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.

Kabaka’s representatives in North America have distributed  the following press release from Katikkiro JB Walusimbi.

PRESS RELEASE

In 2008 the Kingdom of Buganda decided to hold the annual Youth Day celebrations for 2009 in Bugerere County following the successful celebrations held in Kyaggwe County. The objective of the celebrations, which are presided over by Ssaabasajja Kabaka, is to rally the youth to engage in social and economically developmental activities as well as to promote our culture values.

The Kingdom regrets that this year’s celebrations have been unduly politicized.

The Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere is lawful and constitutional and the reasons being given for blocking the Kabaka and the Katikkiro from accessing Bugerere are completely unfounded.

The Kingdom recognizes the cultural and ethnic diversity of its peoples. This is clearly demonstrated in the composition of its Cabinet and Lukiiko. The Banyala are part of Buganda and our history and culture recognizes the Namuyonjo as their cultural leader. The Namuyonjo and the overwhelming majority of the Banyala enjoy their culture and voluntarily pledge their allegiance to Ssaabasajja Kabaka of Buganda

The county of Bugerere comprises several ethnic communities including the Bakenye, Basoga, Bagishu, Baluuli, Baganda, Japadhola, Iteso, Sudanese, Kuku. All ethnicities have been living harmoniously until the recent creation of the institution of the “Sabanyala”.

The Kingdom of Buganda deeply regrets the loss of life and destruction of property that followed the refusal of the Katikkiro to access Bugerere. In addition, the Kingdom regrets and abhors the closure of its radio station CBS FM, something that has heightened to the unnecessary chaos and tension.

The Kingdom of Buganda remains committed to fostering peace, justice and the harmonious co-existence of all of the peoples of Uganda. We remain very resolute in our peaceful and democratic quest for the realization of our legitimate aspirations for a federal system of governance for the whole of Uganda and the unconditional return of our expropriated properties.

The Kingdom reassures the public that Buganda remains a peace loving Kingdom that thrives on ethnic diversity and mutual respect and urges all people to remain law abiding. The Kingdom is and has always been willing to engage in principled, transparent and constructive dialogue with the Government and all other communities of Uganda to ensure our peaceful co-existence for the future. Such dialogue ought to be structured, time-bound, free of intimidation and based on mutual respect.

We are still engaged with Government to ensure that Ssaabasajja Kabaka attends the celebrations in Bugerere in a peaceful and secure environment.

AWANGAALE SSAABASAJJA.

ENG. J. B WALUSIMBI,

KATIKKIRO.

10^th September 2009.

Kampala Mayor and convicted money launderer, Nasser Sebaggala, has declared  “war” on Betty Nambooze, for what he claimed to be her disrespectful behavior towards him. Nambooze was the moderator of a Democratic Party leadership meeting that sat at Christ the King church conference hall. Problems started when, before the first item on the agenda was touched,  Sebaggala demanded that Nambooze give him the microphone to address the meeting because he had to rush to another meeting.  Nambooze resisted what was apparent indiscipline on the part of Mayor Sebaggala, explaining that the conference should follow the agenda and all speakers should contribute in the pre-determined order, to maintain  a sense or organization.

In a move that did not surprise those familiar with the current state of in the DP, President General Ssebaana Kizito and Secretary General Mathias Nsubuga openly disagreed with Nambooze’s call for discipline and order behavior. Indeed the added to the chaos when Nsubuga, with cheering from Ssebaana Kizito, grabbed the microphone from the speaker who had the floor and gave it to Sebaggala.

Sources in DP have told this reporter that the events at Christ the King are only symptoms of the high tension in the party between the “Buganda” wing and the “Uganda” wing. People like Nambooze and Lukwago are in the Buganda wing and they are highly suspected to be putting Buganda first and the party second.  For example when Nambooze gained freedom from captivity after Mr. Museveni ordered his kidnap, chose to suspend her DP activities for a couple of months but kept speaking for Buganda even while in the hospital.  Nambooze also works closely with other Buganda champions from other parties, like Daudi Mpanga (Independent), Beti Kamya (FDC), Hussein Kyanjo (Jeema), Lubega Sseggona (Independent), Kaddu Mukasa (Independent), etc. Overall, these people are not corrupt and are highly popular in Buganda.

According to the sources, the DP old-guard like Ssebaana and Sebaggala are scared that the focus that young Baganda in DP are putting on Mmengo and Buganda, is making them irrelevant.  To them, the popularity that Nambooze, Lukwago their colleagues enjoy  in Kampala and Buganda is undermining DP in other areas.

The mistreatment of Nambooze by Sebaggala and Ssebaana comes at a time when Kiiza Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is also in a miserable campaign to discredit Lubaga North MP, Beti Kamya, apparently for committing the same crime as Nambooze – putting Buganda first. Beti has already publicly declared her intention to make respect for Buganda’s interests the litmus test for any politician who wants to engage the new generation of Baganda.  Conventional wisdom in Buganda is that FDC is all but dead in Buganda because, at this time, Besigye and his team are still holding on to the illusion that they are the future saviors of Kabaka Mutebi’s people.