In a statement likely to anger many Baganda who are loyal to Kabaka Mutebi, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi yesterday praised the meeting between Kabaka Mutebi and Uganda warlord, Yoweri Museveni. A source in Buganda Government, who requested anonymity, sent as a message to alert us to the statement, which Katikkiro Walusimbi posted on the Buganda official website www.buganda.or.ug. The same source also told us: “Buganda’s cabinet is much divided. Some who have a strange history with Museveni, like Owek. Mayiga and Owek. Walusimbi appear to be unwilling to make Museveni angry at any cost. Then there are principled and brave people like Nsubuga Nsambu, Mpanga, Ssegona, Mpuuga and even Kabuuza Mukasa who seem to reason that cowardice is not acceptable when Buganda and Kabaka are at stake. Some are of ‘wamma wandiba omutuufu’ type, either chasing personal interests in Mmengo or good people who are simply unable to cope with the problems Buganda is facing today. An even bigger problem is that our people are part-time when Museveni’s agents work around the clock.”

The statement issued by Katikkiro Walusimbi  paints the picture that all previous tensions between Buganda and her occupiers have disappeared with this one meeting. In one section of his statement, the Katikkiro specifically claims that:  “The meeting marks an end to the rift that had grown between the Kingdom and the central government and has been appreciated by both leaders.”  The Katikkiro’s statement does not reveal whether he consulted the Kabaka or the Buganda cabinet its issue.

Immediately after getting the Internet address for the statement, we shared it with our New York based analyst and asked for his opinion. In his email reply to this writer, the analyst said: “I refuse to accept that this statement was written by a whole Katikkiro of the Kingdom of Buganda because it is totally unrelated to reality. Before the meeting, Museveni had murdered over 30 Baganda, wounded hundreds and imprisoned over 700, threatened to abolish the Buganda kingdom, was arresting Lubega Sseggona and hunting for Betty Namboozi. Yet Engineer Walusimbi tells us with a straight face that, in a one-hour meeting,  Kabaka Mutebi abandoned his principles and his loyal subjects preferring to close any rift with a foreigner who is occupying his Kingdom by force of arms. Every serious Muganda knows that Kabaka went to the meeting at gun point. If the Engineer is telling the truth then I am Michael Jackson – the guy who died was an impostor.”

The statement issued by Katikkiro JB Walusimbi is reproduced in full below:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM KATIKKIRO’S OFFICE

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Eng J.B.Walusimbi informs the people of Buganda that the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has met the president, H.E Yoweri Katguta Museveni on an official visit at State House in Entebbe.

On arrival at State House, His majesty was warmly welcomed by the president and they both discussed various issues.

The meeting marks an end to the rift that had grown between the Kingdom and the central government and has been appreciated by both leaders.

On his visit, the Kabaka was accompanied by the Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi, Prince David Wasajja, Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilson Mutebi of Mityana, minister for Nkuluze Amb. William Matovu, Chairperson Bataka council Nakirembeka Eng Alan Waliggo, A.D. Lubowa, Mahabub Ssemakalu and Peter Mpanga.

J.B. WALUSIMBI

KATIKKIRO.

30-09-2009

Pastor Alex Mitala told journalists on Monday that cases of pastors who indulge in sex with their flock are rampant in Uganda. However, he vouched for Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga, of Christian Life Church Bwaise, over allegations that he molested a 13 year old girl during an airline flight in the USA. Pastor Alex Mitala is the head of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Churches in Uganda.

On August 23, 2008 Buganda Post reported on the arrest of Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga by sheriff’s deputies at Oakland International Airport in California, USA. The alleged molestation occurred on a flight from Denver, Colorado to Oakland, California and the Alameda County, California prosecutors say that they have referred the case to the FBI because of jurisdictional issues from being on the plane.

In defending Ssenyonga, Pastor Mitala told journalists, “”I have known Jackson since he was a boy and his wife Eve since she was a girl. I have never heard of any immoral character in them.” He did not cite any other reasons why it would be impossible for Ssenyonga to have committed the alleged crime. On the contrary, he said that his office constantly receives cases of “pastors in town who go around sleeping with girls everywhere.”