In a short essay distributed on the Internet, long-term Boston, USA, resident Tendo Kaluma, says that Buganda should consider secession from Uganda as an option.  He uses the example of the much smaller and poorer Rwanda to show that Buganda has the capacity to succeed as an independent country. He also mentions Eretria’s relatively recent separation from Ethiopia as an example of “a successful exercise of secession.”

Mr. Kaluma’s essay, dated December, 10, 2009, is reproduced below:

The nation of Buganda, needs to have an internally motivating monologue, to gather up strength and to show it’s resolve, now more than ever. How long can they sit idly, while hemorrhaging and enduring such fatal blows economically, politically and socially, blows that have caused serious damage to their own development agenda and above all their collective psyche. 

There comes a time when the need to cut ones losses becomes paramount, like a young man leaving the comforts of his home, when he turns of age; it might just be that time!  How different from Rwanda will Buganda be? Yet Rwanda has managed to meet all expectations without much hiccupping, unfettered in their affairs and free from molestation.

Secession ought to be among the options considered by Buganda to up the ante -with an increasingly hostile central government. Eritrea lives and it is vibrant more than ever after a successful exercise of secession.

If this is the only way we could achieve federation, so be it; but they have to prop up the polity and prepare them for a bumpy ride-I have all confidence in the prowess of a non-oppressed Buganda, their star has shined before and it shall continue to shine whether in a swimming pool or an ocean.  You will see them climbing higher than ever while enviably realizing their full potential.

Tendo Kaluma

Ugandan in Boston

The organizers of the Buganda Emergency Meeting, which took place on October 17, 2009, in Boston USA, have published the resolutions from the event (see “Muliika And Frank Musisi To Headline Boston Buganda Emergency Conference“).  We first received a copy of the resolutions at around 4:00 PM Boston time but it took us until 7:30 PM to verify that it was genuine. That is when a highly reliable source confirmed to us that the document was being circulated on the top Baganda discussion lists by Mr. James Semakula, one of the organizers.

Buganda post is preparing a story, together with in depth analysis, on the Buganda Emergency Meeting to be published over the weekend.

The resolution document is reproduced in its entirety below:

Resolutions of the Buganda Emergency Meeting in Boston on October 17, 2009‏

Preamble:-

Aware that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICFSCR), guarantee the right to self determination of all people;

Convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the NRM government has violated fundamental human rights;

Saddened by the gross, unjust and inefficient governance inflicted on the people of Uganda by the NRM regime;

Realizing that Unity is essential to achieving our collective objectives;

Determined to rid Uganda of bad governance, dictatorship, and corruption;

Condemning strongly the NRM government’s continued interference in the running of independent institutions and intrusion into the running and electoral process of organizations of Ugandans in the Diaspora;

We hereby earnestly resolve as follows:-

1.    Establish structures to analyze and determine the resources needed to achieve our objectives.

2.    Advise the Kabaka not to directly negotiate with Museveni, his government, or agents of the NRM regime.

3.    Take appropriate steps to fundraise in order to finance the necessary activities to lead to change and the establishment of genuine democracy in Uganda.

4.    Pursue all legal channels that are useful in achieving our objectives including, but not limited to, international legal action.

5.    Educate the International community about the true political situation in Uganda through demonstrations on a regular basis and lobby work at the New York UN headquarters, Washington DC, and other major cities in the world.

6.    Boycott, effective immediately, all government media and other anti-Buganda entities.

7.    Intensify civic education of the people about the problems and possible solution to the problems being faced by Buganda.

8.    Reach out to other Ugandan ethnicities and groups with a view to making alliances to advance the cause of Democracy and Federalism.

9.    Expose government spies, informers, and traitors– and record their illegal activities within and outside Uganda for the purpose of future prosecution.

10.  Seek better Medical treatment for Mrs. Betty Nambooze Bakireke.

11.  Reject (unanimously) the Regional Tier as a form of governance in Uganda.

12.  Agree that Museveni and his regime must go; and resolve to establish a mechanism for free and fair elections

Sources in the Uganda Foreign Affairs ministry have informed us that president Museveni changed his mind about leaving the USA early after reconciling with Libya’s Moammar Gadaffi, getting some badly needed sleep and overcoming much of the panic he had about Kabaka Mutebi back in Kampala. Apparently the lowered stress also led to a reduction in Museveni’s foot pain, which kept him seated in the UN even when everyone was standing or walking around (see “Kabaka, Obama, Foot Pain, and Baganda Demos Force Museveni To Leave USA“. Museveni reportedly arrived in Boston on Friday and, if his feet remain stable, he will be the chief guest at the 2009 NRM Forum.

Our reporter in Boston has learnt that the Kabaka’s anti-Museveni subjects made no changes in the demo plans, even after word came that the Ugandan warlord might not show. They were willing to demonstrate even if Ruhakana Rugunda was the chief guest. An estimated 500-1,000 are expected to demonstrate against Museveni and his anti-Buganda NRM government.

In the meantime, last week Baganda from the whole North East USA announce plans to protest at the NRM Gala, which will be hosted at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel, downtown Boston (see “USA Baganda Demonstrations Set for Boston NRM Gala“. The Baganda demonstration will take place at We will be holding a rally tomorrow, on Saturday September 26, 2009 at the Boston Common on the same also at 110 Huntington Avenue in Boston. Museveni is expected to start speaking at 10:00 AM and the Baganda intend to start their demonstration one hour earlier and continue after he finishes. Major news media organizations are expected to be present.

On September 23, 2009, Museveni decided to leave the USA early and skip the NRM Forum after being snubbed by President Obama and getting embarrassed by a large pro-Kabaka demonstration at the UN by about 100 Baganda. Museveni fortunes changed when Libyan military dictator, Moammar Gadaffi, agreed to meet with him in New York City. According to our sources, the two African warlords reconciled and agreed to work together on the  Buganda  issue.  Museveni was reportedly cheered up by the Gadaffi, reconciliation because believed reports by his dysfunctional  intelligence that Mmengo was getting assistance from Libya.  The Libyan side has down played the reconciliation however, a sign that Museveni needed it much more than they did.

In an indirectly related story, we have received unconfirmed reports that although Museveni’s feet became much better on Thursday after he got some sleep, he still needs to keep then in a basin of cold water to relieve pain. And he is still anxious to return to occupied Buganda and continue his efforts to  force Kabaka Mutebi to talk to him.

A reliable source in the Uganda Foreign ministry has discreetly informed us that Uganda’s military strongman, president Yoweri Museveni will probably leave the USA prematurely on Thursday or Friday this week. Previously, Museveni had planned to stay until Sunday so that he could attend the annual NRM Gala in Boston. According to the source, Museveni had planned to go to New York after humiliating Baganda by succeeding to force Kabaka Mutebi to meet him. Certain influential Baganda who expect to personally benefit if Buganda accepts the Regional Tier government and CBS Radio is reopened, had promised to deliver Kabaka Mutebi by last Saturday. However, by the time Museveni left for the USA the Kabaka had said “No” to what seems to be a trick to make him (the Kabaka) appear like he is prostituting himself in exchange for re-opening CBS Radio.

Our source said: “The frustration that the president feels about the Kabaka’s tough stance has made it so difficult for him to get sleep and aggravated his feet problem, to where he cannot stand for 10 minutes.”  The source gave this as the reason why president Museveni greeted several important personalities at the UN while sitting, even when everyone around him was standing.

Our source also reveals that Museveni had gone to the USA with the expectation that he might have a one-on-one meeting with President Obama. However, Mr. Obama preferred to meet all African leaders together and give them a lecture about the need to stop dictatorships and create jobs – the things where Museveni is doing worst. The source adds that: “The bipolar president was not amused to then hear that about 100 Baganda were going to hold a major demonstration during his UN speech and accuse him of genocide in front cameras from major USA news organizations.  With the increasing worry about the Kabaka situation, the Obama snub, the burning pain in his feet and hostile American Baganda, Mrs. Museveni convinced her husband that staying in the USA longer is too risky.”

Museveni and his wife plan to depart from the USA sometime on Thursday or, latest, on Friday. At the time of posting this story, it was not clear if Museveni’s state house had even informed all concerned ambassadors or the NRM Gala organizers in Boston.

According to an email  we received from someone who claims to have attended  the Ggwangamujje meeting held in New Jersey on Saturday, the attendees agreed to declare Buganda to be under captivity.  “Everyone agreed that there is no question that Kabaka has done a wonderful job in these tough times. Also that the Baganda who are resisting Museveni’s dictatorship are real heros. We also agreed that Kabaka Mutebi made the right decision to call off the visit because he was totally surrounded by Museveni’s poorly trained forces and his subjects were at risk. In the end we declared Kabaka and Buganda to be in captivity.”

The email promised that an official statement is supposed to be issued by Ggwangamujje officials and it will most certainly say that Buganda is in captivity. And that those Baganda who agree must from today on work for one thing, the freedom of their Kabaka and country, Buganda, from the captivity (buwambe).  They  are confident that as time passes Baganda masses will understand this and stop discussing any  politics except for the withdraw occupying forces. They have no plans to waste time taking Museveni to his own courts or worrying about Uganda elections while Buganda is captivity.

In a related story, evidence continues to mount that President Museveni is becoming more panicky every passing day after his forces massacred young unarmed Baganda last week. On Saturday and Sunday, after closing down Baganda owned radio stations, he launched a press campaign in his New Vision and Aga Khan’s The Monitor claiming that he was to meet Kabaka Mutebi this week. But our sources tell us that Katikkiro Walusimbi and Regional Tier advocates (Mulwaanyamuli clique, Mmengo based businessmen and  Uganda politicians eager to personally gain from Regional Tier) are secretly working with NRM officials to force the Kabaka  to talk to Museveni. And Museveni, panicking after the scare of last Thursday, is so obsessed with talking to Ssabasajja  that, on Wednesday, he publically complained to the Uganda parliament that, since Saturday he has been the Kabaka without success.

Most major news organizations have reported that United States Senator John Kerry is one of the people  being considered by President-elect for the post of Secretary of State (equivalent to Minister of Foreign Affairs). If Senator Kerry is appointed Secretary of State it could spell trouble for the Uganda government. Senator John Kerry, who represents Massachusetts in the USA Senate, has kept a close eye on the Uganda human rights situation for several years. He is very well informed about President Museveni’s record of massive election rigging and wanton corruption. It must be noted that Mr. Obama himself is quite knowledgeable about Uganda, Mr. Museveni’s dictatorship and his award winning corruption.

Obama’s presidency in general, and Kerry’s appointment to the cabinet in particular, could be bad news for the Museveni dictatorship. One piece of evidence is the letter below, which Senator Kerry wrote to the outgoing American President Bush on the eve of an October 2007 Museveni visit to the White House.

October 29, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I understand you will be discussing a number of important subjects with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during tomorrow’s meeting, including the escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.  I also urge you to take this opportunity to raise certain issues related to President Museveni’s 2006 reelection.

Specifically, the first multi-party election in over twenty-five years, held in February 2006, was reportedly marred by intimidation, various voting irregularities, and a show of force by the government.  The main opposition candidate was harassed and put on trial.  Regrettably, these events came on the heels of President Museveni pressuring the Ugandan parliament to lift the Constitution’s two-term limit on the presidency.  Breaking his express promise to abide by the terms of the Constitution allowed President Museveni to seek reelection for a third time in 2006.

Given our strong interest in promoting democracy in Uganda and elsewhere around the world, I hope you take this opportunity both to ask President Museveni to reaffirm his commitment to the rule of law and to understand the steps he has taken since 2006 towards this end.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.  I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
United States Senator

Source: http://kerry.senate.gov/cfm/record.cfm?id=286288

Dear Maama,

Kyaterekera omunaku tekivunda. What you have prayed for all these months happened, as you already know from CNN. Your “tall boyfriend” Obama won! And Jeff, my Republican friend who has been insisting that the polls were all lying when they showed Obama ahead did not even come to work this morning.  I hope you remember Jeff. He is the guy with a tattoo who lent me his van when we bought the dining table in 2004. Anyway, back to Obama. We have been going to bed after midnight for about a full month; staying awake to watch the CNN and MSNBC election coverage. And yesterday we even went to the victory party at the Holiday Inn near the Interstate and returned home at 1:45 AM.

Now, when it comes to Buganda and Uganda, most of us here believe that Obama is going to be bad news for African dictators. And this will affect Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe most because Barack is very well informed about the election rigging and civil rights abuse in these countries.  By the way he takes his Luo roots very seriously and he sincerely considered people like the Odingas his cultural leaders. So, the smart Baganda see a big opportunity to educate Obama’s administration about the occupation of Buganda and its potential for genocide scale violence. And the signals from Obama on Uganda’s dictatorship even during the campaign have been very encouraging.

Between now and Obama’s swearing ceremony, we hope to get some work done and to sleep normally. The election fever has denied us so much sleep. By the way, we intend to drive down to Washington D.C. for the swearing ceremony. I will give you more details later.

Sorry but the elections have made it difficult for many of us here to focus on developments in Buganda lately. But I have noticed the rapid rate at which the Shilling is losing value. It seems that the Shilling does not obey Uganda’s president who (in Idi Amin style) claimed that Uganda could not be affected by the global economic crisis. Imagine the president of a country which whose budget is 50% funded by foreign AID and whose biggest export is “kyeeyo workers” make such an irresponsible claim!

I have to go watch the talking heads analyze the election results on CNN. Say hello to every own.

Son,

Joshua