Many Baganda at Ttabamiruka ‘08, including MP for Makindye West, Hussein Kyanjo openly cried when they viewed a 40 minute video of Betty Nambooze, narrating her experience during her recent kidnap and captivity by Mr. Museveni’s government. Nambooze’s video was projected on a giant screen during the “Sunday royal dinner”, causing a few people to lose both apatite and tempers.

Betty Nambooze is the Chairman of Kabaka Mutebi’s Central Civic Committee. In the video, Nambooze told how her car was severely damaged at the time when she was grabbed by thugs who apparently work under Major Kakooza Mutale, President Museveni’s confidant and security advisor. Many in audience were dumfounded when they heard that Nambooze’s captors left her in a locked car, deep in the lion occupied Queen Elizabeth National Park  for 6 hours, in an effort to psychologically break her down. Gasps were let out when Betty spoke of being locked up in a closet size room with two other women where they has to stay standing up all the time in order to fit.

Former Buganda Katikkiro, Dan Muliika, and Rubaga North MP, Betty Kamya were among the visibly angered Baganda. One woman delegate who claimed to be a lawyer, was sobbing and wiping tears when she told this reporter, “This video is potentially credible evidence that President Museveni is engaging in crimes against humanity.”

President Museveni’s deputy minister of state for defense, Ruth Nankabirwa, was in the hall when the video was displayed. She left shortly after the video ended and without finishing her dinner, not to return. Mr. Museveni’s press secretary, Tamale Mirundi, and promoter of the Museveni  4th Term promoter, MP Kakooza of Kabula did not come to the dinner at all.

The organizers of Ttabamiruka ’08 did not tell the audience from where and how they obtained the video, which appeared to have been put together by highly professional individuals.

On Wednesday August 27, 2008, former Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Daniel Muliika arrived in New Jersey to attend Ttabamiruka ‘08. At the airport, the former Katikkiro was met by the Chairman of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Mr. Sullyman Bunkeddeko, Kabaka’s representative in the NY/NJ/PA/CT “ssaza”, Mr. Wycliffe Lule-Musoke, the Chairman of the Ttabamiruka ‘08 organizing committee, Mr. Edward Semambya and many other Baganda. In a videotaped moment, a young lady, one of the several youths present, gave Owek. Muliika a bouquet of flowers.

The conference organizing committee has confirmed that Hon. Hussein Kyanjo and Hon. Beti Kamya will arrive today, Friday. Several Baganda are expected to meet the two popular Baganda politicians on their arrival. Final details about the participation of Owek. David Mpanga and Omuzaana Betty Nambooze have not been released.

Most delegates are expected to arrive today. Those have registered to attend include Baganda, Bajjwa (people whose mothers are Baganda), other Ugandans and friends of Buganda. And they will come from United States, Europe, North Africa and Uganda.

More details on Ttabamiruka ‘08 are available at the conference website: www.ttabamiruka.com.

The official video clip for this press release is available at Muliika Arrives at Ttabamiruka

Ttabamiruka ‘08 Publicity Committee
August 29, 2008

In a move that could signal attempts to diminish the influence CBS Radio, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi held a high profile meeting with a delegation from Uganda government owned Bukedde FM Radio in his office yesterday. The Bukedde FM delegation included Bill Tibingana, Bill Mboigana, Kolumbasi Olunya, Paul Kaddu and Helene Nakacwa. The Buganda government side included Katikkiro Walusimbi, Information Minister Charles Peter Mayiga and Tourism Minister Florence Kiyingi. Bukedde FM radio is a Luganda radio station that was opened only months ago after public statements by President Yoweri Museveni that he would fight CBS Radio propaganda with his own radio.

CBS Radio, which is the official radio station of Buganda government and Ssabasajja Kabaka, is by far the most popular Luganda radio station in the country. After more than 10 years in operation and carrying popular personalities such as Betty Nambooze, Betty Kamya, Hussein Kyanjo and Medard Lubega, it’s considered the source of truth by a majority of Baganda. Since the departure Katikkiro Mulwaanyamuli Ssemogwerere President Museveni has regularly accused CBS Radio station to be the mouth piece of his Statehouse opponents and frequently threatens to close it. On July 18, 2008 Mr. Museveni took the first steps towards closing CBS Radio when Mmengo officials, Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega were kidnapped and held captive for a week, apparently for using CBS Radio to “abuse” the NRM government. Not to upset Mr. Museveni Katikkiro Walusimbi ordered CBS Radio management to tone down all their programs and to discontinue broadcasts by Betty Nambooze, only to be overruled by Kabaka Mutebi.

During their visit to Bulange, Bukedde FM management assured the Katikkiro that the Uganda government owned radio was ready to be a channel for the Buganda government to communicate to Kabaka’s subjects, very much like Bukedde newspaper. They praised Katikkiro Walusimbi for what they called his great efforts to eradicate poverty in Buganda. And they bought Buganda certificates worth 2 million Ushs. However, they reported to the Katikkiro that there are certain Mmengo officials who “harass” them and deny them cooperation.

A jovial Katikkiro Walusimbi expressed his gratitude to the Uganda government radio station, Bukedde FM, and requested the management to add programs that “tell people the truth” and help them develop. He added that it is necessary to fight laziness among Baganda and promised. He revealed that that he was going to start coordinating his plans with LC 5 chairmen to fight poverty starting with making sure that bars can only open after 5 P.M.

Since Kabaka Mutebi’s intervention against the Katikkiro’s decision to discontinue Betty Nambooze from CBS Radio, Katikkiro Walusimbi appears between a rock and a hard place. On one hand he cannot directly disobey Kabaka Mutebi and on the other he cannot afford to ignore Mr. Museveni’s demands that CBS Radio be tamed.

Buganda Post has learned that Betty Nambooze will join Katikkiro Dan Muliika, Hussein Kyanjo, Betty Kamya and Daudi Mpanga to complete a blockbuster of speakers at the upcoming Ttabamiruka ‘08. News of Nambooze’s participation comes in the midst of reports that President Yoweri Museveni is set to attend the UNAA convention in Florida and Katikkiro Walisumbi is believed to have authorized willing Mmengo officials to accompany President Museveni to Florida.

It is an open secret in the Ugandan community in the North America that Mr. Museveni has invested heavily in the UNAA convention of 2008 after the unexpected success of Baganda Ttabamiruka ’07. The stakes were further raised by the July 18, 2008 Ttabamiruka inspired Buganda conference in Kampala, where the question of Buganda self determination was a major topic. Efforts to get comments about Mr. Museveni’s trip from the Ugandan embassy in Washington D.C. were unsuccessful.

Before Ttabamiruka ‘08, Nambooze will be speaking at the first Federo conference in London starting on August 22.

Yesterday Henry Kisambira, a Uganda police officer posted in Nakaseke,told Buganda Road Court Magistrate Margaret Tibulya that he did not personally know Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo or Kitgum MP Beatrice Anywar or about their involvement in the Mabira Forest demonstrations.

Kisambira’s statement dealt a crushing blow to the Uganda government’s case where the prosecution alleged that Kyanjo, Anywar and others incited the public and lead the Mabira demonstrations on April 12, 2007 in Kampala. In his testimony, Kisambira told the judge that at the timeof the deomnstrations he was posted in Kampala as a traffic cop and was deployed on Entebbe Road and around the Clock Tower. He testified that he saw a mob which overpowered police and beat an Indian to death.

Kisambira also denied having any knowledge or evidence that would connect Kyanjo’s other co-accused Ken Lukyaamuzi and Mukasa Mbidde to the Mabira demonstrations.

Our London source who is familiar with Katikkiro Muliika’s planned trip to the U.K. next week has informed Buganda Post that Owek. Muliika will attend Ttabamiruka ‘08 in New Jersey, USA. According to the conference website, www.ttabamiruka.com, the theme of the conference is “Consolidating Ttabamiruka ’07 achievements and confronting Buganda’s escalating challenges.”

At the time of filing this report, it was not yet known what specific topics Owek. Muliika will speak about or whether he will be the guest of honor. There are also unconfirmed reports that other popular Baganda personalities who are at the forefront of the fight to protect Buganda land will attend the conference. Based on recent developments and news reports on the subject of Buganda land one would speculate that such personalities might include Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega, David Mpanga, Hussein Kyanjo, Betty Kamya and MP Lukwago.

Ttabamiruka is an annual international conference organized by Baganda for Baganda, Bajjwa and their friends to discuss Buganda specific issues, meet each other and celebrate their achievements. Ttabamiruka ‘08, like Ttabamiruka ‘07, is sponsored by Ggwangamujje NY/NJ.