Boston and New York Baganda have announced that they will join to demonstrate against president Yoweri Museveni whose army and secret police are in an armed occupation of the kingdom of Buganda. According to the Baganda activists, their demonstration will take place at the same time that the Ugandan war load will be speaking at the UN General Assembly.

The statement announcing the demonstrations is reproduced below:

GGWANGAMUJJE NY/NJ AND GGWANGAMUJJE BOSTON calling you to attend Wednesday, September 23, 2009 demonstrations at UNITED NATIONS at 1^st Avenue and 47^th Street between 11:00 and 3:00PM. Demonstrations will take place at the same time when he is giving speech at the UNITED NATIONS.

Ggwangamujje Boston are pooling in buses so Ugandans in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware plan in advance to take a day off.

We are demonstrating against Museveni ruthless killing of unarmed civilians by his Military armed forces. The Violation of Human Rights and Freedom of Speech. Museveni’s inciting of tribal crisis (Baganda against Banyala / Banyoro against Bafuruki). The world MUST be informed in advance that ethnic clashes in Africa end up in genocides.

MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SENT OVER THE WEEKEND.

Let Your Voice be Heard.

See Cruel killing on the link below:

http://sites.google.com/site/ugandasbloody999/home and or

http://sites.google.com/site/ugandasbloody999/home/evidence

http://sites.google.com/site/ugandasbloody999/home/evidence

Uganda’s vice president, Dr. Gilbert Bukenya has told Kabaka Mutebi and his subjects to forget about  the Federo, which they are agitating for.  Bukenya is supposed to have made these statements in an interview that is published in government owned and controlled Sunday Vision of September 6, 2009. Bukenya was echoing the statement made by president Museveni, during a July 12, 2009 public debate On WBS TV, where he (Museveni) declared: “I can never allow Federo for Buganda”.

August 16, 2009 Bukenya attended the Coronation Anniversary celebrations in Lubiri where Omutaka Nakirembeka chided the vice president and other Baganda members of the NRM government for  parroting their anti-Buganda bosses. Kabaka Mutebi , in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Museveni’s TV declaration, made clear that Buganda would not tolerate any more double-talk on Federo. The Kabaka said: “When we hear some people saying that they don’t know what Federo means, I think they have failed to understand what we mean. You should reply to them that Federo is all about justice and truth, and this is what we demand.”

On his part, Bukenya told Kabaka Mutebi and the tens of  thousands of Baganda present that:  ”Buganda’s Federo concerns are genuine and we need to talk about them seriously. I will make sure to recommend to the appropriate authorities that they be handled.”  Apparently  Bukenya  chose the newspaper interview format to inform  Kabaka Mutebi and his subjects to forget Federo, only saying, “We are giving them a regional government.”

Below is what Bukenya told Moses Mulondo of the new vision in response to a question on Federo. According to our sources in Ugandan media, Bukenya and Uganda state house were involved in composing both the question and the answer . Moreover, Bukenya’s answer was first  shown to the Uganda state house, by Robert Kabushenga, before publication. Therefore, all the vagueness (kavuyo) it contains is intentional.

Question: Do you think Buganda’s demands on federalism are genuine?

Answer: Lets  first of all make this very clear. Long time ago when the Europeans came to the centre of Africa here, there was an absolute monarchy. All the power and the leadership was enthroned in the king of that kingdom. He would even order for the killing of a person if he wanted. When the British came in they started taking away power from the king and giving it to the chiefs.

That was the beginning of process of reducing absolute monarchism. By 1950 monarchism was beginning to die out because the colonialists had introduced elections. Once they introduced the system of one  man one vote, democracy began to take over from the monarchy. Today you would be wasting time or dreaming if you thought of going back to the absolute federalism of the monarchy we used to have before the colonialists

But the Buganda kingdom is not demanding for the federalism it had before colonialism, rather, it is demanding for the federalism it got in 1962 after we had acquired independence

But the 1962 federalism is what we are giving them. We are giving them a regional government. They told you to manage many things; I do not know what they were told to manage in 1962. However, I want this to be re-emphasised for it seems to be our major disagreement. In a democratic arrangement you cannot expect that there will ever be a leader of a government without their being voted for by the population. It’s not possible.

That is why we have been saying, ‘why we don’t dissolve some power by creating regional governments whose leaders will be voted for by the people?’ The central government can give some power and you can call that federalism. But the previous federalism of an absolute monarchy is gone forever.

The full interview is available in the Interview sections of the Sunday Vision at www.sundayvision.co.ug.

On December 28, 2008 we reported that an upcoming Kadongo Kamu singer, Muzadde Seruwagi, has released on the most patriotic video by a Muganda ever – Ggwangamujje Buganda.  Since then we have received emails drawing our attention to other videos which are similary patriotic. Some of the readers who have contacted us have also argued that some of these videos, such as Akaalo ka Buganda, deliver equally patriotic and brave messages.

The original purpose of the story on Seruwagi’s  Ggwangamujje Buganda was to inform our readers about the growing dedication of young people, including musicians, to their country Buganda. Seruwagi and his powerful message was, as the title of the story said on a symbol of new brave Baganda. On request from you our readers, below is a list of other songs by young Baganda which serve clear evidence that Seruwagi’s dedication to Buganda and Kabaka are more common than one would expect. All the singers involved are less than 35 years and demonstrate through their songs that they have a strong sense of Buganda history, the importance of Kabaka and “urgency of now” when it comes to Buganda self determination.

1. Tuzzeewo Ekitibwa kya Buganda -   By Nanziga SDA Primary School

2. Akaalo ka Buganda -  By Sir William Kibuuka

3. Buganda Madaala -  By Henry Katamba

4. Ba Mutunda Byaapa -  By Dr. Fred Sebbaale

5. Ggwangamujje -  By Nalinya lwantale Girls SSS Educational song

6. Njagala Nnyimbire Omutanda -  By Mesach Semakula

Patriotism among Baganda is growing steadily as a reaction to President Museveni’s sustained multi-year campaign to marginalize Kabaka Mutebi and demoralize his subjects in  their demands for cultural, political and property rights.  Despite strong evidence that Katikkiro JB Walusimbi has friendly personal and business relationships with  Mr. Museveni and his government, Kabaka Mutebi has, over the last 1-2 years sent clear signals to his subjects that they must fight anti-Buganda plans and actions by Mr. Museveni’s government, often championed by Baganda collaborators in high government offices.

Baganda have stronglyand positively  responded to Kabaka Mutebi’s call, especially the youth and those in the diaspora. Baganda youth, starting with those  who are ministers in the Buganda government, to individuals like the singer Muzadde Seruwagi, are actively voicing their opposition to Mr. Museveni’s latest land law, which is designed to legalize the stealing of 9,000 of Buganda native lands. Baganda in the diaspora went a step further during the annual Ttabamiruka ’08 international conference. They passed resolutions specifically making cowardice among Baganda, when it comes to supporting Kabaka Mutebi in the fight for “ebyaffe” unacceptable and declaring that no Muganda has authority to negotiate away anything that President Museveni or previous Uganda presidents stole from Buganda.

 Maama,

It was great talking to you on Sunday and learning that your are so much better. My theory is that the anxiety around the event of October 8 and 9, 2008 might have pushed that blood pressure up. And who can blame you? So many people are incensed at how this man, who never stepped in Buganda until he was over 24 years of age can get to the point of treating Kabaka Mutebi like trash. Anyway, to calm myself down while doing something that you will like very much, I decide to adopt one my favorite chapters to Buganda’s situation. See below, my own “remix” of Lamentations, Chapter 5.

Love to every one,

Joshua

Lamentations of Buganda (REMIX OF Lamentations, Chapter 5, The Bible)

1. Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace under occupation.
2. Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens who came begging for a little warmth, our homes to foreigners.
3. Under occupation, we have become orphans and fatherless, our mothers like widows.
4. We must buy our own land from those who took it for naught, just like the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price.
5. Those who hate and pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest, refugees in our homeland.
6. Our fathers put foreigners before their own; they sinned, and we bear the punishment.
7. Tricksters and murders occupy and rule over us, and there is none to free us from their hands.
8. We get our food at the risk of our lives because of the guns and poison in the hands of our occupiers.
9. Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger and deprivation of freedom.
10. Our women have been turned into prostitutes in Kampala, and virgins in the villages of our counties.
11. Ssabasajja Kabaka cannot travel freely through his kingdom, a foreigner decided; elders are shown no respect.
12. Young men toil at selling phone cards on the streets; boys stagger under load of days filled with Ludo, Matatu and hopelessness.
13. The elders are gone from the village meetings; the young men and women have stopped their dreaming for a bright future.
14. Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
15. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
16. Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim for Mmengo, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
17. You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
18. Why do you always forget us?  Why do you forsake us so long?
19. Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.