When, on September 16, 2009, Museveni invited all Buganda MPs to a Thursday meeting to discuss the impasse regarding Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga, he was considering denying opposition to the visit (see “Museveni May Blame Police and Minister For Bugerere Violence“).   By the time the meeting took place, Museveni had decided to confront the Kabaka and had grown so paranoid that the locked non-NRM Buganda MP’s out.

One source close to president Museveni’s state house has told us:  “Young and rich Balaalo, who fear to lose the billion of shillings they have looted in Uganda had worked through senior members of the Balaalo akazu (secret conclave) Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), Janet Museveni and Elly Karuhanga to persuade Museveni to lower the tension with Mmengo. As late as Wednesday afternoon, Museveni considered blaming the brutal actions of Uganda police against Baganda youths in Kayunga on Kayihura’s men.”  However, the Uganda warlord continued to face pressure from strongly anti-Baganda Balaalo and Bayiru like David Tinyefuza, Kale Kayihura, Kahinda Otafiire and others, who wanted the Kabaka arrested.”

The situation was complicated on Wednesday when, Museveni, after 2 years of unsuccessful efforts, managed to get a telephone audience with Ssabasajja Kabaka.  According the Museveni’s own statement, the Kabaka was clearly unimpressed by the extreme importance the Ugandan ruler places on the title, “President of Uganda”. The unfriendly call left Museveni irate but probably did not change his thoughts about calling some type of truce.

The source says, however, that: “President Museveni panicked on Thursday late morning when he got intelligence reports that the violence that started after Kayihura barred Katikkiro Walusimbi from entering Bugerere was spreading to places as far as Masaka.  Even worse, it was being executed by fearless young Baganda, some as young as 13 years, in huge numbers. When he consulted some members of  the kazu, they were also panicking. When he called Janet Museveni, overseas at the time and very angry at the way Baganda had embarrassed her at UNAA, she told him that there was no choice but crash the Baganda rioters.” That is when Museveni made the final decision to stop Kabaka Mutebi.

Museveni formally announced that unless Mmengo held talks with Banyala and CBS radio stopped their negative campaign against the NRM and inciting the people against Police, Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga on Saturday could not take place. Reportedly, the Ugandan warlord did not sleep at all Thursday night but made another critical decision. He ordered that the Kabaka had to be stopped if he left his palace and live bullets were to be used on rioters.

It appears that Kabaka Mutebi’s advisors got wind of Museveni’s genocidal plans early enough to avert the potential bloodshed. By Friday mid-afternoon, the Buganda cabinet had made the decision that talking to Museveni’s person king (Sabanyala) was out of questions and Baganda blood could not be sacrificed to the NRM government, which seemed deranged.  Sources close to Mmengo could not provide more details about what went on in the Buganda cabinet up to the point of the official statement canceling the trip. However, according the Observer Newspaper (www.observer.ug), the wording and timing  of the Mmengo statement was highly influenced by fear that Katikkiro Walusimbi, who is little trusted by nationalist Baganda, could be harmed.

We can report that Museveni was in communication with people who are close to key Buganda government officials throughout the crisis. However, it is not known if any actual communication took place. Also, Museveni planted at least one informer among Mmengo officials, including in the Katikkiro’s convoy that was stopped at Sezibwa (details withheld to protect the sources).

In the meantime, a state of panic has taken root among the Balaalo community in Buganda. For many of them this the first time they came face to face with the prospect that Museveni does not have the capacity to protest them against the thousands of unemployed and angry young Baganda. Evidence of this panic includes the decision by Rwandese Balaalo, assisted by a foreign country, to volunteer to offer over 20 lorries to accompany Kabaka Mutebi to Kayunga. We have also received unconfirmed reports of an unusual number of Balaalo parents taking their children home from boarding schools on Saturday September 12, 2009.

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.

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London, UK: Stop genocide in Buganda

Dear Buganda Post,

I could not believe it when I read about how Museveni is using Tamale Mirundi to spread violence in my home county Bugerere. That man Museveni may think that we who grew up on bibanja and don’t own land are going to support his genocide programme. I want to assure our Kabaka and the people of Buganda that the people doing these things are not the true people of Buganda, whether Baganda or Banyala. These are foreigners from Bugisu, Teso, Ankole and Sudan and many of them have come during Museveni’s rule. Some like the Sudanese he even brought on lorries.  Mind you, many of the youth of these people now use Baganda or Banyala names to make sure that their own communities are not blamed for anything.

But time will come when all these people have to answer in an international court for the war crimes and the genocide type things they have done in Buganda, Northern Uganda, Congo and southern Sudan. Please Kabaka Mutebi you just continue to be strong and lead us bravely out of this Uganda mess.

Wangala nnyo Kabaka waffe.

Sarah Musisi
Muganda of Banyala origins

No city, USA: Saluting Kabaka on Tamale’s Genocide Campaign

Dear Editor,

I salute Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda for his courage for being able to say something against the campaign M7 is doing through Tamale Mirundi to promote the burning of land owners in Buganda.  Even shocking is the fact that the TOP radio where Museveni and Tamale Mirundi are spreading their genocidal messages is owned by so called Pastor Jackson Senyonga of Christian Life Centre. This is the same Senyonga who was arrested for fondling a 13 year-old girl during a flight in the USA. It seems that he got out of it but the deal was never publicized.

My question is what is Katikkiro Walusimbi doing, because he listens to Tamale Mirundi saying these things too? How can he just keep quiet about these crimes against humanity in Buganda to the point that Magulu Nnyondo himself has to speak? Abaganda babookya Katikkiro ali mu kugaba nsigo za bijanjaalo?

The way M7 and his people are behaving is typical of desperate people. Like a person who is drowning and dosen’t care who he goes under with him. Every Muganda should on the alert because these are dangerous people. Let us all follow behind our Kabaka and we shall overcome. Ekikute obudde kiributa.

Wangaala Ai Ssabasajja!

David Kasozi Nsamba
USA

Undisclosed Location: UNAA President vs. Janet Museveni and Ambassador Kamunanirwe

The current UNAA leadership has met stiff resistance from within most UNAA executive board members who have joined effort with the Uganda government officials to bring the current leadership down.  They can’t stand our current President, Lt. Musisi who is determined to revive UNAA to its past glory without the interference of the foreign Ugandan government. These are the facts.

What the Ugandans in North American are asking the Ugandan government is to concentrate on the affairs at home. It should stop imposing and directing itself on Ugandan North American Association, UNAA.  For your information the Ugandan Government official was informed officially by the UNAA Leadership that won’t be able at short notice of two weeks to change the program to accommodate the First Lady, Jennet Museveni to address the UNAA convention.  It is rather humiliating that this same government official through acquaintance got Ben Abe who is NOT part of the Organizing Committee to extend an invitation to the first Lady to address the Forum at UNAA convention. This is the worst that a foreign government can do to a non-profit organization like UNAA, equivalent to coercion and manipulation. See the attached document from the Ambassador giving orders!  I think it may be time for Ugandans in the U.S. to wake and stand up against this foreign government Intervention into the affairs of UNAA!  These are the facts.

Thanks for taking action

Peace Mujimba

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Pennsylvania, USA: Promotion of Impunity, Dictatorship and Genocide in Uganda

Dear Editor,

Permit me to express my disgust regarding the increasingly deteriorating political situation currently prevailing in Uganda, more particularly in my native country and nation Buganda. For more than 23 years now, we have been closely following the political development of events back home. While we initially anticipated that the ouster of dictators Idi Amin, Milton Obote and the Okellos; subsequently with coming to power of Yoweri Museveni would be the anti-dote of the terrible dictatorships and their attendant buffoonery that had afflicted Uganda since around 1965, we are sadly coming to the realization that Ugandans just got rid of one form of dictatorship only to replace it with another fascist dictatorship.

All Ugandans will remember that Yoweri Museveni gave the “rigging of elections” as one of the reasons for his taking to the Luwero jungles where many Baganda perished. Few will disagree, however, that on the contrary, Museveni went to the bushes for only self-aggrandizement. Three elections in Uganda have been widely reported as having been massively rigged by Mr. Museveni using the Electoral Commissions, the military and Police. Two of these elections (2001 & 2006) have been publically brought to the attention of the courts of Uganda by Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe where it was conclusively adjudicated that these elections were massively rigged. We all remember how with the aid of Mr. Edaward Ssekandi, Yoweri Museveni manipulated and bribed the 7th Parliament with $ 2500 so term limits could be lifted for him to become the life president he is today.

In the heat of 2006 elections, an aide to Yoweri Museveni, a one Lt. Ramadan Magara, shot eight Baganda at the royal gates of Bulange. Inspite of the people’s outcry to have this murderer be brought to justice, this soldier walked scot free for close to two years, all still in the service of the Ugandan strongman. While it is reported that Lt. Magara is now in Luzira, it is more than apparent that he will soon be out on the Kampala streets gunning down again innocent Ugandans. We must remember that he was almost acquitted with a ridiculous verdict of “manslaughter” rather homicide!

Quite recently before the murders of landlords by assumed peasants began in Buganda, the Ugandan strongman was reported to have been going around with a one Tamale Mirundi and a one Lt. Bamwine in Buganda encouraging peasants to form what have been referred to as Bibanja associations. It is through these associations that Baganda prominent men and women are now reportedly been murdered.
Like it happened in the neighboring Rwanda, Joseph Tamale Mirundi is being hosted by not so-respectable but religious-based FM radio stations. Three prominent ones have been names as being TOP Radio, Radio Star and Radio Bukedde. It is through these radios that genocidal messages are being spread out by Tamale Mirundi, Lt. Bamwine and a one Luutu.

The recent brutal murders and burning to ashes of eight Baganda landlords in Buganda at the instigation of Yoweri Museveni together with his aides such as Tamale Mirundi, Lt. Bamwine, Luutu, among others, must not go unpunished. I am calling upon the international human rights organizations to seriously begin investigations into this criminality and impunity. I am also calling upon all Ugandans in the Diaspora and back at home to increase their resistance against the prevailing fascism in Uganda. The world must not just look on as yet another dictator commits genocide in Buganda/Uganda. We cannot wait to see a million Baganda butchered Intarehamwe-style for us to wake up to the terrible pogrom that is beginning to manifest itself in Buganda.

Mrs. Tara Nankindu – Musoke
Pennsylvania – U.S.A

No City, USA: Response To Dr. Abe’s Invitation Of The First Lady

Bugandapost Editor:

Currently, there is a lot of politics being introduced in UNAA, a non-profit organization. It is critical that we expose what’s happening in UNAA. Please post my article regarding what’s happening in UNAA today.

Ugandans Beware

Initially, official delegations from Uganda Government were invited to attend UNAA conventions in an effort to drum-up investment opportunities for Uganda. Today, the attendance and participation of official delegations from Uganda Government at UNAA Conventions has become almost an established rule, thereby becoming a violation of the principles under which UNAA is supposed to be run.

Case in point is Dr. Abe’s decision to sidestep the organization’s leadership and extend an invitation to the First Lady, who is also a high level NRM politician. It is not only wrong, it is regrettable. UNAA membership includes hundreds of refugees from Uganda. These refugees were forced into exile by the same people you are now asking them to applaud and embrace.  This is not only hypocritical, but also contradicts the basis for their applications for political asylum in the US.

The government of Uganda’s insistence on inserting the First Lady (a high level NRM politician in Uganda), into the UNAA Convention, is a direct violation of the principles governing UNAA, a no-profit organization.

It is therefore imperative for UNAA membership to make a stand against such actions that violate the very core of our organization. Fellow Ugandans and well wishers, the harsh realities that our brothers and sisters in Northern Uganda have endured for the last twenty years have remained buried under layers of a campaign of deception and disinformation, orchestrated by the same hypocrites who are now claiming to be the saviors of Northern Uganda (or is it the newly found oil in Northern Uganda).

In their efforts to control Ugandans in the Diaspora, they have infiltrated UNAA organization in order to introduce their politics of division and deception. These acts have far reaching consequences, with the potential of causing irreparable damage to the organization.

It is time for UNAA membership to stand up and deny Uganda politicians on open door to UNAA platform. Brothers and sisters, we must join hands in our effort to reclaim UNAA’s integrity. We cannot afford to be bystanders, but rather active participants. Together in our diverse political, ethnic, religious, professional, and other background, must unite to demand for conditions that will guarantee our freedom without any manipulation or intimidation both in Uganda and the Diaspora.

By John Mayanja          

We can exclusively report that the March 2009 appointment of President Museveni’s wife, Janet Kataha, to the post of Minister of State for Karamoja was never about politics. And some of the attacks against the appointment have been done by state agents to confuse Ugandans and foreign donors alike. According a source close to Mr. Museveni’s state house and familiar with the Uganda Geological Surveys and Mines department, Uganda’s strongman appointed his wife for purely economic reasons; to secure direct family involvement in the exploitation of the huge Karamoja gold deposits. On March 9, 2009 Museveni explained his wife’s ministerial appointment to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) with: “Since many of our elite ministers did not want to work in Karamoja, I asked Janet to help me develop one of the backward areas of our country.”

Our source, who requested anonymity to protect her family’s lives, wrote in an email that: “On January 17, 2009 Uganda’s first family was excited that the latest mineral survey report showed so much more gold potential in Karamoja than initially thought. The first step was to order Tuhumwire to remove Karamoja from the mineral report. [Writer’s note: Joshua Tuhumwire, who of the same ethnicity as Mr. and Mrs. Museveni, is the commissioner for geological surveys and mines].  After heated discussions, the family agreed that one of them had to be minister for Karamoja if they were to control that gold without much suspicion. Appointing the first lady minister for Karamoja was seen as the perfect solution because (1) it reduced the tension in the family and (2) as, MP her appointment would help keep Ugandans and donors focused on the political angle.”

Our source’s email further says that it was expected that, in the position of presidential advisor on defense matters, Mr. Museveni’s half-brother Salim Saleh will oversee implementation of secret arrangements to  put a security blanket over the Kaboong area, which the biggest prospects for gold deposits. Her email also points out that, “When the first lady visited Karamoja the place which received her highest attention was Kaboong, clear sign that she is 100% confident that Ugandan’s are not bright enough to see below the covers.”

The president’s family has been involved in Karamoja gold mining since the early 1990’s. According the Uganda parliament records (Ansard), in 1995 Mr. Museveni told Ugandan national assembly that:  “In Karamoja, six occurrences of gold have been identified and a Uganda registered company, Branch Energy Uganda Limited is going to spend US$7 million during the next two years on prospecting and development. Another company, Anglo-Sudan Corporation is prospecting for gold in the Mityana/Mubende area.” What Mr. Museveni did not mention, which became public information by 1996, is that Branch Energy Uganda Limited was owned by his half-brother Salim Saleh Akandwanaho, in partnership with infamous Branch Energy of South Africa.

Uganda’s subsequent invasion of Congo, a much bigger source of gold and other minerals, and negative publicity about  the Branch Energy companies seem to have convinced  the Museveni family and their  kinsmen to cut back their gold prospecting and mining in Karamoja. Today, the Uganda ruling class does not have access to Congo gold but the mineral trading and shipment network the developed remains intact.