebitongole ebirwanirira eddembe ly’obuntu, n’ebyamawulire, bannaddiini n’abaganda bannakyeewa abalina obumanyirivu mu nsonga ezo.

Map ya Buganda

Olukiiko lwemulugunya ku kya Mmengo okuffulumya Map ya Buganda entongole ng’eriko amasaza 18. Nga map eyo ebulako amasaza 2 Buyaga n’eBugangaizi.

Olukiiko lwakubuuza nti nga bwetukyaali mubuwambe, bwebulikya ng’amasaza amalala nga Buluuri, Singo, ne Bugerere gatwaaliddwa ng’olwo Mmengo era effulumya Map endala eraga nti amasaza ga Buganda gali 13?

Emivuyo gy’ettaka

Olukiiko lwebuuza lwaki mmengo eyogera ku mailo 9000 zokka n’erekayo mailo 8000?

Olukiiko lwakubuulira emivuyo egikolebwa Buganda Land Board.  Lwakutegeeza nti abayeekera Kabaka abali mu BLB, bagoba abaganda ku ttaka n’ebaliwa abagwiira.  Okugeza mu Gombolola y’omukulu w’ekibuga mu Kisenyi mu Buwanika zone awaali enju y’omuwanika BLB yagobawo Abaganda abakolerawo n’ekakasa obwannanyini  bwa Gaster Mugoya  eyabba ettaka eryo ng’ayita Uganda Land Commission (ULC).

 N’e Makindye Ssaabagabo, e Buziga e Konge BLB egoba abaganda ku ttaka, eriwe mukyaala Museveni eyalibbira mu Uganda Land Commission.

Ekifaananyi abayeekera bano kyebalaga abaganda kiri nti Kabaka y’abagoba ku ttakka okuliwa abagwiira.

E Nansana abantu bajjibwaako sente 200,000/= okuwandiisa ebibanja byaabwe naye nga tebaweebwa alisiiti.  Era olukiiko lwakutegeeza nti abayeekera bano abaliira Kabaka munda bagendera mu motoka za BLB okugoba abantu ku ttaka n’okumenya enyumba zaabwe nga bwekyaali eBusaabala.

Olukiiko lwakubuuza lwaki ovumaganya Ssabasajja n’okumukyayisa abantu be  ng’oyita mu Kitongole kya Buganda Land Board.

Kunsonga ezo watuddamu nti;

Ekyogeza ku mailo akenda kokka n’ebalekayo eddala kiri nti mailo akanaana kali mi mikono gy’abaganda.

Ku kya Buganda Land Board watutegeeza nti eno BLB eriwo kati teringa eri eyaliwo eya 1962-66.  Eno evunaanyizibwa ku lusuku lwa Kabaka olwa mailo 350 lwokka.  N’olwekyo nti Buganda Land Board (BLB) teri mu buyinza bwo.  Nti Kabaka yagifuya butereevu.

Watutegeeza nti ebyo naawe wali obiraba era obiwulira.  Naye obuyinza bwo butono ku BLB.  Wabula watugamba nti abo betwaayita abayeekera bwetubasanganga aga balya enguzi oba ngabakola emivyo egyo tubakkwaate tubakuleetere, nti ojja kutandikira awo-okubakolako.

Olwa 24/May/1966

Olukiiko lwakutegeeza nti lumaze emyaaka kuminagumu nga lutegeka omukolo gw’okujjukira olunaku lwa 24/ May/ 1966 Buganda lweyawambibwa Uganda.  Olukiiko lwakujjukiza nti nga 21/may/2009 lwakusisinkana n’erukusaba olunaku olwo olwa 24 May lutongozebwa.  Nti era lwakikola mu buwandiike nga bwewalusaba.  Olukiiko lwayagala okumanya ensonga eyo weyimiridde.

Okuboolebwa

Olukiiko lwakutunuza mu nsonga yaalwo ey’okuboolebwa ku mikutu gyamawulire, newankubadde ng’ebibiina n’abantu bonna bakkirizibwa okuwa endowooza zaabwe eri abantu.

Emikutu olukiiko gyerugezaako okuyisa endowooza yalwo, abakozi baayo abakiiriza Abazzukulu bagobebwa ku mirimo.  Ebyokulabirako ye Nsereko Basajja Mituba (WBS), ne Sempala (Sapiensa).

Olukiiko lwakulopera nti ate yo ku CBS “Radio Yaffe” ekintu kyonna eky’olukiiko lw’Abazzukulu tekisobokera ddala kuyita ku mpewo.  Nti n’ebirango by’olukiiko  ebisasulire nabyo byaali tebikirizibwa emirundi egisinga.

Mu kuddamu ensonga zino watutegeeza nti ensonga ya 24-May ebbaluwa yaffe wagifuna.  Nti era wali ogenda kugitwaala mu Cabinet mugiteeseeko era olwa 24-May luteekebwe ku calendar lujjukirwe nga Abaganda mu butongole.

Ku ky’okuboolebwa CBS olukiiko walusuubiza nti ogenda kwogera n’abagivunaanyizibwaako olabe nti tuweebwa omukisa ng’abalala.

Eby’okukola oluvanyuma lw’okummibwa Federo

Olukiiko lwakutegeeza nti Buganda kyeyeetaaga kati bwetwaaze, kubanga ne Federo nabwo buffuge.

Olukiiko lwakutegeeza nti Buganda kati erina ebizibu bibiri byokka – ebisinga obukulu. Nti ebizibu ebyo bwe bigyibwaawo, ebirala byonna byekolako byokka.

Ekizibu ekisooka Buganda kyerina ye ffe Abaganda abaliwo kati.  Omuzungu bweyajja wano yakozesa eddiini n’obuyigirize n’agootaanya ebirowoozo n’okutegeera kwaffe, nga kati wetwaatuuka tetukyasobola kumanya nti Buganda ne Uganda Chemistry w’abyo wanjawulo nnyo n’olwekyo tebisobola kutambulira wamu wadde okugattibwa.

Buli bwetugezaako okubisisinkanya wabeerawo okubwaatuka.  Kino kiri bwekiti kubanga Buganda lyo Gwanga tonde butonzi ng’eyalitonda yaliteerawo obutonde/obulombolombo bwalyo mweritambulira.  Ate yo Uganda yateekebwaawo bantu buntu-ng’etambulira ku kupangapanga na kuffumbirira kwa kiryammere.

N’olwekyo eky’obutonde n’ekyobulyammere tebiyinza kugattibwa wamu n’ewatabeerawo buzibu.  N’omutonzi tasobola kukikkiriza, naddala bwekiba nti ekyekiryammere ate kyekigenda okuffuga eky’obutonde!!! 

Kyova olaba nga kati Abaganda bangi nnyo batuuka n’okulowooza nti awatali Uganda, Buganda tesobola kubeerawo.

Ky’ova olaba nti kati eby’eBuganda tuffunvubira buli kimu kukigonjoolera mu  byabufuzi n’abafuzi ba Uganda n’ewankubadde nga buli lwe tugezezaako tekisobose wabula  tukifunyeemu kutabulwa na kusoberwa!!!

Ky’ova olaba ng’Abaganda balowooza nti Kabaka ne Pulezidenti bafaanana/ benkana.  N’olwekyo pulezidenti bwaakola ebibye ne Kabaka bwateekwa okubikola.

Ky’ova olaba nga kati Abaganda banji balowooza nti nga pulezidenti bwakulakulanya ensi gy’afuga, ne Kabaka bwakulakulanya Buganda.  N’owulira ng’omuganda agamba nti “Ssabasajja Kabaka awangaale – akulakulanye obuganda.”

Enjogera eno ewulikika ng’entuufu naye evaamu ebizibu binji nnyo nyo byetutayinza kumenya netubimalayo.

Ekyokukolera ekizibu kino kifaananira ddala nga Martin Luther King ne munne Malkom X kyebaakolera baddugavu bannaabwe kyebaayitanga “Black Consciousness Movement” olw’okujja abaddugavu mu buddu mwe baali bamaze emyaaka eminji ennyo.

Naffe wano Abaganda, olw’obuddu omuzungu bweyatuteekamu emyaaka minjiko egiyise, okutegeera n’okukiriza kwaffe byasuulibwa mu bunnya n’etufuuka abatakyaalina bwesige mu Nyaffe Buganda netufuuka abatakyasobola kumulwanirira, kumukolerera nga bajjajjaffe bwebaakola. 

Nolwekyo waliwo obwetaavu bw’okuteekawo Buganda Consciousness Movement.

Olukiiko lwagenda mumaaso nerukulaga nti ekizibu ekyokubiri Buganda kyerimu bwe Bufuge.

Buli bufuge w’ebubeera bufuuka obuddu.  Obuganda obufuge bwe kika kya Federo bweyamalamu ebbanga bwagifuula OMUDDU- wa Uganda.

Ky’ova olaba nga tetulina ddembe ly’akwerowooleza na kwesalirawo – kubanga omuddu teyeelowooleza era yeyeesalirawo!!!

Ky’ova olaba nga tetulina ddembe lyakubeera na byaffe nga n’okututta webaagalira we batuttira newatabeerawo n’avunaana kubanga omuddu tabeera na dembe lyakubeera na bibye nga n’obulamubwe buba bwa mukama we.  Ne bwamutta, tewaba avunaana.

Ky’ova olaba nti ettaka lyaffe twerwanako bwerwanyi nga buli ayagala y’atwaala.

Tuteekwa buteekwa okulwanyisa okuffege/obuddu obwa buli kika, nga ne Federo mweri kuba nakyo kika kya Bufuge obuzaala obuddu.

Buli bwetwogera ku Federo tukimanye nti tuba twogera ku kika kya Bufuge/ Buddu kubanga tuba twettanira waggulu wa Buganda kuteekayo Uganda  ne waggulu wa Kabaka kuteekayo pulezidenti!!

Ky’ova olaba nti n’ewankubadde mu 1966 Buganda yali ekutte “full Federo” mu ngalo, Uganda yatukuba netugwa ku taka kwetukyalemeddwa okuva!!

Federo teyatuyamba kubanga mu Federo newankubadde twesigaliza “Obuyinza” obusinga naye baatusuula ku taka kubanga akusinga akukubisa gw’okutte!!

Ate era Owekitiibwa, amajolobera ge tuteeka ku federo si gaayo kubanga Federo emyaka ena gyetwamala nayo (ng’omuzungu agenze) tewali kyetwagikolamu kubanga emyaka ena twagimala amazzi tuffuuwako mafuuwe nga Gavumenti ya Uganda etukuumira ku bunkenke!!

Wabula tusaanye okujjukira nti obufuge/obuddu twabuyingira mu 1962 olwendagaano gyetwaakola nga tuli n’Amawanga amalala 14 olwensonga zino wammanga.:

1. Okutondawo ensi Uganda
2. Okutondawo gavumenti ey’okufuganga ensi Uganda
3. Olwokugatta amawanga 15 agagikola
4. Okuteeka amawanga 15 wansi w’obufuge/obuddu bwa Gavumenti ya Uganda.
5. Olwa Buganda  okupangisa gavumenti ya Uganda ettaka lye Kampala ne Entebe, gavumenti ya Uganda ekolereko emirimo gyaayo.

Wabula mu 1966 gavumenti ya Uganda yatema ettabi kweyali etudde bweyamenyawo endagaano gyetwogerako ne kiba nga kyategeeza era kikyategeeza nti byonna endagaano byeyali eteekawo byavaawo kubanga tebiyinza kusigalawo ng’endagaano eyabitondawo tekyaaliiwo.

N’olwekyo Owekitiibwa Katikiro, okumenyebwaawo kw’Endagaano eyo bwe Buwonero bwa Buganda kubanga kati Buganda terina ndagaano na muntu yenna.  N’olwekyo tewali ateekwa kudduumira Buganda wadde okugisongamu olunwe.

N’olwekyo kati Buganda ya dembe okwefuga yokka.  Kyeturina okukola nga Buganda  kwekuwawabira bannakigwanyizi abalemera ku ky’okufuga Buganda obuddu mu kooti y’e kibiina kyamawanga amagatte [UNO].

Owekitiibwa, wakiriziganya n’olukiiko ku kyokutwaala ensonga za Buganda mu kooti yensi yonna- mu kibiina ky’Amawanga amagatte.

Okusisinkana Ssabasajja Kabaka

Mukukubaganya ebirowoozo  naawe olukiiko lwasanga lulina obwetaavu okusisinkana Ssabasajja Kabaka, naye lusobole okumwanjulira ensonga ezo.  Nerukusaba olusobozese okusisinkana Ssabasajja Kabaka.  Owekitibwa watusuubiza okutukolera entegeka ku nsonga eyo.

Ekyaapa kya Bulange

Twaffundikira ne nsonga y’ekyapa kya Bulange. Ku nsonga eyo watunnyonyola nti ekyaapa kya Bulange kyayawuzibwaamu ebitundu bisatu.  Ekimu kwekuttudde Bulange, ekirala kwekuli oluggya lwa Bulange.  Ekyokusaatu kwekutudde ekizimbe Amin kyeyazimbako (Bulange Plaza).  Watulaga nti mwagala kufuula kizimbe kya Bulange plaza kizimbe kyabusuubuzi ekyawule ku Bulange.  Era watutegeeza nti ekyaapa ekikadde kyabula.  Nti kati kyemulina kya 1993.

Olukiiko lwebuuza ekyayawuzaamu ekyaapa ekyo emirundi esatu.  Olukiiko lwewunnya ekyayawuza ekyaapa ky’oluggya lwa Bulange okukigya ku kizimbe – Bulange kyennyini.

Olukiiko terwakiriziganya naawe ku nsonga y’akuzimba kizimbe kyabusuubuzi nga kirinaanye Bulange.  Netukusaba nti bwekiba nti ekizimbe ekyo mwagala kukimaliriza wadde nga tekyaali ku plan ya Bulange, bwekiba kizimbiddwa kireme kubeera kya busubuzi, zibeere office za Bulange.

Katikiro tewakaanya naffe kunsonga eyo.  Era naffe tetwakkaanya nanteekateeka yakukutula ku Bulange kifo kyonna kukifuula kintu kirala kyonna ekikendeeza ekitibwa ky’ekitebe ky’obwakabaka bwa Buganda.

Olukiiko lwakulaga obweraliikirivu bwerulina eri olukwe lw’abalabe ba Buganda olw’okusaanyaawo buli Kintu kyonna ekiraga nti waaliwo kko eggwanga erjyjtibwa Buganda eryefuga likirimegga eryekitiibwa etutumufu. Olukwe olwo olutera okukweekebwa mu nkulakulana po namakubo g’okuyingiriza obwakabaka sente luluubirira nadala kusaanyawo olubiri lw’eMmengo, Amasiro naddala ag’eKasubi, Bulange n’obutaka bw’eBika.

Olukiiko lwatuuka ku nkomerero, era nerugalwaawo. Olw’okulamba ensisinkano eno ku lw’okugoberera ebyakkaanyizibwako tukusaba Ssebo owekitibwa Katikkiro okirize otuteereko omukono wamanga wan

Katikkiro                                                          Ssentebe

………………………..                                             ……………………………

J.B Walusimbi                                                   Mubiru Njuki ku lwa Ssentebe
                                                                        Olukiiko Lw’Abazukulu Ba Buganda

Four loyal subjects of Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi of Buganda have taken the NRM Buganda occupation government to its own constitutional court, requesting the jurists to rule the blocking of the Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere county unconstitutional. The petitioners are Omutaka Edward Kamya Lugonvu who is the Katikkiro of Mamba clan, Omutaka Dr Adam Kimala, also an elder in the Mamba clan together with Charles Ssenkungu Walugendo and Ms Sayida Najjuka who are both residents of Bugerere county (Bagerere).

On behalf of the their clients Balikuddembe and Co Advocates and Godfrey Lule Legal Consultants, petitioned the Uganda constitutional court to rule that in barring the Kabaka and his Katikkiro Eng. John Baptist Walusimbi from visiting Kayunga in Bugerere County on September 12, the government contravened various provisions of the Constitution, including Article 21 which outlaws discriminatory acts.

Dr. Adam Kimala is a leading Muganda conservative intellectual. He and his lawyer, Godfrey Lule, were among the closest supporters and advisors to former Katikkiro Daniel Muliika as he (Muliika) taught Mmengo and Buganda how to “wake up” and resist the occupation.

Omulongo Kamya submitted an affidavit t stating that, among other things, while the Baganda, including those in the Diaspora are not compelled to pay allegiance to the Kabaka in any way, loyalty is rendered on their “own free will” and to prevent the kingdom’s people from associating in their diverse cultural norms “violates” their constitutional right to freedom of association.

The Attorney General of the NRM occupation government, Kiddu Makubuya, has up to 14 days within which to formally respond to the petition.

The current Uganda constitution was enacted in 1995 against the wishes of Baganda, the most influential and wealthiest of Uganda’s many ethnic groups. According to the Odoki Commission which surveyed Ugandans for input into the  new constitution, 90% of Buganda residents demanded federal form of government.  However, with support from Norway, Denmark and Sweden, Museveni’s NRM froced an arbitrary “decentralization form of government” into the constitution . Despite heavy promotion by Museveni co-conspirator at the time, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, Baganda rejected Museveni’s decentralization and immediately started to agitate for the federal (federo) constitution. It is the 10 years of Buganda agitation for federo and Museveni’s brutal response that led to the huge demonstrations of September 10-11, 2009 and Museveni’s massacre of 30 Baganda. Over 65% of Uganda’s armed forces are now stationed in Buganda, 20% of the size, which puts the kingdom under armed occupation by the NRM government and its Banyankore, Bakiga, Banyarwanda and other collaborators.

Some British Baganda are angry at Deputy Katikkiro, Emmanuel Sendaula, and Kabaka’s representative in UK, Nsambu Musisi, for asking them (the Baganda) to keep quiet at a time when their Kabaka and nation are under a state of occupation by the NRM government.

In a Luganda letter that was addressed to all Kabaka’s representatives overseas, Owek. Sendaula indicates that the Kabaka’s representative had been informed in the past that, earlier, the Buganda government passed a resolution that Kabaka and the Ugandan warlord, Museveni, should meet. He adds that the meeting which took place has improved the communication between the two sides. He states that the two sides exchanged documents based on which negotiations were to take place; the Katikkiro would inform Kabaka’s representative in due course.

The Deputy Katikkiro’s letter includes no references to ordinary Baganda except when he asks Kabaka’s representative to tell the Baganda in their areas to be  “very calm”. Owek. Sendaula provides not information at all to his audience to pass over to Baganda in their area. His letter does not include any reference to the 30 Baganda who were massacred by the NRM occupation government, the hundreds who were injured and the nearly 1,000 who have been arrested and tortured over the last two weeks. The Deputy Katikkiro’s letter is dated Monday October 15, 2009, only 2 days after Kabaka’s minister, Lubega Sseggona, was arrested by Museveni. However it does not mention the plight of Ssegona. Even most important, the Deputy Katikkiro letter saying nothing about the health and general well being of Ssabasajja Kabaka, who all Baganda know has endured tough and stressful times since the NRM occupation power barred him from going to Bugerere and started murdering his subjects.

Also significant is that, in his letter, Owek. Sendaula never mentions ordinary Baganda who live the Diaspora. He never acknowledges the allegiance they have shown to the Kabaka and Buganda with their demonstrations and other actions. He only refers to these loyal subjects when he says, “You, the representatives of Ssabasajja outside Uganda should encourage the people you lead to be very calm to give a chance to the negotiations that have started between the Uganda government and Buganda Kingdom, which aim to address Buganda’s open issues.”

In his letter to UK Baganda, Kabaka’s representative Nsambu Musisi also skipped any acknowledgement what UK Baganda have done to show the loyalty they have to Buganda or the Kabaka. And he amplifies Owek. Sendaula’s letter, telling Kabaka’s subjects in UK: “It is best that any planned demonstrations in Britain be postponed.”

One of our sources in London reported that many Baganda in UK are incensed at the condescending attitude of  Owek. Sendaula and Mr. Nsambu Musisi. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Mr. Musisi has popularity issues with most UK Baganda who feel that he was imposed on them by Katikkiro Mulwanyaamuli. According to our source: “Baganda here in London believe that blood of Baganda shed by Museveni only a week ago and the ongoing torture of hundreds of his subjects are most important to Kabaka Mutebi. But that a few cowardly and greedy individuals are helping Museveni to isolate Kabaka from his subjects by making him appear more interested in CBS Radio money or the firing of Tamale Mirundi.”

Another source, who is a computer engineer and Nkoba za Mbogo veteran went as far as challenging Deputy Katikkiro Sendaula and Mmengo to explain why they are eager to sell a Buganda’s which has survived nearly 1,000 years to a man whose true identity is questionable. He said: “First Walusimbi, Sendaula and a few money angry Mmengo personalities were used by Museveni to trick Kabaka into becoming a negotiator. That was an effort to break the centuries old custom, ‘Kabaka tateesa‘. Now they are trying to get a short term, short sighted, secret Regional Tier deal with Museveni based on getting quick CBS Radio and bribe money, to protect their personal interests. That is why they don’t even care about the Baganda blood that was spilt, those in prison or even bad image Kabaka Mutebi may get among his subjects.

“Anyway, they cannot stop us from resisting Buganda’s occupiers and protecting out Kabaka and national interests. The only reason that Museveni is even learnt to dress up, walk as if his feet are OK and behave like a civilized person in front of the Kabaka last Wednesday, is because he and his fellow Balaalo were panicked by the demonstrations September 10-11, 2009. The demonstrators in Buganda, London, New York, Boston and elsewhere showed the Ugandan NRM war lords that Buganda has a backbone. It makes common sense that Baganda must only increase demonstrations if they want to make it clear to Museveni and his NRM occupiers that they have no future without agreeing to all Buganda’s demands. Akeenda, return of all our properties, payment of arrears and Federo.  These demands are well known by all Ugandans, so why would our demonstrations against the murder and senseless arrest and torture of Baganda change anything?”

When contacted for a comment on this story, our New York based Buganda analyst had this to say: “I think Owek. JB Walusimbi and his supporters in Mmengo have made a terrible mistake of sacrificing Nambooze, Sseggona, Mpuuga and other so called Mmengo radicals to appease Museveni, Bukenya and the businessmen in Mmengo. I suspect that if Walusimbi continues on this path then he (Walusimbi) will have no influence at all when the next major demonstrations by Baganda happens, because the demonstrators might be looking for his head. It is like the children making an alarm (okukuba enduulu) when they see a robber running way with family property. Suppose the robber panics and starts to appear cornered. I think that even a 6-year old would smell something fishy if the father comes out of hiding, doesn’t show concern about the children killed or kidnapped by the robber and tells the whole family to keep quite, so neighbors don’t come as he secretly negotiates with the robber.”

Below are the letters from Deputy Katikkiro Sendaula and Mr. Nsambu Musisi respectively (in Luganda):

.

Letter from Owek. Sendaula

Eri:       Ababaka ba Ssaabasajja bonna mu nsi z’Ebweru

Okuva: Oweek. Amb. Emmnauel L. Ssendaula, Minisita w’Ensonga za Buganda  Ebweru

Ensonga:Ensisinkano ya Ssaabasajja Kabaka ne President wa Uganda

Olunaku: Lwakutaano nga 02/10/2009

Nkulamusizza nnyo era ne nkwebaza emirimu gy’oweereza Mukama waffe Ssaabasajja n’eggwanga lyattu Buganda ng’osinziira eyo gy’oli.

President wa Uganda ne Ssaabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda baasisinkanye mu State House e Ntebe nga 30/09/2009.  Akakiiko Akafuzi (Cabinet) aka Gavumenti ya Ssaabasajja Kabaka nako kaatudde eggulo nga 01/10/2009 ne kakubaganya ebirowoozo ku nsisinkano y’abakulu abo ababiri.

Nga bwe mumanyi obulungi, Gavumenti ya Ssaabasajja yayisa ekiteeso ekisemba Ssaabasajja ne President basisinkane.  Kirungi nti ensisinkano eyo yayambye nnyo okuteekawo empuliziganya wakati waabwe bombi etaabaddeewo okumala ebbanga.

Katikkiro yategeezezza Obuganda nti waliwo ebiwandiiko ebyawanyisiganyiziddwa President ne Ssaabasajja Kabaka byetegerezebwe buli ludda.  Kati Katikkiro ne Gavumenti ya Ssaabasajja twefunyiridde mu kwetegereza ensonga eziri mu kiwandiiko President kye yawadde Ssaabasajja kyokka ate nga tusuubira nti ne President yeetegereza ensonga eziri mu kiwandiiko Ssaabasajja Kabaka kye yamuwadde.

Ekiseera ekituufu bwe kinaatuuka, Katikkiro ajja kutegeeza Obuganda ebinaaba bivudde mu nteeseganya.  Mu kiseera kye kimu Katikkiro ayongedde n’akubiriza Obuganda okubeera obumu wamu n’okubeera abakkakkamu ennyo nga tulwanirira ebyaffe.

Mu ngeri y’emu nammwe ababaka ba Ssaabasajja ebweru wa Uganda, musaanye okukubiriza abantu be mutwala okubeera abakkakkamu ennyo tusobole ffenna okuwa omukisa enteeseganya ezitandise wakati wa Gavumenti ya Uganda n’Obwakabaka bwa Buganda, nga zigendererwamu okukola n’okugonjoola ensonga za Buganda zonna ezikyali mu ddiiro.

Ssaabasajja Kabaka Awangaale!

.

Letter from Mr. Nsambu Musisi

Abazaana n’abasajja ba Ssaabasajja,

Mbalamusizza nnyo nnyini era mbebaza emirimu gyemukola. Ate mbebaza ekyensusso obumu n’obuwagizi bwemulaze eri Ssaabasajja mu kasEera akabade akazibu. Ssabasajja gyaali ateredde ntEnde naye nga akyaali munakuwavu olw’Abantu be abaafa na balumizibwa mu kwekalakaasa okwaaliwo

1. Mbasaba musome ebbaluwa eri wansi weno nga eva ewa Owek Ssendaula nga eyogera kubiriwo kati. Nsaba mugisome.

Ntegezeddwa nti olw’okwagala okutekawo embeera ennungi ‘conducive environment’ eneyamba enteseganya wakati wa Ssaabasajja Kabaka ne President wa Uganda okugenda mu maaso,  kyandibadde kirungi singa Abaganda tugira tukyaleka ebyo ebibadde bikolebwa okulaga nti tuli benyamivu nga muno mwemuli n’okwekalakaasa.

Gavumenti ya Uganda nayo egambye nti egyakulekeraawo ebikolwa eby’okusomooza Buganda.

Kale no n’olwekyo kyandibade kirungi singa okwekalakaasa okubadde kugenda okuberawo e Bungereza kugira kuyimirizibwaamu. (Postponed).

2. Nebaza abo bonna abakawa ensimbi ez’okukubagiza amaka agafiirwa abantu baabwe mu kwekalakaasa. Abamu abatadde ensimbi ku ‘Bank Account’ tebalaga mannya gaabwe. Nsaba buli atadde ensimbi ku Account okumpereza amannyage tusobole okuwandiika olukalala lw’amannya getunawereza embuga nga tuwereza ensimbi zino ez’okukubagiza.

Mu kiseera kyekimu nsaba abo bonna abatanadukirila mulanga guno okugezaako okwayo obuyambi nga butekebwa ku ‘Bank Account’

Ssaabasajja Kabaka Awangaale

J Nsambu Musisi

Omubaka

Uganda police sources indicate that the number of people who have been arrested in connection with the Kayunga demonstrations is has now grown to over 1,000 and rouge officers and magistrates are making quick money. In the first 5 days after the disturbances where the NRM police and army shot dead 30 Baganda, about 600 people were arrested. Since then, the police has continued to arrest more Baganda, claiming that they are looking for ringleaders and other participants in what they (the police) claim to be public violence and terrorist activities.

Baganda sources within Museveni’s  police force have informed us that the primary reasons why so many people are being arrested are politics and money.  One source told us: “These arrests were ordered from the very top for political reasons. They provide a chance for the NRM to shut up its loudest opponents in Mmengo and the opposition parties, especially DP.  It is one way to put make it difficult for the opposition to start organizing themselves for the 2011 campaigns. The majority are arrested not because of evidence that they did anything but because they used to talk a lot against the NRM government on radio stations. So many of them are Baganda DP or FDC campaigners. In some cases the evidence is manufactured using tips from Banyankore, Bakiga and other non-Baganda who are NRM moles in the opposition parties.”

Another Muganda veteran police officer told our investigator that money is also a big reason why the arrests are growing. The office explained: “As you may expect, when an innocent Muganda is arrested on allegations of inciting violence, his or her family will normally be desperate to have him freed on bail. The arresting officers and the magistrate make some quick money by charging the desperate family anywhere between Shs 150,000 and Shs 400,000 (US$74 to $198) depending on situation. They eat the money and in the books they write that the suspect has been freed on a ‘no cash’ police bond. In law this is called extortion and I know that top people in the police force know that it is going on or may even be supporting it.”

The Uganda police force is commanded by Kalyekezi Kayihura, a Rwanda national who came to Uganda as a refugee and joined Uganda police where Mr. Museveni quickly rose him to the rank of General.

PRESS RELEASE

Uganda: Troops Killed Unarmed People in Riot Period
No Lethal Force Necessary in at Least 13 Fatal Shootings

(Kampala, October 1, 2009) – The Ugandan government should immediately order an independent investigation into the killing of unarmed persons during and after riots in Kampala on September 10 and 11, 2009, Human Rights Watch said today.

A Human Rights Watch investigation found that at least 13 people were shot by government forces in situations where lethal force was unnecessary. The Minister of Internal Affairs reported to parliament that 27 people had died during the riots and that seven were uninvolved in riot activity.

“Shooting in self defense is one thing, but we found that some soldiers shot at bystanders and shot through locked doors,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The government needs to put an impartial investigation in motion now.”

The riots in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, began on September 10, when police blocked a delegation representing the Buganda kingdom from visiting Kayunga district. The cultural king of Buganda, known as the kabaka, was planning to visit Kayunga for National Youth Day two days later. The visit was opposed by leaders of the Banyala ethnic group in Kayunga, who reject the kabaka’s authority. The kabaka’s supporters took to the streets to protest the police action, and violence began soon afterward.

Sources at Kampala’s main hospital, Mulago, indicate that 88 victims of the violence were admitted for treatment over this period, most for gunshot wounds. Victims were taken to other hospitals as well. According to the minister of internal affairs, at least 846 people were arrested for alleged crimes committed during the riots, and the arrests continue. At least 24 of the alleged rioters have been charged with terrorism for destroying government property, and many others have been charged with unlawful assembly and inciting violence.

During and after the unrest, Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 50 victims and their family members, witnesses, doctors, and local and senior government officials. On-the-ground research was conducted into the circumstances surrounding the violence in the Kampala neighborhoods of Nateete, Kasubi, Busega, Ndeeba, Bwaise, Bunga, the Salaama Road at Nakinyuguzi zone, and in Mpigi town.

Human Rights Watch investigated several fatal and non-fatal shootings by security forces on September 10 and 11 that raise serious questions about the level of force employed in response to the riots. In a number of cases throughout the city, there is strong evidence that security forces shot individuals who were not threatening them or others.

This challenges statements by some government officials that live ammunition was only fired into the air to clear the streets of protesters.

However, President Yoweri Museveni, addressing parliament on September 10, after the riots broke out, contended that “initially police acted slowly” in response to the unrest. “Looters,” he said, “will be shot on sight, as will those who attack civilians.”

Human Rights Watch said that investigations should look into the circumstances of the rioting and into how to improve policing during demonstrations. Thus far, there is no clear evidence to support the contention of some Ugandan government officials that the Kampala riots were organized in advance. The Buganda kingdom government has denied any role in organizing the riots. Some rioters do appear to have employed parallel tactics, such as burning tires to block roads in several areas of the city, especially on the afternoon of September 10.

Human Rights Watch urged the police and other security forces to abide by the United Nations Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The principles call upon law enforcement officials, including military units responding to national emergencies, to apply nonviolent means before resorting to the use of force, to use force only in proportion to the seriousness of the offense, and to use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life. The principles also provide that governments shall ensure that arbitrary or abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offense under their law.

“Much of the attention has focused on the politics surrounding recent events,” said Gagnon. “But the real tragedy is that families have lost loved ones in entirely unnecessary circumstances. They deserve to see justice done.”

Violence and the Response

Human Rights Watch found that in the early stages of the demonstrations on September 10, some protesters resorted to violence in some areas of Kampala, burning at least five cars, one passenger bus, and one delivery truck, blocking some main roads with burning tires and debris, looting shops, and throwing rocks at police and members of the armed forces. In Nateete, protesters burned a police station. In Bwaise, a factory was set on fire. No one was reported injured in either fire, and local hospitals did not report any burn victims. Police, some in riot gear, used teargas in several areas of the city.

Uganda’s inspector general of police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, told Human Rights Watch that military police and the army’s Presidential Guard Brigade were deployed under his orders to support the police beginning at around 4 p.m. on September 10, and that infantry soldiers were deployed in support shortly thereafter. Kayihura said that these units fired live ammunition into the air to scatter rioters.

Human Rights Watch’s research indicates that the security forces faced some situations in which the use of firearms may have been warranted. One witness described seeing a rioter steal a civilian security guard’s gun near Kampala Bus Park on September 10 and shoot a policeman in the leg. Kayihura provided two other instances, in Nateete and Sseta, where rioters fired on the security forces. It remains unclear if anyone was injured in those two instances, and those events were not investigated by Human Rights Watch.

Kayihura told Human Rights Watch that, while all government forces had been ordered to use minimum force, non-lethal options such as rubber bullets and pepper spray are not standard issue in all police posts. He claimed that the security forces had few alternatives to shooting live ammunition into the air. Other knowledgeable sources in the police told Human Rights Watch that the police stocks of tear gas had run low and that officials feared they lacked the means to secure the city without using firearms.

Where Lethal Force Was Not Necessary

However, among the episodes that raise serious questions about the use of force, in Bwaise on September 10, local people gathered to observe the fire brigade fight a fire set by rioters earlier that afternoon. An army armored personnel carrier drove by the crowd and the troops on board fired, striking Hussein Mujuuka in the back of the head and killing him instantly. At least 10 others were wounded by the gunfire. Several witnesses told Human Rights Watch that local residents responded by burning tires along the Bwaise-Kampala Road. They said that shootings by the military continued during the evening hours in Bwaise and that many other people were wounded. Deaths from military gunfire also occurred the same day in Kawempe, Nakulabye, Mulago, and the Ndeeba areas of Kampala.

Security forces using live ammunition caused many injuries and at least six deaths on September 11. Witnesses and victims told Human Rights Watch that most Kampala communities were trying to return to normal business after the previous day’s unrest. However, soldiers heavily deployed both on foot and in armored personnel carriers in some areas of the city fired live ammunition. There is evidence in some instances that they deliberately shot and killed or wounded people who were not actively involved in demonstrations or unrest.

For example, military units, some accompanied by police forces deployed in Ndeeba that morning, apparently ordered people on the roads to return home. Over several hours, soldiers shot and killed one person and seriously wounded two more. In each case, the victims were shot after they had entered their homes or workplaces. Witnesses said that soldiers apparently pursued people several hundred meters from the main roads and fired their weapons through locked doors. However, no official curfew had been imposed.

Kinaalwa Sseddulaaka Jackson, the owner of a dry cleaning shop about 100 meters from the Masaka road in Tomusange zone, Ndeeba, hid in his back storage room and locked the back door when an army armored personnel carrier entered Ndeeba and soldiers on board began shooting. A few minutes later, a uniformed soldier walked through the area and fired his AK-47 through Sseddulaaka’s back door, killing him instantly. Human Rights Watch researchers saw two bullet holes in that door, as well as five other bullet holes in doors and walls in the neighborhood. All were in the lower half of the doors and walls.

Soldiers and police also deployed around Nateete market that morning, closing the main gate even though the market was filled with food vendors and customers. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that uniformed soldiers, some wearing the red berets of the military police, began to attack people with sticks and batons, and ordered them to clear the streets and return home. Several women selling matoke (plantains) showed Human Rights Watch large contusions and bruises from having been beaten while trying to flee.

The witnesses said that the soldiers then began firing their weapons, both in the air and into the crowds. One customer was killed and another wounded. One female vendor showed Human Rights Watch where she had been grazed by a bullet on her hip, requiring medical treatment. Human Rights Watch saw three bullet holes in the market walls and three others through its iron roof sheeting.

In Busega, an area dense with open-air shops and stalls, soldiers shot and killed two people in separate incidents that morning. Residents and officials reported that on the previous day, rioters in the area had blocked roads with fires and demanded money from those trying to enter Kampala by car. Rioters had looted a Coca Cola truck and burned it. The situation calmed by 7 p.m. that day, and the shops along the road had reopened. Witnesses said the area had remained calm the next morning until a military armored personnel carrier and military and police trucks drove through, in some cases telling people to clear the streets and return home. The shops closed quickly when soldiers in the personnel carrier began firing live bullets, but 13-year-old Daoudi Ssentongo was struck in the head and killed inside his family’s shop when a bullet ripped through a refrigerator next door. His death triggered more demonstrations, and members of the community tried to block the personnel carrier from re-entering the area by burning debris in the road.

Near where the youth died, soldiers on foot chased people away from the main roundabout, evidently to arrest or deter rioters. Soldiers pursued several young men who ran away. Ronald Kasagga, who supplied ice to the area’s fish vendors, was fatally shot in the chest at close range by a soldier. Witnesses said that the soldier yelled “Stop!” and that when Kasagga turned around, the soldier fired.

Around 11 a.m. on September 11 in Kasubi zone 4, rioters had been taunting nearby soldiers and throwing rocks near a gas station on the main road, witnesses said. When the soldiers pursued them, they ran up the hill, past the home of Stella Kabasinguzi, who had left her house briefly, seeking bread for her three children. The soldiers approached her home, and Kabasinguzi immediately raised her hands in the air. A soldier shot her, in front of her children. She died on the way to the hospital. Human Rights Watch observed three bullet holes through doors in other homes in zone 4, more than 100 meters from the main road where riots had occurred. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that a soldier on foot demanded that people go inside their homes, and shot through the doors when some hesitated.

Throughout the city on September 11, soldiers and police threatened and beat people to obtain information about the whereabouts of alleged rioters. A woman making tea outside her restaurant in Ndeeba was questioned by a uniformed soldier carrying an AK-47. According to several people interviewed separately, when she did not have answers to his questions, he poured the hot tea on her back. He then stuck the gun barrel into her mouth and demanded to know where rioters were hiding. She escaped only after bystanders diverted his attention.

Nile Broadcasting Services broadcast video of police and military patrolling areas on September 11, beating people sitting and standing near their homes in Kazo and throwing them into the backs of police trucks. The authorities did not request names or identity documents before arresting them. In one instance, when a man protested being forcibly removed from his home, he was beaten repeatedly. Police took truckloads of suspects to Kawempe police station. Human Rights Watch researchers observed similar actions on Salaama Road that afternoon.

On September 10, government officials told television stations to stop broadcasting live pictures of the violence. In some instances, government forces forcibly removed video footage from TV stations, appropriated journalists’ cameras and videotapes, and deleted photographs of dead bodies. Some journalists were beaten attempting to report on the unfolding events. The state-owned newspaper, The New Vision, inaccurately reported that mobs had on September 11 burned two people to death in Ndeeba. Local officials from Ndeeba and other knowledgeable sources informed Human Rights Watch that no rioters had burned people, but The New Vision has yet to issue corrections.

The Police Explanation

Police Inspector General Kayihura told Human Rights Watch that the police lacked capacity to respond to the speed and geographical breadth of the events of September 10. Unrest in previous years had centered on Kampala’s Central Business District and had not extended into the populous residential neighborhoods. He said that Uganda’s military police, the Presidential Guard Brigade, and regular army units had both the equipment and the mobility to respond to the unrest. He said that the military police, like the civilian police, have had training in riot control, and that the armored personnel carriers were deployed to help move units around the suburbs where riots were taking place. He said the Ugandan military possesses four of these vehicles – two Gila and two Mamba anti-riot vehicles, which can also be used for “fighting terrorism and insurgency.”

Kayihura said that seven of the 27 reported killed during the riots were not involved in the riots at the time of their deaths, and that they were hit by “stray bullets.” He told Human Rights Watch that the deaths were unfortunate and regrettable, but that the security forces had shown restraint in their response to the unrest. He said that two policemen had been arrested for shooting in the air in Kasubi (the arrests appear unrelated to the death of Kabasinguzi). He said that investigations would be conducted into the circumstances of all the deaths during the riots, but also cited section 69 of Uganda’s penal code, which states that police may use “all such force as is reasonably necessary for overcoming” a riot and police “shall not be liable in any criminal or civil proceeding for having, by the use of such force, caused harm or death to any person.”

According to statements quoted in The New Vision newspaper by the army spokesman, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, military units were deployed under article 209(b) of the constitution, which states that the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces shall “cooperate with the civilian authority in emergency situations” and that once deployed, they act under orders of the inspector general of police.” Kulayigye contended that the situation was “a war” and that the riots had had “genocidal tendencies.” He placed blame for the deaths on the alleged organizers of the riots, but admitted that “the moment the bullet leaves the barrel, anything could happen beyond there.”

Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned that Kulayigye’s statement might encourage members of the security forces to use unnecessary and unlawful lethal force during future encounters with demonstrators.

Museveni told an emergency session of parliament on September 15 that the government will compensate those who lost their properties and vehicles, and it will also assist those who lost family members.

Recommendations

Human Rights Watch urged the government of Uganda to take the following actions:

• Publicly acknowledge and condemn recent shootings of unarmed people by members of the security forces.
• Undertake an independent and impartial investigation into the actions of all soldiers and police alleged to have perpetrated human rights abuses during the September riots. Prosecute those against whom there is sufficient evidence in accordance with international fair trial standards.
• Issue clear public instructions to all government forces involved in policing to use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect human life.
• Seek out non-lethal options for police and military responding to demonstrations and protests, and ensure those options are standard issue for police stations.

Human Rights Watch urged donors to the Ugandan government, especially members of the Partners for Democracy and Governance Working Group, to take the following actions:

• Publicly express concern about human rights abuses committed by members of the military and police during the September riots.
• Urge government leaders to hold accountable, in accordance with international fair trial standards, members of the security forces implicated in human rights violations.
• Support the police in acquiring non-lethal options for riot response and ensure that relevant personnel from the police and military receive adequate training.

Background

The role of cultural royalty such as the kabaka in Uganda has been the source of debate historically. President Milton Obote outlawed all cultural leaders in 1966, but Museveni permitted them to return in 1995. Under the constitution, cultural leaders are barred from politics, but they still wield influence over their communities. The kabaka is the king of the Baganda people, the largest ethnic group in Uganda and a key constituency in the upcoming 2011 elections. Since independence, some Baganda political leaders have argued that the Buganda kingdom should be a federal state within Uganda.

Accounts from Victims and Witnesses of Shootings during Recent Kampala Riots

“It was 9 a.m. when I was returning from the village where we buried my friend Deo, who was shot and killed in Ndeeba on Thursday during the riots. When I arrived back to town, I saw a group of soldiers and men in civilian clothes with guns and sticks walking along the road. I ran to the other side of the road and to find a place to hide. The soldiers began to hit us with batons and kick us. They were beating other people in the road as well. I ran away and noticed I had a cut on my head from the baton, and I was bleeding. My friend and I went off the main road and hid by locking ourselves into a storage room near a friend’s shop. We heard the soldier’s footsteps and then he yelled, “Open the door!” I said, “But if we come out, you are going to beat us again.” He said, “You think bullets cannot reach you in there?” Then he fired his gun through the door. A bullet hit the inside of my arm and then entered my stomach and I fell down.”
- Gunshot victim in Ndeeba, September 11

“Things were calm in Mpigi that day. We heard about what was happening in Kampala and someone had lit two tires on fire, but the cars could pass. Faisal and I were standing on the veranda. The soldiers came in a government vehicle and started caning people. One soldier came carrying a stick and a gun. He threw the stick at a boy and then got out the gun. He pointed the gun towards us, and then fired at us two times. I ran and hid at a house nearby. And later, someone said that a man was killed. A bit later, I learned it was Faisal. He had been shot in the neck.”
- Witness to killing of Faisal Bukenya, September 10

“On Friday morning, I saw the boys throwing a few rocks at the soldiers, and then the soldiers started shooting in their direction. Eventually the soldiers rounded up a group of boys and held them at the petrol station. The soldiers were forcing the boys to jump up and down as punishment for throwing rocks. When they tried to move the group of unruly boys, some scattered and the military began shooting at them again. The woman with the three children was killed just then.”
- Witness to the killing of Stella Kabasinguzi, September 11

“She was just on the steps of her home on Friday morning. She had gone to collect some bread for the children. When she saw the soldiers, she threw her hands in the air, but he fired right at her and she fell. He was standing just a bit down from her.”
- Another witness to the killing of Stella Kabasinguzi, September 11

“I was here in the market, selling matoke on Friday morning around 8 a.m. Suddenly, the military came in and started beating people, telling everyone to leave the market. Even the security officer for the market was hit by batons from them. They even beat me very hard on the buttocks, while I was trying to run away. Some of them stole the money I had on the ground. Others started shooting into the market and a boy was hit and a man was killed.”
- Witness to killings and shooting in Nateete, September 11

List of fatal shootings investigated by Human Rights Watch
On September 10

1.            Hussein Mujuuka, shot through the eye by military in personnel carrier, in Bwaise

2.            Robert, Congolese national, shot by military near Qualicell Building in Kampala Bus Park

3.            John Bosco Kaagwa, shot in the back by military near Nakulabye trading center

4.            Ssadam Katongole, shot in the chest by the military at “Kubirri” – Mulago roundabout

5.            Deo Lutaaya, shot in Kabuusu by military in personnel carrier, near Petrol City, on Masaka Road

6.            Muganga Huzairu, shot in the abdomen in Nateete; died at Mulago hospital

7.            Faisal Bukenya, shot in the neck by a soldier in Mpigi Town

On September 11

8.            Ronald Kasagga, shot in the chest by military on foot near Busega roundabout

9.            Kinaalwa Sseddulaaka Jackson, killed by military on foot in Tomusange zone, Ndeeba

10.        Mustaifa Basajjabalaba, shot by military in Kitaka zone, Kibazo road, Busega

11.        Daoudi Ssentongo, killed by military in Busega roundabout

12.        Stella Kabasinguzi, killed by military in zone 4, Kasubi

13.        Customer shot by military in Nateete Market

Other deaths:

14.        Kakooza Hussein, beaten by the police in Nakamiro zone, Kazo, on September 11; died on September 17

Other fatal shootings reported in the media:

15.        Unnamed private security guard working for Saracen Security Company

16.        Patrick Kaijamurubi, military police, from Masindi, killed by a stray bullet shot by another military policeman while Kaijamurubi was fixing tire on his vehicle in Ndeeba

17.        Geoffrey Andama, high school student, shot at Shop Rite Supermarket, near the Clock Tower junction

18.        Benjamin Atere, 2 years old, died from gunshot on Mawanda Road in Mulago

19.        Frank Kafuma, sustained gunshot wounds at Nabweru in Kawempe division, died in Mulago

20.        Yawe Wesige Mukama, shot in Kawempe
To view a slide show of photos from the Kampala riots and their aftermath, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/en/features/uganda-riots

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Uganda, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/en/africa/uganda

For more information, please contact:
In New York, Jon Elliott (English, French): +1-917-379-0713 (mobile)
In New York, Georgette Gagnon (English): +1-212-216-1223; or +1-917-535-0375 (mobile)
In Kampala, Maria Burnett (English, French): +256-7

Plainfield, USA (PR) September 16, 2009
Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Inc.

Loyal subjects of Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi from various states in America met last Saturday to discuss: (a)  the NRM Government’s decision to bar the Kabaka from touring his Bugerere county; and (b) the subsequent unrest, where the Uganda police and army killed or seriously injured hundreds of Baganda, including children. The meeting observed a full 30 seconds of silence to honor those who were murdered by the NRM government during the unrest. After a comprehensive and emotional debate of options in the wake of the tragic September 10th events, the attendees identified a number of actions that they will take.

Finally, they unanimously adopted the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

We, loyal subjects of Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, from various States of the USA, meeting in New Jersey on September 12, 2009

HAVE RESOLVED:

• That Buganda, our motherland, is under occupation
• That this shall be the foremost thought in our minds
• That this shall be the sole matter for deliberation at all our meetings
• That we shall not budge on this matter, from this day forward, until Buganda is freed from occupation

YOUR COURAGE IS OUR STRENGTH

LONG LIVE YOUR MAJESTY!

Luganda Version

EKITEESO EKIYISIBBWA

Ffe abasajja n’Abazaana ba Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, abava mu masaza ag’enjawulo mu America, nga tukunganye mu New Jersey ku lunaku olwe 12 mu mwezi gwa Mutunda, omwaka 2009

TUKIKAKASIZZA NTI:

• Ddala Buganda Nnyaffe eri mu buwambe
• Kino kye kirowoozo kyokka ekijja okuba mu mitima gyaffe
• Eno ye nsonga yokka ejja okuteesebwako mu nkiiko zaffe okuva leero
• Okutuusa nga Buganda evudde mu Buwambe, tetujja kukyusaako

OBUZIRA BWO GE MAANYI GAFFE

WANGAALA SSABASAJJA!

Contacts:

Charles Galiwango Mukasa
VICE PRESIDENT, GGWANGAMUJJE NY/NJ

Dolores Nankya Bewaayo
SECRETARY, GGWANGAMUJJE NY/NJ

info@ggwangamujje.com

www.ggwangamujje.com

When, on September 16, 2009, Museveni invited all Buganda MPs to a Thursday meeting to discuss the impasse regarding Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga, he was considering denying opposition to the visit (see “Museveni May Blame Police and Minister For Bugerere Violence“).   By the time the meeting took place, Museveni had decided to confront the Kabaka and had grown so paranoid that the locked non-NRM Buganda MP’s out.

One source close to president Museveni’s state house has told us:  “Young and rich Balaalo, who fear to lose the billion of shillings they have looted in Uganda had worked through senior members of the Balaalo akazu (secret conclave) Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), Janet Museveni and Elly Karuhanga to persuade Museveni to lower the tension with Mmengo. As late as Wednesday afternoon, Museveni considered blaming the brutal actions of Uganda police against Baganda youths in Kayunga on Kayihura’s men.”  However, the Uganda warlord continued to face pressure from strongly anti-Baganda Balaalo and Bayiru like David Tinyefuza, Kale Kayihura, Kahinda Otafiire and others, who wanted the Kabaka arrested.”

The situation was complicated on Wednesday when, Museveni, after 2 years of unsuccessful efforts, managed to get a telephone audience with Ssabasajja Kabaka.  According the Museveni’s own statement, the Kabaka was clearly unimpressed by the extreme importance the Ugandan ruler places on the title, “President of Uganda”. The unfriendly call left Museveni irate but probably did not change his thoughts about calling some type of truce.

The source says, however, that: “President Museveni panicked on Thursday late morning when he got intelligence reports that the violence that started after Kayihura barred Katikkiro Walusimbi from entering Bugerere was spreading to places as far as Masaka.  Even worse, it was being executed by fearless young Baganda, some as young as 13 years, in huge numbers. When he consulted some members of  the kazu, they were also panicking. When he called Janet Museveni, overseas at the time and very angry at the way Baganda had embarrassed her at UNAA, she told him that there was no choice but crash the Baganda rioters.” That is when Museveni made the final decision to stop Kabaka Mutebi.

Museveni formally announced that unless Mmengo held talks with Banyala and CBS radio stopped their negative campaign against the NRM and inciting the people against Police, Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga on Saturday could not take place. Reportedly, the Ugandan warlord did not sleep at all Thursday night but made another critical decision. He ordered that the Kabaka had to be stopped if he left his palace and live bullets were to be used on rioters.

It appears that Kabaka Mutebi’s advisors got wind of Museveni’s genocidal plans early enough to avert the potential bloodshed. By Friday mid-afternoon, the Buganda cabinet had made the decision that talking to Museveni’s person king (Sabanyala) was out of questions and Baganda blood could not be sacrificed to the NRM government, which seemed deranged.  Sources close to Mmengo could not provide more details about what went on in the Buganda cabinet up to the point of the official statement canceling the trip. However, according the Observer Newspaper (www.observer.ug), the wording and timing  of the Mmengo statement was highly influenced by fear that Katikkiro Walusimbi, who is little trusted by nationalist Baganda, could be harmed.

We can report that Museveni was in communication with people who are close to key Buganda government officials throughout the crisis. However, it is not known if any actual communication took place. Also, Museveni planted at least one informer among Mmengo officials, including in the Katikkiro’s convoy that was stopped at Sezibwa (details withheld to protect the sources).

In the meantime, a state of panic has taken root among the Balaalo community in Buganda. For many of them this the first time they came face to face with the prospect that Museveni does not have the capacity to protest them against the thousands of unemployed and angry young Baganda. Evidence of this panic includes the decision by Rwandese Balaalo, assisted by a foreign country, to volunteer to offer over 20 lorries to accompany Kabaka Mutebi to Kayunga. We have also received unconfirmed reports of an unusual number of Balaalo parents taking their children home from boarding schools on Saturday September 12, 2009.

Ggwangamujje NY/NJ

PRESS RELEASE

LUGANDA
Abazaana n’Abasajja ba Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II mu New York ne New Jersey, USA, banyiivu nnyo olw’engeri Kabaka n’abantu be gyebayisibbwamu gavumenti ya NRM ku nsonga y’okulambula essaza lye Bugerere. Baagala ensi yonna okumanya nti bali mabega wa Ssabasajja, ba Jjajja Abataka, awamu  n’Obuganda bwonna mu lutalo lw’okwejja mu buwambe. Bakubiriza ab’enganda zaabwe bonna awamu n’emikwano gy’abwe okulaga Ssabsajja abuwulize ebutaliiko komo mu kaseera kano akazibu.

Omumyuuka wa Ssentebe wa Ggangamujje NY/NJ, Omw. Charles Mukasa, ayise Olukiiko o’lw’embagirawo ku Saturday nga September 12, 2009, okuteesa ku ngeri y’okuddukirira ensi yaabwe Buganda.

Okufuna ebisingawo tukirira:

Muky. Nankya Bewayo
Secretary, Ggwangamujje NY/NJ
info@ggwangamujje.com

.

ENGLISH
The loyal subjects of Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II in New York and New Jersey, USA, are perturbed  about the manner in which their Kabaka and his people have been treated over the tour of county Bugerere. They want the whole world to know that they are totally behind Ssabasajja, the Bataka and the whole Obuganda in the fight for our human rights. They implore all their relatives and friends to practice unwavering loyalty to Ssabsajja during this difficult period.

The Vice Chairman of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Mr. Charles Mukasa, has called an emergency meeting on Saturday, September 12, 2009, to formulate a plan  for supporting their Buganda nation.

For further details contact:

Mrs. Nankya Bewayo
Secretary, Ggwangamujje NY/NJ
info@ggwangamujje.com

Kabaka’s representatives in North America have distributed  the following press release from Katikkiro JB Walusimbi.

PRESS RELEASE

In 2008 the Kingdom of Buganda decided to hold the annual Youth Day celebrations for 2009 in Bugerere County following the successful celebrations held in Kyaggwe County. The objective of the celebrations, which are presided over by Ssaabasajja Kabaka, is to rally the youth to engage in social and economically developmental activities as well as to promote our culture values.

The Kingdom regrets that this year’s celebrations have been unduly politicized.

The Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere is lawful and constitutional and the reasons being given for blocking the Kabaka and the Katikkiro from accessing Bugerere are completely unfounded.

The Kingdom recognizes the cultural and ethnic diversity of its peoples. This is clearly demonstrated in the composition of its Cabinet and Lukiiko. The Banyala are part of Buganda and our history and culture recognizes the Namuyonjo as their cultural leader. The Namuyonjo and the overwhelming majority of the Banyala enjoy their culture and voluntarily pledge their allegiance to Ssaabasajja Kabaka of Buganda

The county of Bugerere comprises several ethnic communities including the Bakenye, Basoga, Bagishu, Baluuli, Baganda, Japadhola, Iteso, Sudanese, Kuku. All ethnicities have been living harmoniously until the recent creation of the institution of the “Sabanyala”.

The Kingdom of Buganda deeply regrets the loss of life and destruction of property that followed the refusal of the Katikkiro to access Bugerere. In addition, the Kingdom regrets and abhors the closure of its radio station CBS FM, something that has heightened to the unnecessary chaos and tension.

The Kingdom of Buganda remains committed to fostering peace, justice and the harmonious co-existence of all of the peoples of Uganda. We remain very resolute in our peaceful and democratic quest for the realization of our legitimate aspirations for a federal system of governance for the whole of Uganda and the unconditional return of our expropriated properties.

The Kingdom reassures the public that Buganda remains a peace loving Kingdom that thrives on ethnic diversity and mutual respect and urges all people to remain law abiding. The Kingdom is and has always been willing to engage in principled, transparent and constructive dialogue with the Government and all other communities of Uganda to ensure our peaceful co-existence for the future. Such dialogue ought to be structured, time-bound, free of intimidation and based on mutual respect.

We are still engaged with Government to ensure that Ssaabasajja Kabaka attends the celebrations in Bugerere in a peaceful and secure environment.

AWANGAALE SSAABASAJJA.

ENG. J. B WALUSIMBI,

KATIKKIRO.

10^th September 2009.