Comments by Dr G.H.Kkolokolo (Paris / France) on the Buganda Post story “Kasubi Fire Requires Independent Investigation, Archbishop Kizito Lwanga“.

I very warmly thank His Grace Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga for his very courageous stand on Buganda as evidenced in his very wonderful Easter message, his position on Kasubi Royal Tombs, and recently his very wonderful sermon at Lubaga Cathedral on Easter Sunday. Indeed the extra-brave Lwanga, well in the very eminent footsteps of his three very prestigious predecessors: Kiwanuka and Nsubuga, Wamala, has continued to portray his exemplary attitude as a prominent citizen and as a very responsible Metropolitan Archbishop of an Archdiocese in a place where culture and politics and religion are not only centre stage but also equally an interplay traditionally entrenched in the life and the history of the Archdiocese.

For the destruction of Kasubi Lwanga, just like Wamala did a few years back where there was a seeming profanation at the Tombs, is right to come out with his proposal for an independent thorough investigation into the arson. The featuring of a mental case called Joseph Musoke as being the culprit is shallow and hollow! Nobody in Uganda and in the rest of the world, where results and findings of a respected bona fide inquiry are eagerly waited, will accept such a loose nonsense! This Kasubi thing is universal and it must be taken very seriously! One may lie at home but he won’t lie abroad where the international media and top figure institutions are also slowly mounting their research into the silly fires.

Mengo’s proposal for a commission of inquiry has been very warmly welcome and will naturally be supported both locally and internationally! And how gratifying to see that they are thinking of a universally respected person like His Eminence Cardinal E. Wamala to head the Kasubi inquest! Where Wamala is, there is always truth, justice, serious-mindedness, common sense and extra lofty wisdom and maturity. A commission headed by such a person will do a very commendable work that will impress the whole world and its findings will not be scape-goated conclusions.

Let Uganda profit from this unfortunate Kasubi event to have a new realism on several other near related issues the Archbishop has regularly dwelt on in his sermons and other teachings. For example he has always given due respect to debate on federalism, human rights, respect to Baganda, etc. Indeed, there need be a federal constitution for the country as a matter of ensuring natural identity of citizens, development at regional level, more respect of individual citizens, etc. The Archbishop is already top grade on this question since even the respected leaders of many political parties have already cemented it in their elaborated election manifestos. And, fortunately to the Archbishop’s broad vision, three of these party leaders are non Baganda who enjoy a very special international prestige on the world political stage! A federated Uganda will be a very strong country and will be an asset to the future East African Community. Europe, for example, will one day be one independent sovereign nation but that won’t prevent a place like France to be part of the entity, joining in as France with its confederations like the Principality of Monaco, the Principality of Andorra, the Territory of Belforth, etc..each one continuing to enjoy its identity and other privileges as enshrined in the French republican constitution.

Any future regional union will embrace Uganda as a federated country that will bring in vigor, dynamism and political maturity! The departing British left Uganda with a note sounding loudly in their mind, that of a politically well settled Buganda enjoying full federal status with the Kabaka as full head of state of Buganda whose dignity wouldn’t be politically superseded by anybody. In this they wanted to conclude acts of invitation to missionaries and other developers sent thru Queen Victoria. And that’s probably why in 1962 there was a Buganda Independence Day on Oct 8, before the national one the following day. This was to politically solidify the position of Buganda and of the Kabaka in independent Uganda. And it had to be like this! And the Archbishop was right to call for a dialogue between Mengo and the Central Government to fully and duly re-examine this Buganda question which is very crucial to Uganda’s political life.

Federalism as studied and agreed on with fellow Ugandans will not be synonymous with tribalism. It will be a policy of nationalism respectful of all individuals’ rights and duties as equal citizens of Uganda. Those who blindly criticize Lwanga on this point, are a bit sleepy! What will they say on his strong stand against human rights abuses and the lack of respect to human life as embodied in our national constitution? The other time 30 people in just a mere 3 days lost their life in Kampala alone! Can’t our security forces take a leaf from their French colleagues who in 2005 were called in to quell incendiary riots mounted by groups of Arab youths all over the country and finished their exercise with a very commendable balance-sheet: just one casualty, an Arab boy shot in the leg by a stray bullet! And the authorities had even to set up a commission of inquiry to find the soldier who fired that bullet! When you are a soldier with a gun, think of one’s life first!

And now Ugandan prisons are still packed with those September youths! And soon, you never know, as election fever draws in, many DPs, UPCs, FDCs,etc will be keyed in Luzira (for the good of the country!) Anyway, in any case there is now resolve to see a free and fair election in Uganda.

Thank you Dr Lwanga. And thank you for having accepted to preside over prayers at the Royal Tombs! Any very thoughtful religious leader should have done this in order to show sympathy to the Kabaka, to the Baganda, to Ugandans, and to the international community who in that Mausoleum saw the exact spot where official royal missives were commissioned to ask for missionaries, educators, modern developers, etc. It wasn’t the first time prayers were conducted at Kasubi Tombs. I remember one day a Mass was celebrated in the vast compound during the funeral of a notable Catholic prince. It was encouraging to notice the presence of religious leaders from the Catholic church, the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Muslim Community! These four religious groups have always been connected to Buganda and its history, and also to the Kabaka since time immemorial! Their presence at Kasubi was therefore very much appreciated by all! Thank you, our religious leaders for not failing us at this dead hour!

Thank you Dr Lwanga for all your courage during this midnight period in our nation’s history.

Long live Your Most Royal Majesty the Kabaka!

Wangaala Ssebo Kitaffe Ssabasajja Kabaka Ekitangaala Ekimulisa Enjuba! Ssentasoboka wa Bannantasoboka!

Nnyaffe Nnabagereka, gerekera bulungi Obuganda nga Katonda akubeesa mu buli kizibu kyonna ky’ogabana ne Magulunnyondo oyo!

Dr G.H.Kkolokolo (Paris / France)

In his 2010 Easter message, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese has called for an objective and independent inquiry into the burning Buganda’s revered Kasubi Tombs on 3/16.  The leader of the Catholic Church in Buganda said that certain unnamed members of the NRM government of sowing seeds of hatred against Baganda. He condemned the culture of corruption and lies that has taken root during the NRM era, where political and religious leaders are liars, traders are cheats, doctors under-treat patients and teachers mislead students.

Archbishop Lwanga demanded that the truth must be told about important questions like the burning of Kasubi Tombs and Buganda’s quest for self-determination. And he called on the British government to become part of the solution:  “If we are to solve some of the burning questions like the Federo  issue, the British Government should assist us in explaining to the people of Uganda what they meant by giving Independence to Buganda on 8 October 1962 and also giving Uganda independence but also including Buganda on 9 October 1962.”

Dr. Lwanga, who is a Muganda, of Mmamba clan, questioned the importance that the police is putting on of claims by a mental patient called Joseph Musoke that he started the fire at Kasubi. He said an independent inquiry should question NRM government officials, Buganda government officials and even members of its royal family. He wants everyone who appears to be anti-Kabaka and anti-Buganda to be questioned, which includes political parties and security personnel.

A few months ago, Buganda Post was the victim of unknown electronic hooligans, who hacked and corrupted our databases (see  “Buganda Post Hacked By Unknown Hooligans” and “NRM Might Be Behind The Attacks On Baganda Web News Outlets“). Although many of our sources, including you our loyal readers, suggested that it was the work of the NRM occupation government , we still do not know who did it.

We Baganda have a saying: “Akugoba, y’akuwa ekkubo” (“He who chases you (from where you are comfortable), is the one who shows  you the way (to a better place)”. In that spirit, after painfully repairing parts of the Buganda Post website, we decided to redesign it and make and even better platform for Buganda national information to flow.

Over the next couple of months, we shall launch a redesigned Buganda Post, which is more professionally laid out and with better opportunities for Buganda citizens and others interested in the kingdom to exchange information and ideas.  We are doing our best to make sure that the familiar, simple look and color scheme of Buganda Post , even as we add more features. For example, we have already put Buganda Post on Twitter and soon it will be on facebook.  Another example is that Buganda Post will include a few blogs, where some of our readers will be able to freely express their opinions on issues that are important to Buganda. If you are interested in having your own blog on Buganda Post, please contact me at pnakato@bugandapost.com – only 2-4 blogs will initially be included.

We thank our readers who stayed with us even when some of the browsers would not work with Buganda Post because of the malware that hackers had put in the our website. Special thanks to our original sponsors and those of you who donated the funds that have allowed us to build a better website.

Check out Buganda Post on Twitter (search for bugandapost or Bu Post). Expect Buganda Post on facebook soon. And expect an enhanced website soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ssabasajja Kabaka Awangaale!

Patricia Nakato