Taking the cue from President Museveni on Uganda politics and Dr. Besigye in FDC party politics many non-Baganda, especially in the American UNAA network, are drumming up hatred against Baganda on the Internet. Ironically, the founders of UNAA and about 90% of the organizers of the UNAA convention are Baganda. However, thanks to funding by President Museveni and Vice President Bukenya, the organization has become the NRM’s most important tool for fighting Baganda organizations in the diaspora.

Below, this columnist shares one example of the anti-Gandaism that is rampant on the UNAA network. In the message below, one Engineer David Basobokwe (dbasobokwe@yahoo.co.uk) demonstrates the type of anti-Ganda rhetoric that Baganda who lead UNAA will happily live with, in exchange for Mr. Museveni’s money. Note that this man, if this is his true name, lives in Kampala, Buganda.

This columnist argues that Baganda, starting with Katikkiro Walusimbi, must realize that no type of appeasement or negotiations can deal with the type of hatred expressed by Engineer David Basobokwe against Baganda. And it is the hatred that is responsible for the land grabbing in Buganda, impoverishment of Baganda and other targeted anti-Buganda programs. These Basobokwe types  must be isolated and fully exposed for what they are.

From: David Basobokwe
To: Oryema Johnson
Cc: ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com ; northernlightnet@yahoogroups.com ; mulindwa@look.ca ; north south
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2008 2:05 PM
Subject: Baganda Nonsense.

Eng.David Basobokwe
 
Kampala.

Attacks by senior Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) officials against MP Betty Kamya after her resignation from the position of Special Envoy for President appears to have gravely hurt the party.  The party’s grassroots elections literally failed, with many Baganda party members keeping away to protest the arrogance that was shown by non-Baganda in dealing with Kamya’s situation.  The majority of the positions in the village and parish elections did not receive any candidates.
 
On July 31, 2008, the Rubaga North MP, Betty Kamya, resigned her senior FDCpost. Ms. Kamya also declared that she was no longer interested in the position of FDC chairman which was left vacant by the death of Dr. Suleiman Kiggundu.
 
In what was seen by her supporters as an effort to intimidate the most popular FDC figure in Buganda, senior members of the FDC attacked Kamya’s decision.  The Daily Monitor  referred to allegations by some senior FDC leaders that Ms. Kamya took a bribe from President Museveni to resign and weaken the party. Some, especially Salaam Musumba, Nabilah Sempala and Mugisha Muntu allegedly accused Kamya of immature behavior.
 
Betty Kamya, who remained publicly quiet and dignified through most of the war of words, seems to have come out the stronger after the FDC elections flopped.  To many Baganda FDC members she is a hero, who is capable of standing up to Uganda politicians who routinely use Baganda as stepping stones. Talk of fronting Kamya for the Katikkiro position or helping her to start a new party is rife not only in Kampala but even in London. Kamya is the only major Muganda politician to so publicly make it clear that Buganda is more important than any Uganda politics.

On July 31^st, 2008, MP for Rubaga North, Betty Kamya, resigned her post as Special Envoy for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President. At the same time, Ms. Kamya declared that she was no longer interested in the position of FDC chairman which was left vacant by the death of Dr. Suleiman Kiggundu. Mrs. Kamya’s bid for chairman had become a point of controversy, pitting Baganda FDC heavy weights against non-Baganda leaders and rank and file in the party. The Buganda Caucus insisted that someone from Buganda should replace Kiggundu while non-Baganda argued the opposite.

Speculation in Kampala and London is rife that Ms. Kamya’s resignation positions her well for a possible big post at Mmengo. A Mmengo official who spoke on condition that their name not be revealed said that certain Buganda opinion leaders are working on plans to promote Betty Kamya to Kabaka Mutebi as a replacement for Katikkiro Walisumbi. Those promoting Ms. Kamya argue that she has proven her dedication and loyalty to Buganda beyond the call of duty. Over the years she has demonstrated exceptional ability to resist being bought. Technically though, Ms. Kamya would have to relinquish her MP position if she accepts the post of Katikkiro.

Ms. Kamya’s resignation comes at a time when opposition parties in Uganda appear to be in turmoil. The largest opposition party, the FDC, is embroiled in the fight over the replacement of the late Dr. Kiggundu. The oldest party in Uganda, the Democratic Party (DP), is split along ethnic lines after the election of Matthias Nsubuga as the new Secretary General, which non-Baganda are contesting. And the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) which was recently signed by Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), FDC, Conservative Party (CP) and JEEMA is not picking up traction, probably because the Baganda led DP refused to participate.