Abazzukulu ba Buganda, the most active Baganda nationalist organization today, accuses Katikkiro Walusimbi and Mmengo of attempting to manipulate Ssabasajja Kabaka into giving up Buganda’s rights to self-determination. Abazzukulu did this in a public letter to the Katikkiro  signed by Chairman Jjunju Kamulali. Below are the main points of the 3-page letter Luganda letter, translated in into English. The original Luganda letter is reproduced in full at the bottom.

1. In the 1950’s the British imposed their style of elections on Buganda as the ransom for the return of Ssekabaka Muteesa II whom they had exiled in 1953. That condition is what is called the “Namirembe Agreement of 1955” today. The tragic results of that religion based election must not be forgotten because they started the divisions between Catholic and Protestant Baganda, with the Catholics who lost the Katikkiroship  becoming opponents of Mmengo. Between 1955 and 1962, the Catholics formed the DP while the Protestants spent their energies on fighting each other. When the Catholics [through DP] joined the politics of destroying Buganda, the Protestants teamed up with [the dangerous] Obote simply to beat the Catholics in DP. The results of all that is why we have tears in our eyes today. Why can’t we learn from our history?
2. In the 1981 elections, Baganda acted as one and supported their countryman [Paul Ssemwogerere], what Buganda got out of it is the troubles in Bulemeezi (Museveni’s guerilla war and Baganda massacres in Luweero Triangle).
3. Even if all the [80] Buganda MPs who win [in 2011] support the kingdom’s interests, what real effect will they have in the Uganda parliament [of more than 300 members] where the rest are against anything good for Buganda. And what scale will Mmengo use to accurately judge who supports Buganda enough?
4. It is clear that your true intention is to mortgage the Buganda nation because if kingdom representatives officially compete in the 2011 and lose, the world will expect Baganda to respect future decisions by the winners.
5. Buganda is a natural nation and Uganda is just an experiment in nation building. So Buganda, the nation, cannot officially participate in the disorganized elections of the confused Uganda, except if the intention is to end up worse off than before.
6. It must be remembered that in 1966 [May 19th], the Buganda Lukiiko passed a resolution telling the government of Uganda to leave Buganda soil, after it broke the 1962 independence agreement. Since that time, the Uganda government is occupying Buganda by force of arms. Until Buganda as a nation cancels the 1966 resolution the Uganda government rules us illegally under international law and we can take our case to international courts.
7. It seems that you, acting on instructions from the Uganda government, want to confuse the people of Buganda and make us think that Buganda issues can be solved by the 2011 elections. You claim to be the official representatives of Buganda in the elections to create the image that Buganda is officially and voluntarily competing in the elections and, therefore, is no longer under armed occupation.
8. This is not the first time that you have tried this trick to get the 1966 Lukiiko resolution officially cancelled and forgotten. First, you wanted to use the Charter system and when it failed to brought in the Regional Tier. After Buganda rejected the Regional Tier, you started the campaign to manipulate Kabaka Mutebi into signing the cancellation of the 1966 Lukiiko resolution, hiding behind what you called “negotiations” [with Museveni]. Now you are looking for another channel, the 2011 elections!
9.  If you really have no bad intentions for Buganda, it is not too late. Stop doing anything that creates the image that the nation of Buganda is officially participating in the 2011 elections or any other Ugandan elections. Buganda Government officials who want to stand in such elections, as individuals and not representatives of Buganda, should first resign from Kabaka’s service. If you cannot help Baganda against losing their human rights by participating in fake elections, please leave them to do so because of the armed occupation but not because of your manipulation.

 Original Letter

 EBBALUWA EY’OLWATU 

Eri,

Katikkiro wa Buganda
Owek J B Walusimbi
Bulange Mmengo

Ssebo,

Omulamwa:Temuguumaaza Baganda, okulonda kutunywereza bunywereza mu buwambe

Muvuddeyo ne mukubiriza Abaganda okwesimbawo era ne mubakubiriza n’okwewandiisa okulonda mbu basobole okukozesa obululu bwabwe balonde, mbu,  abakulembeze abawagira ebya Buganda era abasobola okufunira Buganda Federo n’ebyayo ebirala. Lwaki muguumaaza Obuganda? Lwaki muwaayo obuyinza bwa Buganda okwesalirawo?

Abangereza mu myaka gy’ataano baakakaatika enkola y’okulonda eya ‘ky’abanji’ ku Buganda ng’akakwakkulizo k’okuzza Ssekabaka Muteesa II gwe baali bawaηηangusizza mu 1953. Akakwakkulizo ako baakayisa mu kye baatuuma era kyetukyayita “endagaano ye Namirembe eya 1955”. Ebyatuviiramu tetulina kubyerabira. Okulonda okwaddirira kwazuukusa embiranye z’eddiini wakati w’Abapolotesitante n’Abakatuliki ekyaleetera Abaganda Abakatuliki abaawangulwa mu kulonda kw’obwa Katikkiro okufuuka abalabe ba Buganda abaasimbira Buganda ekkuuli okulaba nti efiirwa obutongole bwayo. Wakati wa 1955 ne 1962, Abaganda ng’okulonda kubaawuddemu Abakatuliki abeekolamu n’ekibiina ky’obufuzi  n’abapolotesitante abaali bawangudde obwakatikkiro e Mmengo baamala amaanyi gaabwe gonna nga beerwanyisa. Kulw’okuwangulagana baasaddaaka n’obwetwaze bwa Buganda, Abakatuliki bwe beegatta ku balabe ba Buganda okusalawo ebisanyaawo Buganda ate n’Abapolotesitante nabo ne basembeza Obote olw’okwagala okuwangula Abakatuliki mu kibiina kyabwe ekya DP. Ebyaava mu kino nakati by’ebikyatukaabya amaziga. Lwaki twefuula abeerabidde gyetuva? Lwaki tetuyigira ku bitutuuseeko?

Omuzungu yawugula Abaganda okuva ku bwetwaze nga yeeyambisa akakuubagano ako era ng’ayita mu kulonda n’atuzza mu mivuyo n’obutaliimu bwa Uganda. Weewaawo Ssekabaka Muteesa II yali amutebuse n’agaana Abaganda okwetaba mu kulonda kwa 1961, (ekyasobozesa Buganda okufunayoko ku byoya by’enswa naye era olwessuubi ly’obuwulize bwa Baganda mu kukuba akalulu, nga bwe mulagira kati Abaganda, Buganda yamira eddobo ly’abazungu n’edda mu butaliimu era obufuusa bwa Uganda. 

Mu 1961-62, Abaganda baali bakyalina ensa n’olwekyo baasobola ekitakyaddamu kusoboka bwe baakuba akalulu mu kitole nga bayise mu KY, ne bawangula, naye Obuwanguzi bwetwaggyamu bwatutuusaawa?

Abaganda baakuba obululu mu 1981 ne babuwa muganda munnaabwe Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere, naye baayambibwaki? Buganda yafunamu mu kulonda kwa 1981? Obutaliimu bw’olutalo lw’e Bulemeezi bwe mwagala Buganda eddemu?!

Olwaleero abatali Baganda bebasinga obungi mu Buganda, ate nga tukimanyi nti okuva mu myaka gy’enkaaga obukyayi ku Buganda buzze busigibwa mu Banna Yuganda ne busomesebwa ne mu masomero. Olwaleero entekateeka ssinziggu zikoleddwa okusiga n’okufukirira embiranye ey’amaanyi wakati w’Abaganda n’abatali Baganda abali mu Buganda n’ebweeru wayo, nga n’abantu ababadde mu Buganda entende emyaka n’emyaka, kati bagguddewo olutalo ku Buganda, nga ne Kabaka takkirizibwa kugenda mu masaza ga Buganda gye batudde.

 Abaganda bonna ne bwe basalawo ne bakuba akalulu kaabwe wamu tebasobola kuwangula kubanga batono nnyo ku balala abatabaagaliza.

Ne bwe kiba nti ekyewuunyo kibaddewo ababaka ba palamenti abava mu Buganda bonna abalondeddwa ne bawagira ebya Buganda; benkana ki ku babaka abava mu bitundu bya Uganda ebirala abawunyirwa ebya Buganda ziizi?

Ye bwe mugamba nti mugenda kuwagira abaneesimbawo abamanyi okwogera ensonga za Buganda obulungi, kipimo ki kye munaakozesa okubamanya n’okubeesiga? Olwo Abaganda be munaaba temuwagidde munaaba mubasindiseewa?

Okulonda tekulina kye kusobola kugasa Buganda. Mukimanyi bulungi nti Buganda ejja kuwangulwa mu buli ngeri yonna. Terina nkizo yonna mu nteekateeka y’okulonda kubanga beevuganya nabo beeba nnanyini kulonda n’okutegekebwa kwakwo.Be bakutegeka, be bakukubiriza, be babala obululu ate be babulangirira. 

Kirabika nga ekigendererwa kyammwe kuwaayo Buganda, kubanga Buganda bwe yeetaba mu kulonda mu butongole, n’ewangulwa, byonna ebirisalibwawo abaliba bawangudde okulonda okwo bijja kuba nga mu mateeka bikakata ku Buganda nga terina w’ebigaanira. Buganda bwe yeetaba mu kulonda mu butongole egenda kuba ekkirizza nti ebyaayo bisalibweewo abaliba bawangudde okulonda okwo.

Leka tukimanye, tukitegeere era tukikkirize nti Buganda entonde etambulira ku butonde bwayo ate Uganda empange obupanzi etambulira ku bupanzi ng’okukuba obululu. N’olwekyo Buganda teyinza era teriyinza kuganyulwa mu bupanzipanzi. Ky’ova olaba ng’okuviira ddala obululu lwe bwaleetebwa Omukolooni mu gy’ataano, Buganda terina mulundi gwe yali eganyuddwa okuggyako okugwa mu Bizibu ebigyegezaamu okugisaanyaawo.

Kisaanye kijjukirwe nti Olukiiko lwa Buganda olutongole mu 1966 lwayisa ekiteeso ekigoba gavumenti ya Uganda mu Buganda olw’okumenyawo endagaano ya 1962, eyali egatta Buganda ku Uganda kyeyagalire. Okuva olwo gavumenti ya Uganda yeekakaatika bwekakaatisi ku Buganda mu ngeri ya Kiriisamaanyi ekimenya amateeka g’ensi yonna. Okutuusa nga Buganda mu butongole emenyeewo ekirangiriro ky’olukiiko lwa Buganda ekyo ekyagoba gavumenti ya Uganda ku ttaka lya Buganda, gavumenti ya Uganda efuga Buganda mu bumenyi bw’amateeka era Buganda bwewaaba mu kooti y’ensi yonna, Uganda esobola okukakibwa okuddiza Buganda obwetwaaze bwaayo.

Abeebitiibwa b’e Mmengo, kirabika ng’ekigendererwa kyammwe gavumenti ya Uganda kye yabatuma, kwe kuguumaaza Abaganda, mbu, ebya Buganda bigenda kugonjoolwa nga tuyise mu kulonda kwa 2011, olwo mu kukola ekyo mwefuule abakiikirira Buganda mulabise Buganda ng’eyeetabye mu kulonda okwo mu butongole, n’olwekyo, mulabise Buganda ng’emenyeewo ekirangiriro ekyagoba gavumenti ya Uganda ku ttaka lya Buganda era kitegeeze nti Buganda eri mu Uganda kyeyagalire (teri mu buwambe); ekyo kiggyewo ensonga Omuganda yenna gy’asobola okusinziirako okuwaabira gavumenti ya Uganda mu kooti y’ensi yonna ku lw’okufunira Buganda Obwetwaaze.

Ekigendererwa kino mukiruddeko nnyo nga kikyabalemye okutuukiriza. Mwasooka kwagala kukiyisa mu Charter, bwe yalemwa, ne mutegeka kukiyisa mu Regional Tier. Obuganda bwe bwagigaana, mwe ne mukama wammwe pulezidenti-gavana mukoze binji okukaka Ssabasajja Kabaka akozese omukono gwe ku lwa Buganda amenyewo ekirangiriro kya 1966 nga muyita mu kye mwatuuma okuteesa.

Kati ekkubo mu lizudde mu kulonda kwa 2011.!!!

Bwe muba temulina kigendererwa kibi ku Buganda, obudde tebunnayita.

Mukomye okukola ebirabisa Buganda ng’eyokwetaba(mu butongole) mu kulonda kwa Uganda okwa 2011 oba okulonda kwonna okulala okutegekeddwa Uganda. Abakungu abaagala okwesimbawo balekulire emirimu gya Kabaka beetabe mu kulonda okwo ku lwabwe ng’abantu so ssi ng’abasimbiddwaawo oba abatumiddwa Buganda. Bwe muba temusobola kuyamba Baganda butawaayo dembe lyabwe kwesalirawo na kwefuga nga bayita mu kiguumaaza w’okukuba obululu, mubaleke babwetabemu olw’emmundu eyabateekebwaako, so si mwe kubakulembera kubatwalamu.    

Wangaala Buganda

Awangaale Ssaabasajja Kabaka

M . Jjunju Kamulali
(Ssentebe)

After their meeting of March 23, 2010, Abazzukulu ba Buganda wrote a strong open letter to Katikkiro JB Walusimbi, demanding that he reverses his recent decisions and announcements in connection with the damaged Kasubi tombs. Abazzukulu ba Buganda is the best-known and most consistent Buganda nationalist pressure group. They are known to be fully independent of Mmengo.

In brief, the Luganda open letter by Abazzukulu says that  the arrangements which Katikkiro Walusimbi and has made in connection with repairing Kasubi are dangerous to Buganda. That they will not be tolerated and must be cancelled immediately for the reasons below:

1. Restoring the royal tombs must be led by those concerned with culture, the Abataka (clan leaders). The Katikkiro is only an administrator who should work to support the Bataka and carry out their decisions.
2. The various committees that Mmengo has formed for Kasubi have history of failure. They failed on other kingdom projects, including Bulange Plaza, Iand others. Muzibu-Azaalampanga is owned by Buganda and the Katikkiro must not tell us what to do.
3. Muzibu-Azaalampanga must be restored first before anything else is done at the Kasubi Nabulagala tombs compound.
4. Forget about closing off the tombs site. The Baganda you are trying to lock out are responsible for doing all the work on the tombs through their clans. Why do you seem to believe that you know it all and can call in Baganda only to show them what to do?
5. You must immediately stop working under the orders of foreign donors such UNESCO. Such organizations came to us because we had achievements to show. We shall not change our way of life to please UNESCO and our so-called friends.
6. Forget the idea of modernizing the royal tombs. The tombs are our cultural treasure, which we must jealously guard. The Baganda blood that we spilt a few days ago was not a joke. If you want to build modern structures, do it at Kakeeka Mmengo in Muteesa I Royal University, where you are currently teaching our children under tarpaulin tents.
7. In summary, do not too much and put yourself at risk since the Buganda nation is very angry. Your arrangements look like they are based on a plan to destroy Buganda. Don’t put yourself in that situation.

The full Luganda open letter is reproduced below:

OLUKIIKO LW’ABAZZUKULU BA BUGANDA

23.03.2010

EBBALUWA EY’OLWATU ERI KATIKKIRO J B WALUSIMBI

Olukiiko lw’Abazzukulu ba Buganda olutudde nga 23.03.2010, lwetegerezza entekateeka yo ku kuzzaawo “Amasiro” gyewayanjulidde Obuganda. Enteekateeka eyo tugizuddemu obulabe obw’amaanyi era bwetutasobola kugumiikiriza. Bino wammanga tukusaba bituukirizibwe mbagirawo:

1. Okukwasa omulimo ogwo be kikwatako ng’eNnono yaffe bweragira. Abataka be bannanyini nsonga eno era nga bo be balina okukola enteekateeka, gwe Katikkiro n’okola kusinziira ku bye basazeewo, bwe baba tebakontana na Nnono. Olwo gwe n’oyambako kukunga bazzukulu baabwe n’Obuganda bwonna mu kutuukiriza omulimo ogwo. N’olwekyo tukusaba ossattulule ebikiikokiiko by’otaddewo nti bye birina enkizo mu kukola omulimo ogwo.
2. Okusazaamu ekirango ky’oyimbirira nti Obuganda bugira buleka okuleeta ebikozesebwa buleete sente zokka nga bwe bulinda Entegeka yo. Obukiiko n’enteekateeka zammwe “ez’ekikugu” zisooke kutulaga kye zikoze okumaliriza Bulange Plaza, Twekobe n’ebirala, ziryoke z‘esigibwe. Obuganda tebisobola kulinda ng’eno ba Ssekabaka bwe bakubwa enkuba n’okwaakako omusana. Okuleeta kw’ebikozesebwa ng’essubi, n’emmuli ammangu dala ng’ekikangabwa ky’akagwa ku Buganda kisaanye okukulaga Abaganda bwe batwalamu ensonga y’okuzzaawo Muzibu Azaala Mpanga era n’obwangu bwe baagala omulimo ogwo gukolebwe. Sebo Obuganda bunnannyini Muzibu-Azaalampanga bwe buteekwa okukulaga n’okukubuulira eby’okukola so si ggwe.
3. Okutandikira ku kuzzaawo Muzibu -Azaala –Mpanga nga tonaba kukola Kintu kyonna kirala mu Masiro ge Kasubi Nabulagala. Mu ntegeka yo walaze nti ogenda kusooka kuggyawo buli kitatuukana na gw’otwaala ng ‘Omutindo’ mu masiro olwo oly’oke osembyeyo Muzibu… Amasiro obutaba ku mutindo si ky’ekiruma Obuganda essaawa eno. Obwetaavu bw’Abaganda buli mu kuzzaawo Muzibu-Azaalampanga amangu dala. Amalala  g’omutindo gebaakutaddemu gegira galindako. N’olwekyo teweetantala kukola Kintu kyonna nga Muzibu tannaddawo nga bweyabadde.
4. Sebo eky’okuggala Amasiro kiviireko dala kubanga Abaganda b’ogenda okuggalira ebweru be bannanyini kukola mulimo mu bika byabwe, bw’oba tootwalibwe ng’ayagala okulemesa omulimo. Lwaki oyagala okutulowozesa nti ogenda kubayita buyisi obalage omulimo oguwedde nga bo be bettanira okugwekolera?
5. Osaanidde ove ku ky’okukolera ku biragiro oba obukwakkulizo bw’abagabi b’obuyambi nga UNESCO. Twasooka kubeera kye tuli “mikwaano gyaffe” egyo ne giryoka gitwagala. Atatwagala tubeere nga bwe tuteekwa atuveeko. Tetulina kukyuusa kyaffe nakimu ku lw’okusanyusa UNESCO ne “mikwano” gyaffe emirala.
6. Eky’okuteeka amasiro ku “Mutindo” kyerabire. Amasiro ago kya buwangwa bwaffe kye tulina okukuuma obutiribiri.  Omusaayi ogwayiise tegwabadde gwakusaagamu busaazi. Oli wa ddembe okuzimba ebintu binji nnyo obiteeke ku “Mutindo” bwe bitaba bya buwangwa oba bya byafaayo ng’amasiro. Omutindo osobola okugwoleseza mu kuzimba ebizimbe by’omutindo wali e Kakeeka Mmengo ku Muteesa I Royal University abaana baffe gye basomera mu weema (tent) ng’ate ettendekero eryo liri mu mikonogyo.

Mu bufunze, tukusaba oleme kwemenya na kweteeka mu kabenje kubanga Obuganda bunyiivu nnyo. Enteekateekaayo ekwataganira dala bulungi n’enteekateka y’okusanyawo buli kantu akalaga nti waaliwo obwakabaka bwa Buganda obw’amaanyi, obwefuga. Tukusaba oleme kugwa mu ttuluba eryo.

M.Jjunju Kamulali
(Ssentebe)
Wangaala Buganda
Awangale Ssabasajja