We received an email  from the management team of the popular Internet Baganda radio, www. Ababaka.com saying that they will start broadcasting directly to occupied Buganda on Saturday March 27, 2010. Ababaka.com has been in operations for a long time and attracts listeners from all over the world  on Saturdays and Sundays. Most of these listeners are in North America, Europe, South Africa and other countries with good Internet connections. Its programmes focus on Buganda issues and interests because you need a computer to listen.

Transmission time is 8:00 – 9:00 PM Buganda Standard Time (Esaawa za Buganda biri ezekiro) on band SW 15410 khz.

What is new and big is the fact that from March 27, 2010 people with ordinary  Baganda in Bukunja, Bamunanika or Kibibi with Short Wave radios, will be able to listen to Ababaka.com programs using their simple Short Wave radio sets. Just over a month ago SW radios started selling like hot cakes here in Kampala after rumours that a Baganda radio was going to start broadcasting. It is expected that once the radio starts, SW radios will again go on heavy demand. And Ababaka.com programs are expected to be very popular if they remain focused on Buganda issues as they are now.

Ababaka.com depends on devoted Baganda donating their time and money. For more information and to find out how you can make a donation to this Buganda public radio visit www.Ababaka.com on the Internet.

We reproduce the email that we received from Ababaka.com below.

Dear Buganda Post Admin.

We would like to inform you that Rediyo y’Abaganda on AbabaKa.com will start broadcasting on Short Wave  tomorrow on Saturday, 27th March 2010, at 17:00 – 19:00 UTC/GMT on frequency 15410 khz in the 19 m band. We will start with transmitting once a week, and only the first transmission will be for 2 hours. Commencing from Saturday, 03rd April 2010, our program will last for one hour, except in special cases. It will always start at 17:00 – 18:00 UTC/GMT, which is 8:00-9:00pm local time. Note our  frequency; 15410 khz in the 19 m band.

Long Live The King Of Buganda.

[Omulongo A.K. Kigongo]

For Ababaka.com Admin. Team

Friday, March 19, 2010

PRESESS RELEASE

Dear Fellow Ugandans:

RE: KASUBI ROYAL TOMBS RESTORATION FUND

An emergency meeting for Baganda residing in Southern California was held on Thursday 18, Mar 2010 at 9411 Burnet Avenue, North Hills CA 91343 at 7:00PM.

The meeting was called by Lt. Frank Musisi to discuss the issue of the destroyed Kasubi Royal Tombs and the Way Forward.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE MADE AND ADOPTED IMMEDIATELY:

1.      To send a sympathy message to the Royal family of Buganda and to the entire Buganda kingdom for the loss of the royal regalia which was gutted in the inferno of last Tuesday’s that destroyed the Kasubi Royal Tombs.

2.      Pledged to restore the Kasubi Royal Tombs in collaboration with Mengo establishment, Buganda Kingdom, and the Baganda in Diaspora by mobilizing and contributing the necessary financial resources for this job.

3.      Established a special fund, ” Kasubi Royal Tombs Restoration Fund (KRTRF)”.

4.      A sum of $1 million is to be raised in between 8-12 months if at least 1000 Baganda and friends of Buganda in the United States each contribute $1000.

5.      An Interim Organizing Committee was put in place consisting of the following members to spearhead the project, KRTRF:

a.       Chairman:                                                          Lt. Frank Musisi

b.      Vice Chairman:                                                Mr. Damiano Kigoye.

c.       Secretary:                                                        Mr. Fredrick Mwanje.

d.      Treasurer:                                                         Ms. Prossy Musoke.

e.       Publicity Secretary and mobilization:            Mr. Dennis Nnyondo

f.       Assistant publicity Secretary/ Mobilization:  Mr. Arthur Ssembusi.

Interim Committee Advisors:

a.       Mr. Dennis Kavuma, Buganda Tourism ZSAR in the U.SA.

b.      William Ssenkumba, Buganda Tourism Commissioner

c.       Mr. Moses Male, Buganda Tourism Commissioner

d.      Mr. Siraje Mugambe- President of the Ugandan Community Organization in California (UCOC).

6.      Members present pledged a sum of $11,480 immediately to the KTRF

7.      Members resolved to send the Chairman, Lt. Frank Musisi immediately to Mengo to meet with Buganda Officials and update then on formation of the” Kasubi Tombs Restoration Fund (KTRF)” and way forward.

8.      Members resolved to advise the Buganda Leadership not to seek assistance from Uganda Politicians but rather concentrate on the generosity and spirit of the loyal Baganda and friends of Buganda around the globe.

For more information on how you can contribute towards the KTRF please contact:

Chairman, Lt. Frank Musisi (818)-994-1485,

Vice Chairman, Mr. Damiano Kigoye ( 310-227-9253),

Advisor, Buganda Tourism Zsar, Mr. Dennis Paul Kavuma at 818-620-9448,

and others on the Committee.

Awangaale Ssabassajja Maggulunnyondo, Wa Buganda.

Yours Sincerely,

Dennis Nnyondo (818-201-7048)
Publicity Secretary & Mobilizer
Kasubi Tombs Restoration Fund
Los Angeles, California (USA)

Former Buganda Katikkiro, Daniel Muliika, and past president of the Uganda North American Association (UNAA), Frank Musisi will be the headliners at the October 17, 2009 emergency conference in Boston, USA. The official organizers are Ggwangamujje Boston. The organizaton has had no active executive since its elections failed elections in November 2008 (see ” November 9th Ggwanga Mujje Meeting Similar to Uganda and Kenyan Elections“).

After the September disturbances, however, the community elected Mr. Buwembo Mayanja to be the caretaker leader and see the association through the troubled times until a new executive is elected. So, Mr. Mayanja is the key decision maker, assisted by several other community members. It is Mr. Mayanja who announced the Emergency Buganda Conference shortly after Lt. Frank Musisi lost the UNAA presidency to Moses Wilson. This writer was there at the Chicago UNAA when, within minutes after Musisi lost the vote, he publicaly declared that he had been cheated and he was now going to focus on leading the Buganda cause in America. He made these statements in the presence of  Omulangira Wasajja and Buganda ministers Nakiwala Kiyingi and  Peter Mayiga who came to represent Buganda.

According to the Buganda Emergency Conference poster that the organizers have been cirulating over the last few weeks, the objectives of the event are (a) To examine the current conditions in Buganda and (b) to find ways to get out of the dire situation. However SMS messages which have been broadcast over Baganda cell phones by one of the organizers, Robert Kabuye, explain that the meeting will choose someone to be Buganda’s candidate against Museveni in the 2011 elections. The SMS messages have  led to some Bganda to suspect that the real goal of the Boston emergency conference may be to “crown” Musisi. This suspicion was strenghtned when Musisi told a Baganda meeting in Los Angeles last weeked that he had been “blessed” as the new leader of all Baganda in America. He never explained the process through which he had been chosen or whether either the Kabaka or the Katikkiro were part of it. And our efforts to confirm through Baganda American leaders if Mmengo or Kabaka appointed Musisi were unsuccessful.

Our sources both in Boston and Washington DC have confirmed that Mr. Mayanja is a strong Musisi supporter, as are several other Boston Baganda. The sources also say that other key Musisi promoters, including Mr. Kabonge and Mrs. Flavia Magoba of Washington DC, Mr. Male of California and Mr. James Semakula also of California. We have not been able to establish if Owek. Dan Muliika came to the meeting to promote Lt. Musisi or simply to present his opinions on the situation in Buganda. However, the former Katikkiro’s position should become clear today, after the true conference agenda is revealed and presentations are made. Robert Kabuye has announced that Mr. Muliika will be the keynote speaker.

Lt. Musisi is a member of the USA army who came to America with the help of his cousin and promnient anti-Buganda kingdom Museveni aide, the late Col. Serwanga Lwanga. The late Col. led the campaign to block the return of the Bulange to Buganda, claiming that Buganda has sold its majestic office building to Milton Obote of Idi Amin.

The Kabaka’s Representatives in North America, on behalf of all Baganda and people of goodwill in North America, strongly condemn the senseless loss of life and destruction of property that followed the refusal of the Katikkiro, by the Uganda Government, to enter Bugerere County and participate in preparations for the Annual Youth Day (AYD) event. The AYD, which is presided over by Ssabasajja Kabaka of Buganda, is designed to rally the youth and encourage them to engage in education, social, cultural and gainful economic activities. We believe that these objectives of the AYD are in line with our country’s efforts to modernize and make sure all her people are productive in the economy. This is what Ssabasajja Kabaka is trying to do by helping to nurture the youth.

The Kabaka’s Representatives in North America strongly believe that the Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere is lawful and constitutional and the Uganda Government’s effort to block and interfere with these cultural activities is unlawful and unconstitutional. We strongly urge the Uganda Government to work with the Mengo establishment to strengthen the ties that bind the people of Buganda together. The different ethnic communities in Bugerere County, including Bakenye, Basoga, Bagishu, Baluuli, Baganda, Japadhola, Iteso, Sudanese, Kuku, etc., have lived together in harmony until the recent creation, by the Uganda Government, of the institution of the “Sabanyala”.

The Kingdom of Buganda is a peace loving kingdom that has thrived on ethnic diversity and mutual respect for all of its residents. We believe that what is good for Buganda is good for Uganda. The actions being taken by the Uganda Government could destabilize the Kingdom, undermine the authority of the Kabaka, and weaken Uganda. We, the Kabaka’s Representatives in North America, urge the Government of Uganda to stop employing tactics that divide the people of Uganda based on ethnic and other grounds. Instead, the Uganda Government should create an environment for Ugandans to exercise their right to promote practices that unite them and uphold respect for their cultures.

Wycliffe R.Lule-Musoke, Kabaka’s Representative in the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. CONTACT is lam5jc@aol.com

Fred Kalema-Musoke, Kabaka’s Representative in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. CONTACT is Fkalema-musoke@msn.com

Thomas K. Lwebuga, Kabaka’s Representative in the states of Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. CONTACT is tlwebuga@yahoo.com

Emmanuel Kintu, Kabaka’s Representative in the states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Montana and Utah. CONTACT is drekintu@gmail.com

Omulongo Abdulaziz Wasswa-Damulira, Kabaka’s Representative in the states of Illinois Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Missouri. CONTACT is mulongo2003@Yahoo.com.au

Samuel Mwanje Kiggwe, Kabaka’s Representative in the states of Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. CONTACT is kiggwe@aol.com

Christine Nabukeera, Kabaka’s Representative in Canada. CONTACT is awola19@yahoo.com

Abu L. Senkayi, Ph.D. Kabaka’s Representative in the states of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. CONTACT is senkayi@yahoo.com

Following in the footsteps of Milton Obote and Yoweri Museveni, UPC’s Olara Otunnu has, over the last 6 months, secured a deal (“mukago”) with respected foreign based  Baganda to promote his presidential candidacy. According to a press release dated July 11, 2009, Mr. Otunnu, an Acholi, has been joined four USA based Baganda men,  James Ssemakula (California), John Mayanja (Massachusetts), Mubiru Musoke (Massachusetts) and  Aloysius Lugira (Massachusetts) to form the Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda (CDJ). According to our sources in New York, this is a major step in Mr. Otunnu’s plan to sell himself as the next savior for Baganda – following Obote, Amin, Okello and Museveni.

All Mr. Otunnu’s Baganda partners, with the exception of James Ssemakula, are long-term DP activists and it is not yet clear how their new relationship with UPC’s designated 2011Uganda  presidential candidate might affect their politics.  Additionally, Otunnu’s Baganda partners are all old men over 50 years old who have lived out of Uganda for decades. Interestingly, Mr. Otunnu has not included any of his many American based fellow Acholi’s in this group. Yet his UPC political and security infrastructure in Uganda is getting constructed exclusively by Acholis and anti Miria Obote Langis.

The CDJ leadership is clearly dominated by Baganda who are known to put Buganda and Kabaka first.  However, their press release does not even include the word “Buganda”.  Some Buganda watchers might interpret this as a sign that, like Nsibambi, Gilbert Bukenya, Sekandi and Kiddu Makubya, the CDJ Baganda members fear that direct promotion of Buganda interests would be “tribalistic” and embarrassing.

The press release announcing the formation of Mr. Otunnu’s CDJ is reproduced in full below:

—

PRESS RELEASE
 
Ugandans Launch Campaign for Free and Fair Elections
 
Kampala, Boston, London, Toronto
 
11th July, 2009
 
Today a broad spectrum of Ugandans launched a major national and international campaign for free and fair elections in Uganda. This collective patriotic mission is called Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda (CDJ).
 
The interim president of CDJ, Mr. John Mayanja, stated: “Previous elections conducted by the Museveni regime, which has been in power for 24 years, were massively rigged and manifestly lacked a level playing field. We must absolutely change this. This is the primary reason for the formation and launching of CDJ.”
 
CDJ will campaign for the following norms and standards:
 
. genuinely free and fair elections;
. transparent democratic practice and process;
. the rule of law and accountability;
. justice and equity for all Ugandans;
. national unity.

 
These norms and standards constitute the foundation for democracy and good government in Uganda and worldwide.
 
CDJ is not a political party. It is a non-partisan advocacy project committed to advancing the norms, principles, and standards set out above. CDJ is not affiliated with any particular political parties in Uganda; it is a broad-based network of Ugandan patriots, within the country and in the Diaspora, of diverse political affiliations and persuasion.
 
A particularly important date is approaching on the Ugandan political calendar. The country is preparing to hold national elections in 2011. CDJ will not support any parties or candidates in the forthcoming electoral contests. Its preoccupation is to mount a vigorous campaign for genuinely free and fair elections, with a level playing field for all.
 
The interim chairman of CDJ, Olara A. Otunnu noted: “Today, Uganda is a country in the throes of a grave national crisis and distress. The best way to combat this malaise is the institution of genuine democratic practice and process, beginning with free and fair elections. This would allow the Ugandan people to freely choose and shape their own destiny. It would ensure that leaders are held fully accountable for their actions before the law and the electorate. Democratic process also is the best way to prevent resort to violent conflict.”
 
CDJ calls on Ugandan patriots of all hues, both within the country and in the Diaspora, to come together and mount a robust campaign for free and fair elections in 2011. The interim secretary, Professor Aloysius Lugira stated: “The norms and standards for free and fair elections are now universally accepted. Uganda must not continue to be a perennial exception to universally accepted standards”.

This campaign is in support of the demands for electoral reforms which have been jointly tabled by the political parties in Uganda. The campaign is being launched today on the occasion of President Barack Obama’s speech in Accra; we are inspired by his seminal message, in particular on free and fair elections, accountability, anti-corruption, anti-ethnic sectarianism, anti-nepotism, and equitable opportunity, as indispensable components of democratic governance. Significantly this campaign also echoes and is in line with observations and recommendations made in 2006 by all election observers, including the European Union, the Commonwealth, and Ugandan civil society led by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) and the ruling of the Supreme Court of Uganda.
 
2011 must inaugurate a new era for Uganda–an era of free and fair elections, with a level playing field. Ugandans demand, deserve and will accept nothing less. As President Barack Obama stated today, “History is on the side of these brave Africans.”
 
Signed by:
 
Mr. Olara A. Otunnu (Interim Chairman)
Mr. James Ssemakula (Interim Deputy Chairman)
Mr. John Mayanja (Interim President)
Mr. Mubiru Musoke (Interim Treasurer)
Professor Aloysius Lugira (Interim Secretary)
 
For further information, contact:
 
Mr. Jude Mbabaali
Foundation for African Development [FAD]
P.O. Box 2326, Kampala
Tel: 041 4510 486/041 4269 562
Mobile: 0772 444 663
Email: mbabaalij@yahoo.com; fad@infocom.co.ug
 
Professor Aloysius Lugira
Tel: 617-552-3539 or 781-439-3875.
Email: lugira.cdj@gmail.com; lugira@bc.edu