Late last week, source who we know to be pro UNAA sent us an email claiming that the president of the Ugandan Diaspora and American Development Association (UADA) is hiding in Buganda after California courts issued a warrant for his arrest.  When our agent in Boston inquired with a UADA source,  she said that she heard of similar rumours but claimed it was the UNAA trying to spoil Mr. Ssenkumba’s name.  However, she hinted that Mr. Ssenkumba’s accusers could be mistaking him with his business partners, Kabukuru and Erica Mukasa who had some “minor problems with the law last year.”

Following the tip from our Boston source we found out from the United States District Court, Central District Of California, that, in fact, Erica Mukasa (42) and Julius Kabukuru (38) were imprisoned late last year. They were arrested in August 2009 on Federal charges of:  CONSPIRACY, ENCOURAGING OR INDUCING ALIENS TO ENTER OR RESIDE IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY, and IMPROPER ENTRY BY ALIEN.

So far it appears that Mr. Ssenkumba is a victim of the ruthless Uganda style politics between UNAA and UADA. UADA was started by 2009 UNAA presidential candidate Flex Kabuye after losing the election to Moses Wilson. Within a few months Kabuye was kicked out of his own party for still unclear reasons. Los Angeles based William Ssenkumba who became the new president and has provided major funding.

In the meantime, only last week Mr. Ssenkumba appointed a minister in the Buganda Government, Owek. Nakiwala Kiyingi to be UADA’s representative in Kampala. She is expected to be charge of local registration arrangements for the UADA convention in September 2010. Interestingly, at UNAA Chicago in September 2009, minister Kiyingi appointed Mr. William Ssenkumba as a Buganda Tourism Commissioner in the USA.  Now, Mr. Ssenkumba and Owek. Kiyingi are bosses to each other. This strange arrangement may become a minor concern for Kabaka’s Government if the rumours about Mr. Ssenkumba were to be true.

Sunday 30^th August was yet again the Annual Clans of the Baganda in the UK  Sports day which was held at McMillan Stadium at Newham Leisure Centre in East London. As usual, it was a well attended event with a range of activities to suit almost everybody from the age of 3 upwards. Competitive activities included table tennis, badminton, basket ball, omweso, draughts, football and athletics field and track. The 50 plus had no excuse not to participate as there was a walking race as well. As last year, Jomayi Property Consultants teamed up with Empapula Za Kakobe magazine to sponsor this event with contribution from Pier One Sound Systems plus the many volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly.

The essence of this sports day is to bring together the Baganda in their major building block which is the clan. It is an opportunity not only to have fun and keep fit but to fraternise with one’s clansmates, strengthen the sense of togetherness and, probably most importantly, inculcate in the young ones, even those born outside of Buganda, the fact that they have strong cultural roots which they should cherish wherever they are. It makes them aware that they are related to people they may never have met before and this sense of belonging to a wider, bigger entity which eventually makes you a Muganda and explains one’s surname and eventually who you may and may not marry is treasured.

This sports day is unique in that it involves everyone who wants to compete and amass points for their clan unlike back at home where only those selected as good enough and trained represent their clan. This makes everyone feel important for their clan.

The medals ceremony was presided over by Prince Daudi Ggolooba and Naalinnya Elizabeth Nakabiri introduced by Fred Ssemugera the Chairman of Ebika Bya Baganda E Bungereza. This was preceeded by the crowds rendering of”Ekitiibwa kya Buganda ” ( Buganda’s anthem )which was made jespecially joyful by the  under 13’s who sung it with gusto and enthusiasm. All this was after one of the highlights of the day, the tug of war which is one of the events where one sees the effort and pride contestants put in on behalf of their clans, the weaker ones often being literary dragged on the floor but still walking off with pride. The medals won, especially by the young people, were the icing on the cake. Many winners walked away proudly with wide smiles and a sense of belonging and worthiness, let alone the self esteem of achievement for self and clan.

This year, Ngabi were toppled into second place by Mmamba. Third were Lugave and Ndiga fourth. A total of twenty six clans were represented.

The highly popular London hosted Annual Ebika Bya Baganda e Bungereza Sports Day for this year is slated for Sunday 30th August 2009 according to one of the organizers, Mw. Fred Ssemugera. Individual and team events will include track and field, rope tag of war, omweso, drafts, table tennis, basketball, badminton, swimming and 5-a-side soccer. The track and field competitions will pit Baganda of all ages in 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter as well as 100 x 4 relay sprints.

The Baganda games will be held at the McMillan Stadium, Newham Leisure Centre, Plaistow, London, E13,  from  1:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The guest of honor will be Buganda government minister for Tourism, Ow’ek. Nakiwala Kiyingi. Other ceremonies on the same venue will include an exhibition of arts and crafts from Buganda and viewing of videos promoting tourism in Buganda.

More information is available from  Fred Ssemugera on 0208 428 9553 and 07956 455 133, Dr. Ssekweyama on  0208 670 5590, Yosef Serugo on  01708 747 398, Yiga Matovu on 0208 854 3554 and Daudi Sserukeera on 07944 162 354.

Experienced rallying co-driver Moses Matovu heads to Zimbabwe for the forthcoming FIA African Rally Championship grand finale hoping to end the 2009 rallying season on a high after a string of troublesome rallies recently.

Moses, who co-drives for top Ugandan rally drive Emmanuel Katto in a Tommi Makinen Racing Subaru Impreza N14, began the year with a fine second overall in Tanzania. Overheating problems restricted the pair to fifth place points in Kenya, whilst their home rally was cut short after the tragic accident of close friend Riyaz Kurji towards the end of Day 1. The pair then journeyed south to Zambia for the penultimate round, but a combination of problems, including an altercation with a tree ended their rally and along with it, their 2009 championship hopes.

Emmanuel and I certainly have not had the greatest of years this year. We’ve shown that the car has the pace and the potential and are already working on plans for 2010. We head to Zimbabwe to show our support to the organisers and the other crews, and will be aiming to end our season on a high.

Moses has prior experience of the high speed roads that make up the Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally. In 2007 Moses made his debut alongside Katto and the pair were lying a comfortable third overall when the engine let go. The pair will certainly be hoping that history does not repeat itself this weekend.

The Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally begins on Friday the 28th of August, and after over 230 kilometres of high speed rallying the crews will return to the capital for a ceremonial finish on Sunday afternoon.

For more on the team please visit www.emkarally.com