Thousands of Baganda responded to Mmengo’s call to mourn starting late last week. Mostly strating around Monday they have been wearing tee shirts with “Gutusinze Ssabasajja (“We apologize Ssabasajja”) slogans. Tis is the way to tell the Kabaka that we Baganda are embarrassed that some envious and hateful people set fire on Kasubi and we werer unable to prevent it. Others have dressed in black and put on arm bands that are either black or bark cloth (lubugo) or a combination of the two. By Thursday, some men in Makerere University, Nakulabye and other Kampala surburbs were walking around in kanzus with bark cloth wraps (bimyu) walking around or showing off.

The women, especially the younger ones, have used the mourning period to make a fashion statement. Hundreds have been driving around in mourning tee shirts won in various styles. And many others have incorporated strings or bands of bark cloth in their hair styles. A few even used cowry shells (ensimbi enganda) to make beads  or other articles that represent the time of mourning.

On Thursday night the atmosphere in Kampala was calm but tense. Sources have told this reporter that the NRM government appears not to be sure of what to expect at the Friday prayers , which will conclude the official mourning period that was announced by Mmengo. However, the evidence on the ground is that tens of thousands of Baganda from all corners of the kingdom will come to join their beloved Kabaka at Kasubi today. Buganda analysts agree that huge crowds of Baganda expected at Kasubi will show the NRM occupation government and other enemies that the nation of Buganda is stronger than ever even under occupation.

According to Buganda government sources, Kabaka’s royal guards (Abambowa) will handle security inside the tombs perimeter and the NRM occupation police force will be on the outside. However, sources in Nakulabye told this writer that the NRM occupation government has deployed hundreds of plain clothes militias to mingle with the crowds, in the hope of finding out  if there is some type of command structure among the growing number of Baganda nationalists.

The sorrowful ecumenical services  are expected to start at 10:00 AM after the arrival of the Lion of Buganda KIngdom, Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II.

The official programme of events released by Mmengo is shown below:

KASUBI PROGRAMME

Gates will be opened by 8:00 am with the arrival of the members of the organizing committee. All those people who will participate in the historical ecumenical service will be subjected to thorough security checked up to avoid any security mishap.

9:00 am          :    Mourners arrive at Kasubi

9:30               :    Invited guests arrive at the tombs.

9:45               :    Katikkiro Arrives

10:00             :    Ssaabasajja Kabaka arrives for the ecumenical service.

10.10             :    Ekitiibwa kya Buganda

10:10             :    The National Anthem

10.25             :    An opening prayer by Bishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga

10.40             :    Metropolitan Yonah Lwanga –Orthodox

10.55             :    Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira

11.15             :    Bishop Kajja SDA Church Kireka

11.45             :    Pastor Alex Mitala Pentecostal Church

12.00             :    Supreme Sheik Zubair Sowedi Kayongo

Speeches

12.15            :    Naalinya w’Amasiro e Kasubi

12.20            :    Omukubiriza w’Olukiiko lw’Abataka

12.30            :    Chairman organizing committee

-    Katikkiro

-    Ekitiibwa kya Buganda

Most Baganda in North America have reached one conclusion about the fire that gutted Buganda’s national shrine, Amasiro ge Kasubi, the royal cemetery where 4 late kings (Bassekabaka) and many other royals are buried. They put the blame squarely on president Yoweri Museveni and his NRM government. And their suspicions were strenghtned by reports that on Wednesday, scores of Baganda were shot by NRM military police because they gave a hostile audience to Museveni. Museveni went inspect the ashes in the place where the royal tombs once stood. Based on the emails we have received from all over the world, it appears that a huge majority of Baganda view Museveni’s visit as a case of the criminal returning to the scene of the crime.

According to the March 17, 2010 Ekiba Kibe broadcasts, Baganda held big Ggwangamujje mourning gatherings in Boston, New Jersey and Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mourning is expected to go on for sometime but no end dates have been announced.  On the same program, the Chairman of Ggwangamujje Boston describes the various ways Museveni has impoverished, robbed and even killed Baganda. As examples, Mr. Mayanja mentions the young virgins of Budo Primary School who were sacrificed in a ritual dormitory fire, other school fires, the destruction of Buganda agriculture, the closure of CBS, the theft of Buganda’s native lands and the murder of ordinary Baganda. Mr. Mayanja announced more mourning meetings, indicating that in America Baganda might mourn for the Kasubi tombs for longer than the one week which Mmengo wants for Buganda.

Click on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10C and on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10D to listen to the Ekiba Kibe programs of March 17, 2010.

According to an official press release by the Kabaka’s Government, the Lion of Buganda, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has chosen to cerebrate his 55th birthday with the various theatrical groups in Uganda.

According to the committee chairperson, Minister Mohamood Thobani, celebrations will be held on 13th April 2010 at Theatre Labonita where theatrical groups will be hosted among other guests to celebrate with their King.

Thobani explained that this has been done to appreciate the artists for their tremendous efforts in promoting the cultural norms and values of Buganda through talents.

He added that “most times, artists have supported the Kingdom and therefore there is no better way to thank them than to let them cerebrate Kabaka’s birthday with him”.

He further elaborated that this year’s celebrations under the theme “Obuwangwa bwaffe n’obukozi ge maanyi” will also include bringing the youth closure to their cultural background.

In this regard, Kabaka Mutebi will visit Kibuli Senior Secondary School where many young people will gather to cerebrate Kabaka’s birthday.

Celebrations will begin with general prayers at Kibuli Mosque, thereafter, Kabaka will visit Kibuli hospital to extend his sympathies to those in pain from where he will head to Kibuli Senior Secondary School. The day’s cerebrations will be crowned by a cocktail party to be hosted at Theatre Labonita.

This year’s organizing committee includes among the following, Mohamood Thobani as the chairperson, Ahmed Bamweyana, Ahmed Lwasa, Hajati Mariam Mayanja, Kayima Stephen Nawuba Rajin Tailor, Samlie Mwanje, Nakimuli Leticia, Omulangira David Wasajja, Muganga John Herman, Huruna Njuki and Nalinnya Nabanakulya.

A man who claimed to be a Rwandese former soldier in both Uganda and Rwanda, went on SMS based Free Buganda Radio and called on Baganda to wake up and liberate their country Buganda. Without giving many details, the Rwandese talked in Luganda about the experiences of Rwandese refugees in Uganda and how they fought to take power in their country. He encouraged Baganda to wake up to the reality that their fight would even be much easier because they have many technology advantages, especially the internet and modern communications. He warned that Museveni only works on the basis of lying and betraying others. Without going into details, the Rwandese claimed that Museveni made do a lot things after making promises to them only to betray them.

The mysterious Rwandese told Robert Kabuye on Ekiba Kibe program that his name is Ntare which means a lion in Kinyarwanda. Ntare said that, while in Mr. Museveni’s NRA, he served in Lubiri, Katabi, Mbarara, Toro, the North, and other places.

Asked by Mr. Kabuye if Buganda can liberate herself since she is much bigger than Rwanda, Ntare replied in Luganda: “Abaganda muli bangi era mwesobola. Musomye, mulina sente, mulina abaana, mulina baakapu mu nsi yonna… Muve mu kutya.” (”You Baganda have a large population and are very capable. You are well educated, have money, have children, and have a based around the world… You must stop being cowards!”).

Click on Ekiba_Kibe23Feb10D and Ekiba_Kibe23Feb10E to listen to Robert Kabuye’s two part interview with Ntare.

SMS based Free Buganda Radio (also known as Radio Bu)  and its Ekiba Kibe program have gone to another level by getting a page on Facebook. The move to Facebook was announced by Robert  Kabuye e Boston during his evening the February 19, 2010 evening broadcast.  After getting a tip from one of the Buganda Post readers, we found  Mr. Kabuye and his Ekiba Kibe program on Facebook (www.facebook.com) under the name Kabuye Boston Robert.

In the same program, Robert Kabuye offered prayers to the Democratic Party (DP), which appears to been permanently split into two factions. Commenting on one of the factions which, according to Mr. Kabuye, is lead by Nasser Ssebagala and Norbert Mao, the broadcaster from the Ngeye clan called on all Baganda to remain focused on the noble cause of liberating Buganda.

Click on Ekiba_Kibe19Feb10B to listen toKabuye’a  February 19, 2010 Ekiba Kibe broadcast on Radio Bu.