Friday, March 19, 2010

PRESESS RELEASE

Dear Fellow Ugandans:

RE: KASUBI ROYAL TOMBS RESTORATION FUND

An emergency meeting for Baganda residing in Southern California was held on Thursday 18, Mar 2010 at 9411 Burnet Avenue, North Hills CA 91343 at 7:00PM.

The meeting was called by Lt. Frank Musisi to discuss the issue of the destroyed Kasubi Royal Tombs and the Way Forward.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE MADE AND ADOPTED IMMEDIATELY:

1.      To send a sympathy message to the Royal family of Buganda and to the entire Buganda kingdom for the loss of the royal regalia which was gutted in the inferno of last Tuesday’s that destroyed the Kasubi Royal Tombs.

2.      Pledged to restore the Kasubi Royal Tombs in collaboration with Mengo establishment, Buganda Kingdom, and the Baganda in Diaspora by mobilizing and contributing the necessary financial resources for this job.

3.      Established a special fund, ” Kasubi Royal Tombs Restoration Fund (KRTRF)”.

4.      A sum of $1 million is to be raised in between 8-12 months if at least 1000 Baganda and friends of Buganda in the United States each contribute $1000.

5.      An Interim Organizing Committee was put in place consisting of the following members to spearhead the project, KRTRF:

a.       Chairman:                                                          Lt. Frank Musisi

b.      Vice Chairman:                                                Mr. Damiano Kigoye.

c.       Secretary:                                                        Mr. Fredrick Mwanje.

d.      Treasurer:                                                         Ms. Prossy Musoke.

e.       Publicity Secretary and mobilization:            Mr. Dennis Nnyondo

f.       Assistant publicity Secretary/ Mobilization:  Mr. Arthur Ssembusi.

Interim Committee Advisors:

a.       Mr. Dennis Kavuma, Buganda Tourism ZSAR in the U.SA.

b.      William Ssenkumba, Buganda Tourism Commissioner

c.       Mr. Moses Male, Buganda Tourism Commissioner

d.      Mr. Siraje Mugambe- President of the Ugandan Community Organization in California (UCOC).

6.      Members present pledged a sum of $11,480 immediately to the KTRF

7.      Members resolved to send the Chairman, Lt. Frank Musisi immediately to Mengo to meet with Buganda Officials and update then on formation of the” Kasubi Tombs Restoration Fund (KTRF)” and way forward.

8.      Members resolved to advise the Buganda Leadership not to seek assistance from Uganda Politicians but rather concentrate on the generosity and spirit of the loyal Baganda and friends of Buganda around the globe.

For more information on how you can contribute towards the KTRF please contact:

Chairman, Lt. Frank Musisi (818)-994-1485,

Vice Chairman, Mr. Damiano Kigoye ( 310-227-9253),

Advisor, Buganda Tourism Zsar, Mr. Dennis Paul Kavuma at 818-620-9448,

and others on the Committee.

Awangaale Ssabassajja Maggulunnyondo, Wa Buganda.

Yours Sincerely,

Dennis Nnyondo (818-201-7048)
Publicity Secretary & Mobilizer
Kasubi Tombs Restoration Fund
Los Angeles, California (USA)

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

L-R: Dr Steven Lwetutte (Amnesty International officer on matters concerning with Eastern Europe), Downing Street, Lawrence Muyimba (Treasurer Buganda Centre), Chairman Buganda Centre Deo Kiggundu Malagala and Harriet Senyonjo dilivering a petition to British Prime Minister’s Office, No 10 Downing Street last month.

LONDON: As pressure mounts and more petitions continue, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the first time has come out to speak about the September 11, massacre of 30 unarmed civilians and continue incarceration of over 800 people in the capital Kampala. “The UK government is deeply concerned about the recent rioting in Kampala,” reads  in part an October 23, letter, to expatriate Ugandans who last month petitioned the UK government and the International Community demanding that Uganda’s foreign backers to withdraw their support to dictator Yoweri Museveni’s regime after the September massacre of innocent civilians.

Judith Mann from Great Lakes Section on behalf of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), wrote: “With our EU partners, we have raised our concerns about the use of excessive force by the police and defence during the riots with the government of Uganda and we have encouraged them to instigate an independent investigation into the riots.” This followed the increase petitions and lobbying by several groups of Ugandans abroad. Since the September, Kampala, streets carnage three groups most of them potential voters in the UK polls, have petitioned British Prime Minister’s No. 10 Downing Street. Whilst, others have prepared several dossiers to the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the European Union.

Although, the Ugandan President Museveni in his speech to the Parliament just after the riot, he justified his forces’ action as they handled the rioters. It has now emerged Uganda Government’s narrative of the events to the International Community is different. Museveni, in his televised directive was “Shoot and Kill’ order when the riot broke out on September 10, as Military Police and other armed security operatives blocked Prime Minister who was preparing His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s visit to Kayunga an area  in Buganda Kingdom.  However, it has now been understood that when asked to account for the deaths and random arrests, the Uganda government’s message to the FCO is like chalk and cheese.

“The Ugandan authorities have told us that this will be investigated and that where appropriate, individuals will be held to account,” reads a FCO communiqué, contradicting, Museveni’s speech in which he labelled the protestors  as ‘shadowy subversive activities’ against his regime and  ‘hooligans’ whose purpose was meant to loot and destroy properties. During the September 11, riot, allegations of a foreign country, in this regard suspected to be Libya, had allegedly channelled huge amount of money to Buganda Kingdom to fund anti-NRM activities. The kingdom has vehemently denied such allegations, calling it playing dirt politics by Museveni’s regime to divert attention from  legitimate demands and possibly to persecute official from Mengo establishment.
The current-day Uganda acquires its name from the ancient Kingdom of Buganda, a hereditary monarchy that once covered the southern part the country including the capital Kampala. His Majesty Mutebi II, the custodian of the Kingdom has unsolved issues with the central government which include; the return of 9000sqmile of land, its County headquarters and a demand for Federal system of governance that can check corruption. In addition to now the formerly cherished CBS FM radio station which was closed during the recent riot.

In a separate communiqué to this reporter, another officer Ms Stephanie Sandison, said that the General Affairs External Relations Council of the European Union express its concern over the September’s riots in Kampala, arguing the Ugandan Government to resolve any political disputes through peaceful dialogue and democratic  institutions. That,  the Council also urges the Government to do its utmost to assure that there will be a level playing field in the run up to the general elections of 2011 and that these elections will be free, fair and transparent. Ms Sandison said; “This has been agreed jointly by all EU Member States, including the UK.  A full copy of the text can be found at: tttp://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/110787.pdf.”

“We continue to monitor the political situation in Uganda closely and regularly discuss human rights issues with the Uganda Government,” said officer Ms Sandison from the Great Lake Region when reacting to question why the British Government unfailingly continues to cosset the tyrannical regime given the well documented human rights abuses. Reacting to a demand made in several petitions by expatriate Ugandans to have the September protesters released, Ms Sandison, said: “We continue to push for further action on human rights issues such as media freedom, illegal detention and politically motivated harassment.”
“The UK Government remains determined to bring stability to the region and will continue to work with the international community and partners in the region to bring this about,” says Ms Sandison.

Not used to public debates, fearing and well aware of the power of the media, President Museveni, justified CBS FM closure, when he claimed that it was inciting violence. Then the government accused CBS and other stations of inflaming violence that erupted in the entire region.

Meanwhile Ugandans in Diaspora joined the 120 country groups to continue lobby the UK Government and EU donors to scrutinise the Uganda Government in to protect their interests. In the last month, Ugandans from different organisations abroad have approached potential lobbyists over the current situation in Uganda.

“A total of 30 innocent civilians were brutally murdered by Museveni’s security forces last month and about 1000 people are still incarcerated in secret places, so, it’s our duty to check this situation,” said a member who attended a meeting with top UK Bishop and a member of House of Lords. The deputation, who has so far secured an informal approach with some UK MPs and members of House of Lords, is lobbying to give accurate and truthful information to the Commons about Uganda.

“We want to inform the legislators here that, the government’s continue backing of Museveni, is putting the British interests in Uganda at risk,” a member who attended an hour meeting at one of the Cathedral on October 19, told this reporter. Exclusively, this reporter has learnt that with the group has also prepared a similar dossier to be circulated to the European Parliament in Brussels-Belgium. A source said: “We are not going to use any form of force, but our brains and the power of the pen. That is why many politicians and Uganda’s foreign backers have welcomed this kind of approach. Let Museveni spend millions of dollars to decorate his corrupt regime, we are encountering his lies by delivering factual evidences,” said a source.

President Museveni’s NRM occupation government is starting to feel the cost of keeping the kingdom of Buganda in a virtual state of emergency. Since early September 2009, Museveni has spent billions of Uganda Shillings in resources to destabilize Kabaka Mutebi, monitor and block Baganda radio and phone communications, block unfriendly Internet addresses, fund pro-Region Tier forces in Mmengo and redeploy at least 65% of all Uganda’s police and army in Buganda.  The panic expenditure, together with the accompanying graft by those managing the funds has left the occupation NRM government in a financial fix. To cope, Museveni is reportedly, raiding certain government institutions, where aid donors cannot easily trace misuse of funds.

Our source in Uganda’s ministry of Finance has told us that the list of organizations that the NRM government is raiding include Bank of Uganda (BOU), National Social Secrity Fund (NSSF), NAADS and the President’s patriotism development fund. The source said: “BOU is easy because, the governor, Emmanuel Mutebire and the secretary to treasury, Chris Kassami are both veteran embezzlers. And they now have younger leutenants in Naome Nassasira and Keith Muhakanizi to oversee the thefts. The NSSF could have been more complicated because it has been in the papers too much. That is why they appointed a brand new board, with a solid number of thieves, to ensure full cooperation when government raids the organization. Even UPE will not be spared. There are plans to reallocate huge sums of money from students and combine those moneys with billions from Museveni’s patriotism development fund  to massively recruit ‘patriotic’ teachers as a backbone of a new spy network within Buganda. The reason they are looking at NAADS is because they have successfully used it in the past to bribe LCs and settle Balaalo and other foreigners in Buganda, without donor interference.”

On a related note, our ministry of Finance source points out that at least 30-40% of the money being spent to maintain the Buganda occupation is stolen by the implementers and NRM politicians. According the the source: “Because of the secrecy, there is no accountability and everyone involved in the illegal financial raids make sure to keep some. Even Museveni and his family are actively chasing the patriotism fund. It is like everyone is trying to get what they can before the next Baganda riots break out. “

According to the Ttabamiruka ’08 website, members of Gwangamujje NY/NJ, a social organization for New York area Baganda, has set up a “special medical fund to assist Ms. Betty Nambooze Bakireke, Chairperson of Buganda Kingdom’s Central Civic Education Committee, and others towards payment of their medical bills.” Nambooze was released from Rubaga Hospital on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 with strict doctor’s instructions to rest and gain strength for an operation to repair the effects of a post caesarean birth wound infection that she contracted during her captivity.
 
According to Ggwangamujje sources, the primary goal of the fund is to enable Ms. Betty Nambooze to receive a detailed, high technology, medical check up in one of the top hospitals in New York. Depending on the amount of money donated, appropriate assistance will also be extended to the other kidnap victims, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega. For more information on how to donate visit the Ttabamiruka website at  www.ttabamiruka.com/donations.
 
At the time of filing this report, we had received confirmation that Ms. Nambooze will attend and speak at the Federo conference in London, starting on August 22, 2008. A similar confirmation from the Ttabamiruka organizers was not yet available.