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

On Tuesday, September 9, 2008, the Libyan ambassador to Uganda, Abdallah Bujeldin made it clear that the alleged fallout between his boss and President Museveni was nothing but a hoax. In a telecast speech to mark the 39th anniversary of the Libyan so called Green Revolution. Bujeldin said, “The President [Museveni] has done very excellent work.”  The diplomat folded his thumb to show four fingers, signifying the fourth term, and added, “Revolutionaries like President Museveni do not need to be changed because they fought for a major cause.” He campaigned, “To all Muslims in Uganda, remember 2011 is coming. You must remember to support President Museveni.”

Libya’s entry into Uganda politics on the side of President Museveni came hours after a Buganda delegation led by Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu and including Katikkiro J.B. Walusimbi returned from the Green Revolution celebrations in Libya. The all expenses paid invitation to Libya was sold to Baganda as participation in an African cultural conference. The Buganda delegation also included Apollo Makubuya, the Buganda Attorney General, and others. Before the Libyan trip, Katikkiro Walusimbi had touted, both in cabinet and at Nook Bar, the plan “to exploit the rift between Museveni and Gaddafi and get the Libyan leader to fund Bulange Plaza and other construction projects.”

It is not clear what the Buganda delegation achieved on their 2 week trip. However, Libya’s decision to make such strong political statements in support of Museveni appears to be a message to Mengo that Gaddafi and Museveni have no serious rift for Mengo to exploit. On arrival back home, the Buganda delegation indicated that Gaddafi had agreed to Lubiri developments. If this is true and Walusimbi and Gaddafi follow through with it, it could be seen by some Baganda as proof that Museveni, Gaddafi and Walusimbi, along with other prominent Baganda, are all in a conspiracy to grab the Lubiri from Buganda.

Libya’s president Gaddafi has no history of liking of honoring monarchies. He came to power an armed overthrow of King Idris of Libya in 1969. On the other hand, in the late 1990s, after an introduction by President Museveni, Gaddafi developed a close personal relationship with the queen mother of Toro, Best Kemigisha. Over the next few years, Gaddafi rebuilt the Toro palace and bought a London home for Kemigisha’s family. In the meantime, Toro’s queen mother commuted between Uganda and Libya on Libyan government jets, for private visits. The relationship apparently run out of steam in the early 2000s and Mr. Gaddafi stopped helping Kemigisha and the Toro royal family. The Omukama of Toro is now in a dire financial situation, with court brokers threatening to sell off the Toro palace due to cash shortages. Toro’s friend, Gaddafi, has moved and found another Ugandan kingdom eager to listen to his promises.

Eng. J.B. Walusimbi, the Katikkiro of Buganda, is facing a near rebellion by CBS Radio staff and listeners as he attempts to carry out President Museveni’s instructions to fire Betty Nambooze from the station. Sources at Mmengo have confirmed local news reports that the Katikkiro instructed the management of CBS Radio, including Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma (Managing Director), Kawoya Mwebe (General Manager) and Robert Kasozi (Personnel Manager) to fire Betty Nambooze and that the managers have already met Nambooze and tried to convince her to stop broadcasting her programs but stay on the payroll.

Many in Mmengo viewed Walusimbi’s aggressive efforts to get Nambooze fired, on Museveni’s instructions, as implicit disobedience to Kabaka Mutebi, who appointed Nambooze to educate Baganda on land issues. Within less than four hours, a split developed pitting Katikkiro Walusimbi and other NRM friendly individuals in Mmengo against the predominantly younger and nationalistic Buganda officials, CBS employees and die hard listeners.

According to Nambooze, she has had two meetings in connection with her work. She met with Mr. Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma and his CBS management team and they discussed the harassment that the radio station and its presenters face from the Uganda government. She also met the Katikkiro to discuss various matters, which did not include her CBS Radio employment. When asked to comment on the alleged discontinuation of her programs Nambooze responded that it is the responsibility of the management of CBS Radio to inform the public about the status of her employment as well as her programs on CBS.

Nambooze has been on CBS as a commentator, moderator and presenter since the late 1990s. She currently hosts a talk show titled “Twejjukanya” (Let’s Remember) on Sunday nights and is a panelist on the socio-political talk show “Kkiriza Oba Gaana” (Agree or Disagree) on Wednesdays. The programs are by far the most listened to in the country. In addition, Betty Nambooze is the Chairperson of Buganda Kingdom’s Central Civic Education Committee, a position to which she was directly appointed by Kabaka Mutebi. And the Kabaka has publically commended her work most of which she does on CBS Radio.

Members of the Baganda nationalist organization named Abazukulu ba Baganda have expressed fears that the overtly cozy relationship between Katikkiro J.B. Walusimbi and Uganda government leadership seems to be aimed at resurrecting the Regional Tier arrangement which Baganda rejected under Katikkiro Dan Muliika.

During a news conference that Abazukulu held last week at Musolooza, near Mmengo Bulange, their leaders claimed that, “Baganda rejected the regional tier government and the decision was final. There is nothing new or different to be expected from the new discussions, especially when the same people who engineered the original Regional Tier are the ones involved now. The only difference is that they have painted themselves another color.”

Abazukulu ba Baganda is made up of conservative vocal advocates of Federo and Buganda national issues. They are opposed to any negotiations between Mmengo and the Uganda government over Buganda lands other properties that the Uganda government confiscated from Mmengo in 1966. This opposition has, over the years, put them at odds with most Mmengo governments, with the exception of the one led by Katikkiro Dan Muliika.

The Regional Tier government was agreed on by Katikkiro Ssemwogerere, John Katende, Peter Mayiga, and Apollo Makubuya on behalf of Buganda and President Yoweri Museveni on behalf of Uganda. It called for the Katikkiro to be elected by all people living in Buganda and gave the President of Uganda the right to temporarily take over the Buganda Government if the person occupying the position of Katikkiro was proven to be a poor performer.