Comments by Dr G.H.Kkolokolo (Paris / France) on the Buganda Post story “Kasubi Fire Requires Independent Investigation, Archbishop Kizito Lwanga“.

I very warmly thank His Grace Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga for his very courageous stand on Buganda as evidenced in his very wonderful Easter message, his position on Kasubi Royal Tombs, and recently his very wonderful sermon at Lubaga Cathedral on Easter Sunday. Indeed the extra-brave Lwanga, well in the very eminent footsteps of his three very prestigious predecessors: Kiwanuka and Nsubuga, Wamala, has continued to portray his exemplary attitude as a prominent citizen and as a very responsible Metropolitan Archbishop of an Archdiocese in a place where culture and politics and religion are not only centre stage but also equally an interplay traditionally entrenched in the life and the history of the Archdiocese.

For the destruction of Kasubi Lwanga, just like Wamala did a few years back where there was a seeming profanation at the Tombs, is right to come out with his proposal for an independent thorough investigation into the arson. The featuring of a mental case called Joseph Musoke as being the culprit is shallow and hollow! Nobody in Uganda and in the rest of the world, where results and findings of a respected bona fide inquiry are eagerly waited, will accept such a loose nonsense! This Kasubi thing is universal and it must be taken very seriously! One may lie at home but he won’t lie abroad where the international media and top figure institutions are also slowly mounting their research into the silly fires.

Mengo’s proposal for a commission of inquiry has been very warmly welcome and will naturally be supported both locally and internationally! And how gratifying to see that they are thinking of a universally respected person like His Eminence Cardinal E. Wamala to head the Kasubi inquest! Where Wamala is, there is always truth, justice, serious-mindedness, common sense and extra lofty wisdom and maturity. A commission headed by such a person will do a very commendable work that will impress the whole world and its findings will not be scape-goated conclusions.

Let Uganda profit from this unfortunate Kasubi event to have a new realism on several other near related issues the Archbishop has regularly dwelt on in his sermons and other teachings. For example he has always given due respect to debate on federalism, human rights, respect to Baganda, etc. Indeed, there need be a federal constitution for the country as a matter of ensuring natural identity of citizens, development at regional level, more respect of individual citizens, etc. The Archbishop is already top grade on this question since even the respected leaders of many political parties have already cemented it in their elaborated election manifestos. And, fortunately to the Archbishop’s broad vision, three of these party leaders are non Baganda who enjoy a very special international prestige on the world political stage! A federated Uganda will be a very strong country and will be an asset to the future East African Community. Europe, for example, will one day be one independent sovereign nation but that won’t prevent a place like France to be part of the entity, joining in as France with its confederations like the Principality of Monaco, the Principality of Andorra, the Territory of Belforth, etc..each one continuing to enjoy its identity and other privileges as enshrined in the French republican constitution.

Any future regional union will embrace Uganda as a federated country that will bring in vigor, dynamism and political maturity! The departing British left Uganda with a note sounding loudly in their mind, that of a politically well settled Buganda enjoying full federal status with the Kabaka as full head of state of Buganda whose dignity wouldn’t be politically superseded by anybody. In this they wanted to conclude acts of invitation to missionaries and other developers sent thru Queen Victoria. And that’s probably why in 1962 there was a Buganda Independence Day on Oct 8, before the national one the following day. This was to politically solidify the position of Buganda and of the Kabaka in independent Uganda. And it had to be like this! And the Archbishop was right to call for a dialogue between Mengo and the Central Government to fully and duly re-examine this Buganda question which is very crucial to Uganda’s political life.

Federalism as studied and agreed on with fellow Ugandans will not be synonymous with tribalism. It will be a policy of nationalism respectful of all individuals’ rights and duties as equal citizens of Uganda. Those who blindly criticize Lwanga on this point, are a bit sleepy! What will they say on his strong stand against human rights abuses and the lack of respect to human life as embodied in our national constitution? The other time 30 people in just a mere 3 days lost their life in Kampala alone! Can’t our security forces take a leaf from their French colleagues who in 2005 were called in to quell incendiary riots mounted by groups of Arab youths all over the country and finished their exercise with a very commendable balance-sheet: just one casualty, an Arab boy shot in the leg by a stray bullet! And the authorities had even to set up a commission of inquiry to find the soldier who fired that bullet! When you are a soldier with a gun, think of one’s life first!

And now Ugandan prisons are still packed with those September youths! And soon, you never know, as election fever draws in, many DPs, UPCs, FDCs,etc will be keyed in Luzira (for the good of the country!) Anyway, in any case there is now resolve to see a free and fair election in Uganda.

Thank you Dr Lwanga. And thank you for having accepted to preside over prayers at the Royal Tombs! Any very thoughtful religious leader should have done this in order to show sympathy to the Kabaka, to the Baganda, to Ugandans, and to the international community who in that Mausoleum saw the exact spot where official royal missives were commissioned to ask for missionaries, educators, modern developers, etc. It wasn’t the first time prayers were conducted at Kasubi Tombs. I remember one day a Mass was celebrated in the vast compound during the funeral of a notable Catholic prince. It was encouraging to notice the presence of religious leaders from the Catholic church, the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Muslim Community! These four religious groups have always been connected to Buganda and its history, and also to the Kabaka since time immemorial! Their presence at Kasubi was therefore very much appreciated by all! Thank you, our religious leaders for not failing us at this dead hour!

Thank you Dr Lwanga for all your courage during this midnight period in our nation’s history.

Long live Your Most Royal Majesty the Kabaka!

Wangaala Ssebo Kitaffe Ssabasajja Kabaka Ekitangaala Ekimulisa Enjuba! Ssentasoboka wa Bannantasoboka!

Nnyaffe Nnabagereka, gerekera bulungi Obuganda nga Katonda akubeesa mu buli kizibu kyonna ky’ogabana ne Magulunnyondo oyo!

Dr G.H.Kkolokolo (Paris / France)

In his 2010 Easter message, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese has called for an objective and independent inquiry into the burning Buganda’s revered Kasubi Tombs on 3/16.  The leader of the Catholic Church in Buganda said that certain unnamed members of the NRM government of sowing seeds of hatred against Baganda. He condemned the culture of corruption and lies that has taken root during the NRM era, where political and religious leaders are liars, traders are cheats, doctors under-treat patients and teachers mislead students.

Archbishop Lwanga demanded that the truth must be told about important questions like the burning of Kasubi Tombs and Buganda’s quest for self-determination. And he called on the British government to become part of the solution:  “If we are to solve some of the burning questions like the Federo  issue, the British Government should assist us in explaining to the people of Uganda what they meant by giving Independence to Buganda on 8 October 1962 and also giving Uganda independence but also including Buganda on 9 October 1962.”

Dr. Lwanga, who is a Muganda, of Mmamba clan, questioned the importance that the police is putting on of claims by a mental patient called Joseph Musoke that he started the fire at Kasubi. He said an independent inquiry should question NRM government officials, Buganda government officials and even members of its royal family. He wants everyone who appears to be anti-Kabaka and anti-Buganda to be questioned, which includes political parties and security personnel.

One of the most corrupt governments on earth according Transparency International, now allows on duty police officers at religious events to participate in performing miracles. On February 19, 2010, pastor Samuel Kakande who owns the pentecostal Synagogue Church of All Nations, located at the Mulago-Kyebando roundabout, organized a large Christian crusade at Nakivubo stadium. At the event, on duty and uniformed police officers joined him in performing miracles by curing the sick when they ordered Satan to leave the victims’ bodies. Several senior Uganda police and NRM government officials attended.

Pastor Kakande has a  strong and public relationship with the NRM occupation government. As recently as November 2009, he and his church received public praise by president Museveni for their projects. Mrs. Museveni also claims to be a saved Christian although some in Uganda political circles accuse her of being too corrupt to  relate to Christianity.  Pastor Kakande runs one of the largest churches in Uganda and is in fierce competition with other church businesses around Kampala. Due to this competition, some of the other churches frequently accused him of various evil practices but he has never been convicted of anything.  The accusers include his ex-wife, Loyce Nana Kakande, who claimed that Kakande was engaged in witchcraft. Kakande went to marry another woman from the Republic of Congo. And in the mid-2009 he introduced yet another young woman from the Philippines as his new fiancée.

A source in the Namirembe Diocese of the Church of Uganda (Church of Buganda) has confirmed to this writer that the new bishop of the diocese received a letter warning him of a conspiracy by foreigners to steal church property. The new bishop is Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who was consecrated on May 31, 2009. Our source, who spoke on condition anonymity for fear of reprisals, also confirmed that the letter is supposed to have come from one Asumani Balwaana Kaama of the Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje. However, the source could not verify if the letter received is identical to the one which Buganda Post had received around the same time.

The version which was sent to Buganda Post congratulates Luwalira on his advancement to become the head of the Anglican Church of Buganda. Then begs him resist all expected attempts by President Museveni to compromise him, starting with a personal car gift. Then it warns him of coming pressure from Archibishop Orombi of Uganda to use Buganda church land for “projects” and to place Banyankore and other foreigners into key positions within the Church of Buganda. Finally, the Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje pleads with the bishop to immediately stop allowing political speeches in Buganda Anglican churches, which demeans the institution and serves to divide and divert Baganda from their common national interests.

The Luganda letter which Buganda Post received is reporoduced below without translation.

 
Namirembe Diocese
P.O.Box 14297
Kampala, Uganda
 
June 11, 2009

Ssebo Omulabirizi Kityo Luwalira,

N’obuwombeefu tukwaniriza era tukukulisa okutuuka ku bukulembeze bwe Kanisa mu bwakabaka bwa Buganda. Obwesigwa e Kanisa, Ssaabasajja, n’Endiga za Katonda bwebakutaddemu kintu kikulu nnyo ekye’kitiibwa nga ate kya buvunanyizibwa.

Ebiro bino abalabe ba Lutikko beyongedde obungi. Era ssebo gy’otabadde e Kanisa yaffe kata bagitwaale, abantu bano ab’obulabe ekigendererwa kyabwe tebanakivaako. Twagadde okukozesa omukisa guno nga wakatandika obuvunanyizibwa bwo nga Omulabirizi we Namirembe tukusibire entanda:

1. Omukulembeze wa Yuganda Yoweri Museveni oba abaleebesibe bajja kugezaako okukugulirira – ekintu kino Museveni yakitandika na kusuubiza nga bwajja okukugulira emotoka. Ssebo gakuwebwa munno! Emotoka eyo togikkiriza nga ggwe omuntu – Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira. Olukukwasanga emotoka eyo, kaada yayo nga etekebwa mu mannya g’obulabirizi bwe Namirembe. Era tusaba nawe okirangirire lwattu mu Kanisa Lutikko nti Gavumenti ya Yuganda yatonedde obulabirizi bwe Namirembe emotoka; obanyonnyole nti emotoka si yiyo.
 
2. Ssaabalabirizi w’eKanisa mu Yuganda Henry Luke Orombi oba abatume be bajja kujja bakusabe ettaka ly’eKanisa eryagiweebwa Ssabasajja; katugambe nga bagamba nti baagala bateekeko “projects” ate bave awo ettaka eryo baliteeke mu manya ga “project” – oba ebintu ebifananako bwebityo ebinaabasobozesa okubba ettaka lye Kanisa ya Buganda. Ssebo tukusaba ettaka ly’ekanisa mu Buganda olikuume butiribiri.
 
3. Tukimanyi nti Yoweri Museveni n’abatume be bajja kutuukilira nga baagala osooke okulonda oba okussa Abanyankole oba abantu abalala aba NRM mu bifo eby’obuvunanyizibwa munda mu Kanisa ye Namirembe. Tukusaba oleme kwesembereza nkola g’eno. Buli omu akimanyi nti tewali muganda ayinza kuweebwa mulimu mu makanisa g’eMbarara, Toro, Busoga, e.t.c. N’olwekyo olina okulaba nga Namirembe tasenserwa bannabyabufuzi oba abagwiira abagenda okugisekeeterera nga basinzidde munda mwayo. Bajjajjafe balwaana nyo okukuma Namirembe okuviira ddala mu 1890, nawe ky’ovude osobodde okugisangawo. Tukusaba ojjukirenga nti Namirembe Kanisa ya Buganda era n’ebyobugagga byonna (ttaka, bizimbe, masomero, mayumba, malwarilo, e.t.c) bya Namirembe so ssi Church of Uganda.
 
4. Tuli benyamivu lwa nsonga nti tutandise okulaba omuze gw’okufuula Lutikko akadaala k’ebyobufuzi. Namirembe atandise omuze gw’okuddira ba naby’obufuzi nemubakkiriza okwogerera ku kituuti mu Kanisa nga bwebagala. N’obuwombeefu, tukusaba gwe nga Omulabirizi omuze guno gukome. Teguweesa Kanisa kitiibwa, okujjako okwawulayawula mu ndiga za mukama. Tewali nsonga yonna lwaki ab’ebyobufuzi basinziira mu Kanisa yaffe okukuba pokopoko wabwe, aleeta enjawukana mu bantu ba Ssaabasajja. Tukusaba olabe nti omuze guno gukoma.

Ssebo omulabirizi tukwebaza emirimu gy’okoledde e Kanisa n’Obuganda. Naye wootaali, olutalo luno twalulwaana okulaba nti tebatusiba balabirizi betutamanyi nsibuko zaabwe. Ebbaluwa yaffe gyetwawandiikira Ssaabalabirizi Orombi ku saawa yakazzigizzigi nga n’omukulembeze Yoweri Museveni yafunako, yiiyo wansi gyesomere.

Tuli bamalirivu era twewaddeyo okutunula omuntu yenna mu munnye anagezaako okukyusa obwanannyini bw’ebintu bya Namirembe ne Buganda nga Ssaabasajja awamu n’Obuganda nga tebasiimye. Okwo kuba kulya lukwe mu Bwakabaka bwa Buganda. Ekibonerezo kyomusango ng’ogwo kimanyiddwa buli Muganda.

Awangaale Ssaabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda.
Asumani Balwaana Kaama
Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje

On May 21, 2009 former Los Angeles, California, resident and now owner of Radio Star, NRM candidate Peter Sematimba was declared the new LCIII chairman for Rubaga after a bitter election fight marred by massive irregularities. Even the Uganda government mouthpiece, the New Vision, on May 22, 2009 reported the results under the heading “Rubaga LC3 polls marred by rigging”.  Sematimba, who moonlights as a church pastor, won with 15,799 votes. The votes which Sematimba received represent 47% of the 33,314 cast in the elections, but only  9.3% of the 170,557 voters on the Uganda Electoral Commission roll of registered voters in Rubaga. According to NRM sources, more than 900 party activists were paid to irregularly vote in Rubaga. Also, over 2,000 pre-marked ballots were successfully stuffed into boxes across the 250 polling stations. Still, the total votes, including the irregular ones, represented a voter turn-out of only 19%.

While Peter Sematimba and most of his NRM supporters are celebrating his official victory, some political analysts think that this election is evidence that President Museveni and his NRM dominated brand of democracy could be rapidly collapsing. One New York based Muganda analyst, who requested that we withold his name, told us in a phone conversation: “Museveni, Nsibambi, Amama Mbabazi, Nakabirwa, Mrs. Museveni and so many other NRM heavyweights supported Sematimba. Then Peter blanketed Rubaga with constant campaign messages on his own radio station. Add on the fact that NRM people paid voters, ferried in illegal voters and stuffed the ballot boxes with thousands of votes. After all that, failing to get a turn-out over 30% in Rubaga is a clear message that the people of are fed up with Musevenism and are thirsting for something else.

“My contacts in FDC admit that many of those who kept away are former FDC Baganda who were convinced by Kamya that Ssebugwaawo was being used by Bakiga who were as anti-Buganda as Museveni’s regime.  FDC is dead in Buganda! Others were turned off by the leadership vacuum in DP and fairly good evidence that Mr. Museveni was funding the DP candidate (Makumbi) through ex-convict and Kampala mayor Haj. Nasser Sebagala. The bottom line is that Museveni and his people should now know that only about 5% of the people in Rubaga were genuinely convinced by Sematimba, Museveni, Nsibambi, Amama Mbabazi and other NRM big wigs to go vote for Sematimba. And at least 70% of the registered voters in Rubaga are opposed to or fed up with the Museveni circus. But that situation is much worse for NRM when it comes to Baganda, especially the militant youths below 25 years. So, if Sematimba or Museveni think that NRM won big in Rubaga, Baganda nationalists should be happy because it is better to have a stupid enemy than a smart one.”

The runner-up to Sematimba was Moses Makumbi of the Democratic Party (DP) who got 9,807 votes (29 percent), followed by Joyce Ssebugwaawo of FDC (15%) and four lesser candidates receiving less than 10% each. Makumbi conceded defeat and congratulated Sematimba quickly after the results were announced, leading to speculation in some DP circles that he was paid something to legitimize Sematimba as soon as possible. On the other hand, according to FDC sources, Joyce Sebugwaawo intends to challenge the elections results in court citing massive fraud by NRM activists with the Uganda Electoral Commission looking the other way.

Namubiru Juliet Buganda Government’s official website reports that:

The minister for Information, Lukiiko and Cabinet Affairs in Buganda Government, Charles Peter Mayiga has urged people in Buganda to stop being cowards when it comes to issues concerning Buganda Kingdom.

The minister who was attending a Sunday service at Kitende Church of Uganda appealed to people to always come out openly to support Buganda’s developmental issues in order for the Kingdom to achieve its intended goals and objectives instead of shying away whenever Buganda is mentioned.

Mayiga also called on to people to work very hard in order to earn a living for their families which will lead to a stable and successful Buganda Kingdom.

The service was also dedicated to the life the late Kiberu Christopher who worked so hard for the church.

Canon Henry Ntulume from Nateete also appealed to the Christians to make choice in what they do, to identify good priorities and to pay school fees for their children to make them better citizens in the future who will promote Buganda Kingdom.

In a highly suspect move, the Vice President of Ggwangamujje Boston, and not the secretary, took the minutes for the controversial October 26, 2008 general meeting. And he leaves the names of many attendees off the minutes, most notably that of the man who highly influenced the proceedings, UNAA stalwart Moses Kalemba. Bukenya wrote the minutes despite the presence of secretary, Patrick Bukenya.

According to one attendee who briefed this reporter, on condition of anonymity, it appears that Bukenya wants to the put decisions on record without details on who was there and who said what.  According to the attendee: “The fact is that the meeting was about two things. Most important to the Kalemba caucus was the Ttabamiruka date change. The other one was removing Kaasa Nakabale. Kalemba and Bukenya aggressively demanded and got the date change they wanted and, after that they were happy to give a lot of time to the other stuff. A few of the “basajja ba Kabaka” who supported the change would shock you. Bukenya is leaving Kalemba and others off the minutes and hiding the Ttabamiruka ’09 date change deep in the minutes because they think that we are really stupid.”

The minutes that Bukenya wrote, including the English mistakes and with the Ttabamiruka ’09 decision in boldface, are reproduced below:

members,

General meeting-Gwanga Mujje
Place: Pastor Mutyaba’s church-Waltham
Time:6.30pm
Committee Members in attendance

Kaasa Nakabaale
Moses Bukenya – Recording secretary
JohnFred Kawere
Kato Kajubi
Patrick Nsereko
Robert Kabuye
Prof. Lugira
Dan Nvule
John Mayanja

Meeting opened with singing of the Buganda Anthem.
Minutes:
1. Move a vote of thanks from the Chair to Pastor Mutyaba for all the help extended during the Buganda Independence function
2. Move to write a letter of thanks to the Boston Medical Center folks for all the facilitation provided towards the same function noted above.
3. Move to thank all those who volunteered and attended the functions. All accounts point to a successful event based on imput from attendees.
4. Explored need to get physical office premises for association:
-suggestions
i) -set up virtual office
ii)-rent office space from one of the churches and/or businesses in the community
iii)-Request Chairman to avail space at his residence to house office.
iv)-Write a grant proposal to Charitable Organistions to solicit funds to promote cultural themed projects like dance, language and other heritage issues.

-Meeting resolved to appoint committee to compile a  report exploring the viability of acquiring office premises and formulate a cost benefit analysis of the same. To present report to executive committee in near future. Chair did not set terms of reference as regards to time frame of submitting said report.
-Committee comprised of Dan Nvule, Frida Sebalu, Prof. Lugira, Salongo Kafeero & Moses Kalemba.
-Also Frida Sebalu pledged $100 towards Office project.
-Mr. John Mayanja pledged to build website, will need material from community
5.Members agreed to the date of July 4th of 2009 as date for hosting Ttabamiruka 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts.
6.Members agreed to hold off on electing the organising committee of the Ttabamiruka Boston 2009 until fresh elections are held for the Board.
-Date set for elections was Sunday, November 9th 2009 at 4pm at same location, Pastor Mutyaba’s Church, Waltham.

Meeting adjourned at around 9.35pm with a short prayer by the chairman.

Note: Chair urged everyone to actively engage all folks to attend the November 9th meeting, vote and play thier role in promoting Gwanga Mujje and it’s ideals.

End
Moses Bukenya
Vice Chair

Pastor Alex Mitala told journalists on Monday that cases of pastors who indulge in sex with their flock are rampant in Uganda. However, he vouched for Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga, of Christian Life Church Bwaise, over allegations that he molested a 13 year old girl during an airline flight in the USA. Pastor Alex Mitala is the head of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Churches in Uganda.

On August 23, 2008 Buganda Post reported on the arrest of Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga by sheriff’s deputies at Oakland International Airport in California, USA. The alleged molestation occurred on a flight from Denver, Colorado to Oakland, California and the Alameda County, California prosecutors say that they have referred the case to the FBI because of jurisdictional issues from being on the plane.

In defending Ssenyonga, Pastor Mitala told journalists, “”I have known Jackson since he was a boy and his wife Eve since she was a girl. I have never heard of any immoral character in them.” He did not cite any other reasons why it would be impossible for Ssenyonga to have committed the alleged crime. On the contrary, he said that his office constantly receives cases of “pastors in town who go around sleeping with girls everywhere.”