Below is a statement that was released by the Bunyoro Kingdom on May 24, 2009. A highly reliable source in Mmengo has told us that there have been no plans for Kabaka Mutebi to visit Ndaiga as the statement claims. She warned that this is may be a ploy by Ford Mirima, who is often carrying out state house directives, to distract Baganda onto yet another random topic. The official added: “I am not speaking for Kabaka’s government but, personally, I think Banyoro should start asking themselves what will happen when Baganda youths camp at Kakiri or Luweero to stop their Omukama from proceeding to Kampala. Togayanga kyeziinze! ”

The statement, which was sent to various news outlets and government officials is reproduced below:

Bunyoro kingdom to demonstrate against Kabaka visit to Ndaiga

Dear Editors;

Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom May 22, 2009 issued a statement saying the kingdom is to join Mubende Banyoro Committee on June 5, 2009, to demonstrate against among others things, the planned June 25, 2009, Kabaka Mutebi’s visit to Ndaiga to cement Buganda Kingdom’s claim on the Mailo Akenda part of (3000 sq miles) which is in Buyaga and Bugangaizi counties of Bunyoro-Kitara.

The statement issued by the Katiikiro, Mr. Yabezi Kiiza, says if the Kabaka wants to assert Buganda’s ownership of land in Kibaale District which is the land the Uganda Constitution says the Kabaka must surrender under the Land Fund in the Uganda Constitution, the Kabaka will be breaching the Uganda Constitution. The katiikiro says these counties were connstitutionally transferred to Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom. So, Buganda has no say in them.

The Katiikiro’s statement follows a resolution adopted by Mubende Banyoro Committee on May 11, 2009 in which they wrote to the Inspector-General of Police seeking permision to demonstrate peacefully against Government failure to return Banyoro land as the referendum of 1964 decrees.

Octoebr 8, 2008 Kabaka Ronald Muwenda  was stopped by Police from visiting Buruuli county where he was going to celebrate Buganda’s independence Day. The Baruulli warned him not to go there before he got persmission from the Isaabaruuli, Mwogezi Butamanya. He defied the Baruuli. whereupon they deployed the youths to stop him. The Uganda Government through the Police stopped the Kabaka from going to Nakasongola.

Last week Buganda Government made arrangments for the Kabaka to visit Bunyala county (Bugerere) but the Banyala, through their Cultural Head, The Isaabanyala, Captain Kimeze, warned him not to step in Bunyala unless he has official permission from the Isaabanyala, the  Cultural head.

In in1961 the late Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Muteesa used force to visit  Buyaga county,at Karutguuza, where the Banyoro had warned him not to go. there. The Banyoro erected roadblocks to stop him, but the Kabaka, using  Kawonawos, stormed the road blocks and went to Karuguuza Market where he found Banyoro buying and selling goods and he shot and killed nine Banyoro, including the Market Master, Ntogota.

Today Buganda Kingdom says the Kabaka is going to go, by force, to Bunyala county, and to Ndaiga. The Banyoro are already mobilising themselves to stop the Kabaka from going to Ndaiga.

Now get the official statement from Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom issued by the Katiikiro.

Henry Ford Miirima
Press Secretary of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara

On a day after  Kabaka Mutebi’s one week tour of Busujju county, described by  Katikkiro JB Walusimbi as the first phase of spending the Shs 1 Billion that President Museveni gave to Mmengo on his (Walusimbi’s) mumuli program, the Bunyoro kingdom says  that Shs 1 Billion (US$ 454,000) is peanuts.  According to a story that will appear in the Daily Monitor newspaper on Monday,  the press secretary to the Omukama of Bunyoro,  Henry Ford Mirima says that  the donation to the kingdom is a drop in the sea.  And Mr. Mirima also claims that the government should be giving Bunyoro a minimum of Shs 10 Billion, for starters. In contrast to Bunyoro’s calm and steady stand,  Katikkiro JB Walusimbi excitedly told the Buganda Lukiiko on April 20, 2009, that he had unilaterally accepted Shs 350 Million (US$ 159,000) as a first installment on the Shs 1 Billion.  Last week Mr. Walusimbi told Buganda that the farming implements that Kabaka Mutebi distributed in Busujju county were bought with part of Mr. Museveni’s Shs 350 Million.

Information is now  emerging from Uganda government sources that,  Moses Byaruhanga, personally a Munyoro, and other members of Mr. Museveni’s state house worked with certain Bunyoro officials to set up Mmengo and Kabaka Mutebi,  so they look like a greedy bunch that will do anything, even risk their lives,  for as little as Shs 350 Million.

The sources told us: “Once the state house people saw Walusimbi’s eagerness was to get and spend the Shs 350 Million plus the effect of a small transportation allowance on Buganda Lukiiko members, they were very happy. The happiness turned into excitement when Walusimbi got Kabaka Mutebi to go on a tour of Busujju county under the story that he (the Kabaka) was distributing items procured from Mr. Museveni.  The president even publically praised Katikkiro Walusimbi, to complete the set up. Then Byaruhanga and Hoima went to work and crafted the Bunyoro position, designed to make Mmengo and Kabaka Mutebi look greedy and cheap.”

It is too early to tell how Baganda in different walks of life will react to the failure of Katikkiro Walusimbi to heed their warnings to stay away from Mr. Museveni’s token money.  According to our sources, there is no evidence that JB Walusimbi was personally involved in a conspiracy with state house agains Kabaka Mutebi. However, all Baganda, including Mr. Walusimbi’s supporters, are likely to agree that he is solely responsible for linking Kabaka Mutebi to Mr. Museveni’s money with his mumuli program.