Plainfield, USA (PR) September 16, 2009
Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Inc.

Loyal subjects of Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi from various states in America met last Saturday to discuss: (a)  the NRM Government’s decision to bar the Kabaka from touring his Bugerere county; and (b) the subsequent unrest, where the Uganda police and army killed or seriously injured hundreds of Baganda, including children. The meeting observed a full 30 seconds of silence to honor those who were murdered by the NRM government during the unrest. After a comprehensive and emotional debate of options in the wake of the tragic September 10th events, the attendees identified a number of actions that they will take.

Finally, they unanimously adopted the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

We, loyal subjects of Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, from various States of the USA, meeting in New Jersey on September 12, 2009

HAVE RESOLVED:

• That Buganda, our motherland, is under occupation
• That this shall be the foremost thought in our minds
• That this shall be the sole matter for deliberation at all our meetings
• That we shall not budge on this matter, from this day forward, until Buganda is freed from occupation

YOUR COURAGE IS OUR STRENGTH

LONG LIVE YOUR MAJESTY!

Luganda Version

EKITEESO EKIYISIBBWA

Ffe abasajja n’Abazaana ba Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, abava mu masaza ag’enjawulo mu America, nga tukunganye mu New Jersey ku lunaku olwe 12 mu mwezi gwa Mutunda, omwaka 2009

TUKIKAKASIZZA NTI:

• Ddala Buganda Nnyaffe eri mu buwambe
• Kino kye kirowoozo kyokka ekijja okuba mu mitima gyaffe
• Eno ye nsonga yokka ejja okuteesebwako mu nkiiko zaffe okuva leero
• Okutuusa nga Buganda evudde mu Buwambe, tetujja kukyusaako

OBUZIRA BWO GE MAANYI GAFFE

WANGAALA SSABASAJJA!

Contacts:

Charles Galiwango Mukasa
VICE PRESIDENT, GGWANGAMUJJE NY/NJ

Dolores Nankya Bewaayo
SECRETARY, GGWANGAMUJJE NY/NJ

info@ggwangamujje.com

www.ggwangamujje.com

Ggwangamujje NY/NJ

PRESS RELEASE

LUGANDA
Abazaana n’Abasajja ba Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II mu New York ne New Jersey, USA, banyiivu nnyo olw’engeri Kabaka n’abantu be gyebayisibbwamu gavumenti ya NRM ku nsonga y’okulambula essaza lye Bugerere. Baagala ensi yonna okumanya nti bali mabega wa Ssabasajja, ba Jjajja Abataka, awamu  n’Obuganda bwonna mu lutalo lw’okwejja mu buwambe. Bakubiriza ab’enganda zaabwe bonna awamu n’emikwano gy’abwe okulaga Ssabsajja abuwulize ebutaliiko komo mu kaseera kano akazibu.

Omumyuuka wa Ssentebe wa Ggangamujje NY/NJ, Omw. Charles Mukasa, ayise Olukiiko o’lw’embagirawo ku Saturday nga September 12, 2009, okuteesa ku ngeri y’okuddukirira ensi yaabwe Buganda.

Okufuna ebisingawo tukirira:

Muky. Nankya Bewayo
Secretary, Ggwangamujje NY/NJ
info@ggwangamujje.com

.

ENGLISH
The loyal subjects of Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II in New York and New Jersey, USA, are perturbed  about the manner in which their Kabaka and his people have been treated over the tour of county Bugerere. They want the whole world to know that they are totally behind Ssabasajja, the Bataka and the whole Obuganda in the fight for our human rights. They implore all their relatives and friends to practice unwavering loyalty to Ssabsajja during this difficult period.

The Vice Chairman of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Mr. Charles Mukasa, has called an emergency meeting on Saturday, September 12, 2009, to formulate a plan  for supporting their Buganda nation.

For further details contact:

Mrs. Nankya Bewayo
Secretary, Ggwangamujje NY/NJ
info@ggwangamujje.com

On September 1, 2009, Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Inc. announced Ttabamiruka ‘10, an International Baganda conference outside Buganda, to take place over the American Labor Day holiday of September 3-6, 2010 in New York, USA.  The venue and program will be posted on the conference website, www.ttabamiruka.com.

After two highly successful conferences in 2007 and 2008, Ggwangamujje was unable to hold Ttabamiruka ‘09 because of the global financial crisis.

The official theme of Ttabamiruka ‘10 has not been decided on yet. However, the Chairman of the past two Ttabamirukas, Mr. Edward Semambya, provided some insight into the conference plans. He stated that, “Kabaka Mutebi has done a great job of providing leadership and guidance to Baganda during extremely difficult times. The Baganda in the Diaspora would like to express their gratitude to him.

Mr. Semambya continued that, “although it is still too early to talk about the program and dignitaries, Ttabamiruka ‘10 will provide unprecedented international exposure for Kabaka Mutebi and our Kingdom.”

In the meantime, Uganda-style politics threaten to cause an implosion in UNAA, as the election race for the organization’s new leaders heats up. The leading candidate appears to be the Muganda incumbent, US Army soldier, Lt. Frank (Omusese) Musisi. His opponents are Moses Wilson and Flex Kabuye, both known to have close relationships with high profile NRM officials and Uganda embassy staff. Indeed, Kabuye is brother to Brig. Kayanja, who at one time led Mr. Museveni’s brutal and extra-judicial Operation Wembly against robberies. So, very much like in it does in Uganda, the NRM is supporting more than one candidates.

Musisi has positioned himself as the an anti-Museveni Muganda candidate, which has won him strong support from Baganda all over the USA. Kabuye, on the other hand, is playing the classic NRM style politics of money. For example, according to reports from Washington DC, he secretly sponsored a major Muganda musician and then tried to use the concert as a platform to campaign. Unfortunately for him the anti-NRM faction in Washington DC commandeered the stage and nsibambed him (denied him the microphone). According to Uganda diplomatic sources in the USA, various NRM elements have sent in a total of at least $90,000 to support Kabuye and Wilson. And the NRM government plans to bring is 20-50 officials from Ugnada, to vote as instructed.

It is too early to tell where these battles will end. First of all, although Musisi appears to have the most support, Wilson and Kabuye could do a last minute deal and join supporters to help the stronger NRM to win. Then there is the issue of Mrs. Museveni, who insists on being a key speaker at the UNAA conference.  Secondly, we can report that  Ambassador Kamunanwire has openly told Musisi that the if Mrs. Museveni is not allowed to speak, the NRM government will withhold the $20,000 that it had promised to give to UNAA, as it did last year. Furthermore, under pressure from Mrs. Museveni, several major Ugandan sponsors of UNAA (UIA, URA, BOU and others) have also indicated that they may not send any money.

One problem for Musisi is that, the UNAA conference may implode for financial reasons, even before the voting takes place.  According to unconfirmed reports, Musisi is desperately looking for a way to give in and allow Mrs. Museveni speak without looking like he has been bought by the NRM. Reportedly, he cannot afford to forgo the Museveni money. If the now very angry Janet Museveni decides to play true NRM politics of betrayal, however, the end of this story might be much more dramatic than what has happened so far.

This writer has received a copy of a June 30, 2009 letter from the Acting President of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, which cancelled the plans for Ttabamiruka ’09. The letter says that the current global economic situation and a need to strengthen the health of the New York Ggwangamujje Baganda organization are the main reasons for the cancellation. The same letter also announces that preparations for Ttabamiruka ’10 will start this month.

The organization’s president, Mr. Sullyman Bunkeddeko, is on some sort of leave of absence since June 14, 2009. The vice president, Mr. Charles Mukasa, is the Acting chief executive. It is not yet clear why Mr. Bunkeddeko, who led the organization during Ttabamiruka ’08, is on a leave of absence.

However, Ggwangamujje organizations in America seem to be having major problems. The Boston chapter is at a standstill because their elections were called off more than one a month ago, after they became a shouting match. Source in Mmengo and Boston tell us that the NRM is determined to take over or destroy Boston Ggwangamujje, whichever comes first. And reports from Washington DC indicate that the  chapter there has been taken over by pro-NRM elements who have publicly made it clear that their Ggwangamujje is for all Ugandans, not just Baganda (the “Ggwanga” in Ggwangamujje is Uganda).

The letter cancelling Ttabamiruka ‘09 is reproduced below:

June 30, 2009

Dear Members of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ:

RE: LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE PRESIDENT

This is a follow-up to the June 14, 2009 letter from our President, now on a leave of absence.

SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN
It is quite difficult for me to step into the role of Acting President on short notice. However, with your support and cooperation, I will try my best to work with the Board and establish a minimum action plan to make some progress during Mr. Bunkeddeko’s leave of absence.

“VOICE OF CUSTOMER” MEETING
Your input and support will be critical to the success of the minimum action plan that I have mentioned above. Since Ggwangamujje NY/NJ is a service organization, we will start with what you expect from your investment in the organization.  You will shortly receive an invitation to a meeting to discuss ideas on what to include in our minimum action plan.

TTABAMIRUKA ‘09
After consulting the Board and Mr. Edward Semambya, I regret to inform you that Ggwangamujje NY/NJ will not organize a Ttabamiruka ’09. The current state of the economy and the urgent need to strengthen the health of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ were key considerations. I have however requested Mr. Semambya to initiate plans for Ttabamiruka ’10 as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of July 2009.

Thank you.

Charles Mukasa

Acting President
Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Inc.

Mrs. Jocelyn Rugunda, the spouse of Uganda’s representative to the United Nations, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has launched a The Uganda Women’s Forum. According to an invitation letter that Mrs. Rugunda sent to about 100 women in the New York area, Mrs. Rugunda states that: “The objective of the meeting is to get to know each other, share interesting life experiences, and identify opportunities of making ourselves more productive while living in United States.” Mrs. Rugunda does not indicate what qualifies her to lead Ugandan women towards making themselves more productive in America.

When we checked with a highly reliable source in the Ministry of foreign affairs, she told us that Mrs. Rugunda’s forum is “soft” recruiting for the NRM.  The source explained: “Mr. Museveni believes that Baganda women in America like him and what he is doing; it is only their husbands and boyfriends who confuse them with information about land issues and tribalism. Mr. Museveni thinks that if many of these Baganda women become NRM, the pressure from UNAA and Ggwanga Mujje will be very low. When giving clearance to Mrs. Rugunda to recruit, the permanent secretary, Ambassador James Mugume, specifically instructed Mrs. Rugunda to avoid political discussions in her forum. They are afraid that if politics is discussed in this forum, Baganda and other women may start asking why Museseveni’s is terrorizing their families in Buganda and stealing Buganda land.”

When shown Mrs. Rugunda’s invitation, a Muganda analyst and thought leader based in New York, agreed that this could be a campaign to recruit women, especially Baganda women, away from UNAA and Ggwanga Mujje activities, which the NRM does not control. He also had some tough words about Mrs. Rugunda’s character: “I have reliable information that when that woman and her husband came to New York they decided to rent an apartment in, of all places, Trump Tower. They are spending $16,000 per month on rent only and they represent a Uganda where a government medical doctor is paid $150 per month. But she now wants to help Baganda women make themselves more productive in America? I hope these women first send her an email and ask her to explain if it is not true that she has rented in Trump Towers, with rich Arab sheiks for neighbors. And how her family made the millions of dollars they have in Uganda.”

According to Mrs. Rugunda’s invitation, the Uganda Women’s’ Forum meeting will be at the Uganda House in New York on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

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.

Upcoming Kadongo Kamu singer, Muzadde Seruwagi, has released on the most patriotic video by a Muganda ever. It is entitled Ggwangamujje Buganda. The handsome Seruwagi uses his exceptional story telling skills to express his loyalty to Ssabasajja and expose those Buganda’s enemies.

A young parent, Seruwagi impressively narrates his family history and makes it clear that he is a Muganda (”Ffe tuli Baganda tetuli Banyoro”). He tells “them” (Writer: Banyankore) that if they don’t want Obugabe that is their but they deny Baganda their right to have Obwakabaka. He decries the dictatorial regime in power today and the persecution and imprisonment of Baganda. But warns that even if this continues, future Baganda will continue the fight for self-determination. With his infant children on the screen, he declares: “Tugeze nga munsibye e Luzira era mu baana benzaala elivaayo Kyadondo n’abanja. Aliyambibwaako muto we Kasirye ne lubaale omuzadde gwensamira.” Finally, Seruwagi appeals to all Baganda to teach their children to fight for Baganda’s political, cultural and property rights. (Click here to play the video)

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.