We have learnt from highly reliable sources in  President Museveni state house apparatus that the Ugandan strongman may soon disown the brutal actions of Uganda police against Baganda youths in Kayunga.  According to an email message sent through an intermediary, the source says: “Ugandans are going to be surprised when Mr. Museveni will claim that he only learnt about the problems in Kayunga  on Tuesday or Wednesday. He also intends to attack people who claim that he has anything to do with the threatening letter that his minister Kirunda Kivejinja wrote, warning Kabaka not to go to Kayunga, in Bugerere county.”

Our source could not confirm when Mr. Museveni will make the public statements but speculated that he (Museveni) might do it when he meets MPs who come from Buganda on Thursday or Friday.  As for why Museveni plans to do this the source said: “Museveni has no choice this time. He fully understands that  he underestimated the Kabaka and Baganda on this issue of Bugerere. He also knows that he overestimated the influence that Katikkiro Walusimbi and his supporters still have on Kabaka Mutebi’s decisions. The only option he has, as a military man, is a tactical withdraw. And, based on his past behavior he may blame everything on  Kirunda and [Rwandese police commander]  Kale Kayihura.” The MPs are expected to ask Museveni to explain which his government is blocking Kabaka Mutebi from freely moving in Buganda simply because 22 people demonstrated with sigs that they don’t want him to visit without first consulting their leader, who happens to be an active member of the Uganda army.

In May 2009, the Aga Khan’s The Monitor newspaper printed a Uganda government sponsored story claiming that  Kabaka Mutebi postponed his planned  tour of Kayunga, in Bugerere county, due to fear that Banyala residents might demonstrate against him (see “Kabaka Will Visit Bugerere When Youths Are Home “).  This writer established at the time that the true reason was because Kabaka was traveling to Europe on official duties.  Due to conflict with another tour of Buvuma in July/August, the Bugerere trip was finally rescheduled to start on September 12, 2009.

Since Monday, the Uganda police, under the command of Rwandese refugee Kale Kayihura, has obstructed Baganda youth trying to prepare the site for Kabaka’s main ceremonies at Kayunga. They even fired teargas canisters into the car of  Mengo officials who had gone to Kayunga to oversee  the preparations. The Police also kidnapped Baganda youths who were erecting stalls and held them incommunicado for a day. Earlier, a Musoga minister in Museveni’s government, Kirunda Kivejinja wrote to Mmengo, warning that the Kabaka should not go to Bugerere without the agreement of one Baker Kimeze, the Museveni appointed first king “Bunyala”. Museveni created the pseudo kingdoms of Buruli and Bunyala within Buganda, in direct contradiction of his own Uganda constitution, which does not recognize ‘subkingdoms’ within Buganda.

Despite Museveni’s threats and brutal police actions, Kabaka Mutebi instructed his trusted officials like, David Mpanga, Lubega Ssegona, Betty Nabooze, Kabuuza Mukasa and several others, especially in Nkoba za Mbogo, to spearhead “Operation See You in  Kayunga”.   Through these ‘warriors” Kabaka Mutebi informed his subjects that he was determined to go to Kayunga and not allow a repeat of what happened in Buruli.  According to information from the operational command post, headed by Betty Nambooze,  tens of thousands of Baganda are expected to descend on Kayunga on Saturday, based on contacts with Gombolola and Miruka chiefs across Buganda. President Museveni’s internal security organization has informed their boss of these facts. The main reason why Museveni is backing down is because he has no confidence that his police can handle the situation if they try to stop the Baganda.

According to an unaccredited news story on the Buganda Government official website, Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee has resumed its campaign against the campaign anti-Buganda policies and laws by the NRM government. Its scope has, reportedly, been redefined to put more emphasis on the Federo system of governance.

The committee, which was personally appointed by Ssabasajja Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi, is credited for awakening Baganda to the reality that Mr. Museveni and his NRM are committed to destroy Buganda through unjust and discriminative laws such as the Land Act. It is chaired by the indefatigable and exceptionally popular Betty Nambooze.

Frustrated by the effectiveness of Kabaka’s Central Civic Education Committee, president Museveni ordered the kidnap and torture of Betty Nambooze and two other Buganda officials, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega Ssegona in August 2008 (see “Museveni Quietly Retreats On Fake Nambooze and Lubega Case“). After several days of police torture and depravation, Mr. Museveni ordered the release of all three Baganda under pressure from human rights groups, United States and other foreign aid donors and a defiant Baganda population.

The article on the official Buganda Government website is reproduced below.

CENTRAL CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE RESUMES DUTIES

By Our Reporter

Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee has resumed its duties and this time it will put much more emphasis on the essence of a federo system of governance to every one across Buganda and Uganda in relation to Ssaabasajja Kabaka’s call for truth and justice.

The committee started with a one day sensitization workshop for all its members in which it was agreed that the theme “truth and justice” is quite extensive and require absolute attention.

Committee members further agreed that with truth and justice in place, the Kingdom will live in harmony since most of the injustices will be dealt away with.

The workshop was opened by an official for community mobilization in the office of the 1st deputy Katikkiro, Ssewava Sserubiri who also emphasized that where there is justice, there is likely to be no encroachment on other people’s land and no oppression from anyone which will lead to fundamental development in the Kingdom.

The Member of Parliament for Kampala Central, Erias Lukwago who is also a committee member advised that Buganda should come out and put to task all the members of parliament from this region to show their stand on the issue of federo. Lukwago argued that this will help the Kingdom to determine the support for federo in the Ugandan parliament and be able to vote wisely in the forth coming elections.

The chairperson of the committee, Betty Nambooze Bakireke announced a new system of mobilization whereby telephone contacts of everyone in Buganda will be obtained and various messages on various issues will be sent to every one in Buganda for development purposes.

The workshop was closed by the minister of state for research in Buganda Kingdom, David Mpanga who said that the recess period has been so useful because members have been able to identify their weaknesses which have been ironed out and are ready to face their prey with no major obstacles.

On Wednesday August 27, 2008, former Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Daniel Muliika arrived in New Jersey to attend Ttabamiruka ‘08. At the airport, the former Katikkiro was met by the Chairman of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Mr. Sullyman Bunkeddeko, Kabaka’s representative in the NY/NJ/PA/CT “ssaza”, Mr. Wycliffe Lule-Musoke, the Chairman of the Ttabamiruka ‘08 organizing committee, Mr. Edward Semambya and many other Baganda. In a videotaped moment, a young lady, one of the several youths present, gave Owek. Muliika a bouquet of flowers.

The conference organizing committee has confirmed that Hon. Hussein Kyanjo and Hon. Beti Kamya will arrive today, Friday. Several Baganda are expected to meet the two popular Baganda politicians on their arrival. Final details about the participation of Owek. David Mpanga and Omuzaana Betty Nambooze have not been released.

Most delegates are expected to arrive today. Those have registered to attend include Baganda, Bajjwa (people whose mothers are Baganda), other Ugandans and friends of Buganda. And they will come from United States, Europe, North Africa and Uganda.

More details on Ttabamiruka ‘08 are available at the conference website: www.ttabamiruka.com.

The official video clip for this press release is available at Muliika Arrives at Ttabamiruka

Ttabamiruka ‘08 Publicity Committee
August 29, 2008

According to reports reaching Buganda Post from New York, former Buganda Katikkiro, Daniel Muliika and Makindye MP, have arrived in New Jersey for the conference.  Owek. Muliika’s plane is reported to have arrived in Newark International airport at around 6:00 PM. Additional details could not be obtained by the time of this posting.

It is not clear where or when Hon. Kyanjo entered the United States but Buganda Post was reliably informed that he is already in the United States, “resting and preparing to do the needful”. The organizers of Ttabamiruka ’08 have not posted any new information about the speakers on their website over the past 3 days.

Ttabamiruka ’08 is an international Baganda conference that is set for August 29 – September 1, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. According to the conference website, the objective I, “Consolidating Ttabamiruka ’07 achievements and confronting Buganda’s escalating challenges.”  The announced speakers include Owek. Muliika, Omuk. Betty Nambooze, Hon. Kyanjo and  Hon. Beti Olive Kamya. The conference program also states that Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II will open the conference on Saturday.

Our London source who is familiar with Katikkiro Muliika’s planned trip to the U.K. next week has informed Buganda Post that Owek. Muliika will attend Ttabamiruka ‘08 in New Jersey, USA. According to the conference website, www.ttabamiruka.com, the theme of the conference is “Consolidating Ttabamiruka ’07 achievements and confronting Buganda’s escalating challenges.”

At the time of filing this report, it was not yet known what specific topics Owek. Muliika will speak about or whether he will be the guest of honor. There are also unconfirmed reports that other popular Baganda personalities who are at the forefront of the fight to protect Buganda land will attend the conference. Based on recent developments and news reports on the subject of Buganda land one would speculate that such personalities might include Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega, David Mpanga, Hussein Kyanjo, Betty Kamya and MP Lukwago.

Ttabamiruka is an annual international conference organized by Baganda for Baganda, Bajjwa and their friends to discuss Buganda specific issues, meet each other and celebrate their achievements. Ttabamiruka ‘08, like Ttabamiruka ‘07, is sponsored by Ggwangamujje NY/NJ.

According to a notice sent to Buganda Post from New York, Owek. Daniel Muliika, former Katikkiro of Buganda is set to attend an international conference organized by his human rights organization (Uganda National Peoples’ Rights Association or UNAPERA). The conference is scheduled to take place on Saturday 9, 2008 from 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The venue is Durning Hall – Earlham Grove,  Forest Gate, London E7 9AB.

The theme of the conference is “Campaigning For Ugandan National Peoples’ Rights, Federalism, Peace In Northern Uganda, Social Justice, and Environmental Protection And Posterity”. Owek. Dan Muliika is slated to give a keynote address.

Other speakers will include Ms Cathy Nansubuga a UNAPERA youth leader from Wakiso, Mr. James Ssennyonjo of UNAPERA’s North American branch and Ms.  Susan Lukyamuzi Nampijja Uganda member of Parliament for  Lubaga South. The organizers include Mr. Ricardo Mulinda (UNAPERA Global Involvement Co-Chair)  and Mr. Yiga Ssempogo (UNAPERA-UK Chairperson).

On Tuesday July 29, 2008, Katikkiro Muliika held a press conference in Kampala where he told scribes that, “We in UNAPERA shall have to educate Ugandans on why and who to vote for, what to expect from the people they vote and the general awareness of all their constitutional rights.” In the same press conference, Owek. Muliika warned that it is dangerous for President Museveni to push for negotiations with Kabaka Mutebi  on national issues of a political nature.

Since January 2008, President Museveni has been pleading with Mengo to get a chance to talk to Kabaka Mutebi. He has variously stated that he wants to meet Kabaka Mutebi to request His Royal Majest to fire Betty Nambooze and David Mpanga from Mengo and to discuss Buganda’s political demands. Ironically the same Museveni has warned Kabaka Mutebi not to get involved in politics. And he has kidnapped and tortured three of Mutebi’s most loyal officials. Mutebi has wisely refused to negotiate over Buganda’s stolen land or Federo, on the principle that these are basic human rights that cannot be negotiated.