Museveni’s NRM USA organization will, until it collapses, remember September 26, 2009 as a bloody day. Pressure from American Baganda forced their primary funder, Uganda’s ruler, Yoweri Museveni keep away from their 2009 NRM Forum in Boston.  The pressure came from the widely publicized plans by Baganda to demonstrate at the venue and the persistence of the same Kabaka’s subjects who came to the venue even after mixed messages about Museveni’s attendance. The Baganda came from New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Canada and elsewhere.

An estimated 200 Baganda , under the eye of the Boston Police, stood  across the street from the entrance to the Marriott Copley Place Hotel and loudly demonstrated from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.  They held  up placards that, among other things,  accused Museveni of genocide, stated that Buganda is an occupied country and demanded the release of Baganda political prisoners. Throughout the over 5 hours of demonstration, Baganda kept singing “Kitiibwa kya Buganda”, praising Kabaka Mutebi and chanting slogans like “Akaalo ka Buganda keeko, akalo kaliko nannyiniko”, “Tulina Kabaka, tulina ennyondo”, “We want change, Museveni must go!” and so on. Curious car drivers kept honking and showing ‘V” signs, which kept the demonstrators energized.

Our contact within  NRM USA admitted that the Baganda demonstration caused the NRM Forum to flop but would not comment of where Museveni was hiding.  Speaking on condition anonymity the source told us that between 25 and 30 people attended the event.  And when pressed, the source admitted that this number included over 15 organizers, government officials and spouses. Interestingly, the source, who is usually very defensive of  Museveni, said “no comment” when asked if the Uganda president has been scared away by the Baganda. However, the source agreed that Buganda Post was “in the ball park” when we reported that president Museveni had decided to leave early and skip Boston, and then changed his mind. When we brought up the feet pain issues, the source only asked: “Where do you get that nonsense from?”.

A prominent Muganda analyst based in New York told us that there is no doubt in his mind that Baganda demonstrators in New York and Boston combined with the Obama snub shook up Museveni.  The analyst explained: “You have to remember that throughout the Bush years, Museveni enjoyed open access to the US State House. For some reason he has not gotten used to the idea that Bush left, so he assumed that Obama would meet him personally. Thanks to Johnny Carson’s [US Undersecretary of State for Africa] intimate knowledge of Museveni’s regime, Obama administration put together a well-planned snub, which included ensuring that Obama’s TV images showed him speaking to the Uganda’s corrupt strongman for less than 5 seconds and immediately turning his back to him.

Our analyst adds: “In meeting Moammar Gadaffi, Museveni was hoping to make America  jealous. Now, if Obama’s administration fell for I would be shocked. I understand that Museveni had some meetings with Balaalo students under the secret state house scholarship and got a briefing on the progress of a program by Ruhakana Rugunda and his wife to recruit Baganda women in the USA.  However, the only thing he seriously looked forward to was holding court at the NRM Forum in Boston. In scaring  Museveni away from Boston and sabotaging the forum, the USA Baganda exposed his cowardice. However, very much like a man who gets fired from his job and runs home beat his children, expect the sulking Museveni to return to Uganda and take his frustration on Kabaka and Baganda, to revenge the humiliation he has suffered. The interesting part is that Buganda will get even stronger as no one can claim the ‘twebaka ku tulo’ and ‘Tumukwaate mpola’ crap.”

On Tuesday, September 9, 2008, the Libyan ambassador to Uganda, Abdallah Bujeldin made it clear that the alleged fallout between his boss and President Museveni was nothing but a hoax. In a telecast speech to mark the 39th anniversary of the Libyan so called Green Revolution. Bujeldin said, “The President [Museveni] has done very excellent work.”  The diplomat folded his thumb to show four fingers, signifying the fourth term, and added, “Revolutionaries like President Museveni do not need to be changed because they fought for a major cause.” He campaigned, “To all Muslims in Uganda, remember 2011 is coming. You must remember to support President Museveni.”

Libya’s entry into Uganda politics on the side of President Museveni came hours after a Buganda delegation led by Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu and including Katikkiro J.B. Walusimbi returned from the Green Revolution celebrations in Libya. The all expenses paid invitation to Libya was sold to Baganda as participation in an African cultural conference. The Buganda delegation also included Apollo Makubuya, the Buganda Attorney General, and others. Before the Libyan trip, Katikkiro Walusimbi had touted, both in cabinet and at Nook Bar, the plan “to exploit the rift between Museveni and Gaddafi and get the Libyan leader to fund Bulange Plaza and other construction projects.”

It is not clear what the Buganda delegation achieved on their 2 week trip. However, Libya’s decision to make such strong political statements in support of Museveni appears to be a message to Mengo that Gaddafi and Museveni have no serious rift for Mengo to exploit. On arrival back home, the Buganda delegation indicated that Gaddafi had agreed to Lubiri developments. If this is true and Walusimbi and Gaddafi follow through with it, it could be seen by some Baganda as proof that Museveni, Gaddafi and Walusimbi, along with other prominent Baganda, are all in a conspiracy to grab the Lubiri from Buganda.

Libya’s president Gaddafi has no history of liking of honoring monarchies. He came to power an armed overthrow of King Idris of Libya in 1969. On the other hand, in the late 1990s, after an introduction by President Museveni, Gaddafi developed a close personal relationship with the queen mother of Toro, Best Kemigisha. Over the next few years, Gaddafi rebuilt the Toro palace and bought a London home for Kemigisha’s family. In the meantime, Toro’s queen mother commuted between Uganda and Libya on Libyan government jets, for private visits. The relationship apparently run out of steam in the early 2000s and Mr. Gaddafi stopped helping Kemigisha and the Toro royal family. The Omukama of Toro is now in a dire financial situation, with court brokers threatening to sell off the Toro palace due to cash shortages. Toro’s friend, Gaddafi, has moved and found another Ugandan kingdom eager to listen to his promises.