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

The pro-NRM government pornographic newspaper, Red Pepper, has printed a questionable story claiming that Lt. Frank Musisi is in Uganda on the invitation of Ssabasajja Kabaka. The paper which was sponsored by president Museveni’s brother Salim Saleh said that Musisi flew into Buganda on Sunday at the head of a 4-man delegation for secret talks with the Kabaka. However, the story might be fake because information we have seen solid evidence that Lt. Musisi came to Uganda for only one reason – get married. The Red Pepper story has spread fast around the Baganda Internet discussion groups and it is expected that Lt. Musisi will respond may be even before his wedding

The Buganda Post reporters in Kampala have not been able to establish if Lt. Musisi even spoke to Red Pepper at all or if Red Pepper made up the story based on a press release that Musisi and others issued on March 19th (see “Frank Musisi, Dennis Kavuma And Others Start Kasubi Fund“). What the Red Pepper said is:

QUOTE:

Baganda who live and work in North America have pledged US$1M (about Shs2bn) towards the renovation of the burnt Kasubi tombs. They have formed Kasubi Royal Tombs Restoration Fund (KRTRF) to coordinate the fundraising efforts. “We were so touched at the loss and have compiled a list of 1,000 wealthy Baganda, each of whom has pledged US$1,000 which comes to US$1m.

They have all agreed to pay up in the next 8 months. We don’t want the Kabaka to beg from anybody to renovate this site,” KRTRF’s Interim Chairman, Lt Frank Musisi revealed last evening.

“The burning of the ‘masiro’ has mobilised many Baganda to get more concerned about Buganda and has made mobilisation very easy for us to raise the money for the kingdom. All our members want are assurances that the cash will be accounted for.”Lt Musisi jetted into the country on Sunday morning and led a four-man delegation on the Kabaka’s invitation for secret talks. Over 20,000 registered Baganda live in North America and another 85,000 live in the UK, according to available statistics.

A brother to late Serwanga Lwanga (who was President Museveni’s PPS), Lt Musisi is a petroleum expert and works with the logistics department of the US army. The committee working with him to raise the US$1m comprises of CBS MD Kaaya Kavuma’s son, Dennis Paul Kavuma.

Others are William Senkumba (heads Catholic Ugandans in US), Moses Male, Gwanga Mujje’s Aurthur Sembuusi, Damiano Kigoye, Denis Nyondo (publicity), Prossy Kabogooza (treasurer) and Siraje Mugambe who heads the Organization of Ugandans living in California. By press time, US$133,755 had been secured in both cash and pledges. It includes Lt Musisi’s US$3,755 and US$55,000 the New Jersey chapter pledged to deliver on Tuesday.

END QUOTE.

BUGANDA ROYAL FAMILY STATEMENT

On behalf of the children, grandchildren of Sekabaka Sir Daudi Chwa II – ­Princes, Princesses, Saava’s and Naava’s – we would like to express our great shock, horror at the loss of our beloved Masiro (MUZIBU ­AZAALA – MPANGA), constructed over 130 years ago.

We would like to extend our condolences to The Kabaka, other members of the royal family and bakyala at Kasubi, the Bazaana, Namasole who are going through unimaginable loss our gratitude is always with you.

Our prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones, we also extend our condolences to the peoples of Buganda and Uganda as a whole both in Uganda and Diaspora for our collective loss.

We would like to thank those emergency services and members of the public who tried their utmost to save this historic site.

We strongly condemn this act of desecration of our beloved cultural (Royal

burial site) and further we also condemn the random acts of violence.

Although this historical site is recognized internationally, nationally and Buganda it should be noted with great concern that this historical site is a burial ground for the descendants of Sekabaka Mutesa I.

The Sekabakas buried here are;

• Sekabaka Mutesa I
• Sekabaka Mwanga II
• Sekabaka Chwa II
• Sekabaka Mutesa II

For a long time now we the family fee1 Kasubi has not been adequately protected. The families have formed a committee to put in place a permanent mechanism to guard against any future occurrences, acts of this nature.

Financial contributions can be deposited in any Centenary Bank branch on the following

Account number: 301-031-0559

Account name: HIS ROYAL HI HNESS SIRDAUDI CHWA ROYAL FOUNDATION

For further information, contact interim committee members, on the following telephone numbers

• Nnalinya Sarah Kagere - 071-442833
• Chairman Prince Namugala Mawanda Chwa - 0787-010896
• Prince Joseph Kimbugwe Walugembe – 0757- 313980
• Prince Henry Kalemera Kimera – 0701-212098

Dated this 19′” day of March the year 2010.

Signed by: Omulangira David Namugala Mawanda Chwa (Chairman)

Signed by: Nnalinya Sarah Kagere

LONG LIVE SSABASAJJA KABAKA WA BUGANDA

EKIWANDIIKO OKUVA MU LULYO OLULANGIRA

OKUVA MU BASEKABAKA ABAGALAMIZIDWA MU MASIRO e NABULAGALA.

Ku lwenyumba, ya Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II, abaana nabazukulu, Ba Nnalinya, abalangira na bambejja, Abaazana (ba Maama baffe) ba Saava neba Naava tutuusa obwenyamivu bwaffe olwo kwookya a Masiro ge Kasubi ” Muzibu azaala mpaanga” agazimbibwa emyaaka 130 egiyise.

Tusasira Ssabassajja Kabaka wa Buganda, olulyo olulangira, abakyala be Kasubi, Abazaana, neba Namasole olwobulumi obutagerageranyizika.

Tusasira awamu no kusabira abo bbona abafirwa abenganda zaabwe mukavuyo ne ffujjo erya dirira okujja kwa Masiro, era Tutuusa okusasira kwaffe eri abaganda ne bana Uganda okutwaliza awamu, abali mu Uganda ne kumawanga.olwe kikolwa kino ekyetima obukyaayi, nobunyoomi.

Twebaza abo bonna abakola buli kisoboka okutakiriza aMasiro.

Tuvumilila ekikolwa kino ekyetima, obukyaayi no bunyoomi, ekyagobelelwa okusanyaawo a masiro, awamu nebikolwa ebye ffujjo.

Newankubadde embuga eno nkulu ddala munsiyonna, ffe bazukulu ba Ssekabaka Mutesa owolubelyebyelye kyekijja kyaffe, bwebutaka era wetusibuka.

Ba Ssekabaka abagalamizidwa mukiffo kino beba;

• Sekabaka Muteesa I
• Sekabaka Mwanga II
• Sekabaka Chwa II
• Sekabaka Muteesa II

Tumaze ebanga ddene nga tulibelalikirivu nti a Masiro tegalina bukuumi bumala, nolwekyo, tutadewo a kakiiko akanatekawo enteekateeka eyoluberera, okutakiliza ebintu nga bino okuddamu.

Abo bbona abandyagadde okutuwa obuyambi bwe nsimbi obwokusobozesa okuzaawo a masiro, nebigya bya ba Sekabaka awamu ne Buggwe wo Lubiri ku masiro gano.

Akawunta namba: 301-031-0559 mu Centenary Bank mu manya gano wamanga;

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS SIR DAUDI CHWA ROYAL FOUNDATION.

Buli anaawayo obuyambi tereka bulungi a kakonge a ko kwoteredde obuyambi mu Bank.

Obuyambi obulala ngESubi, Emuli, nebintu ebirala ebikozesebwa mu kuzimba nabyo tubyanyiriza.

Omuntu yenna eyandiyagadde okuwaayo akadde, okumanya no kwebuuza tukirira barro wamanga;

1. Nnalinya Sarah Kagere 0718-442833

2. Omulangira Namugala Mawanda Chwa (sentebbe) 0787-010896

3. Omulangira Joseph Kimbugwe Walugembe 0757-7313980

4. Omulangira Henry Kalemera Kimera 0701-212098

Nga 18^th -March – 2010

Kiteredwako emikono :

l) Omulangira David Namugala Mawanda Chwa ( Sentebbe)

2) Nnalinya Sarah Kagere

AWANGAALE SSABASAJJA KABAKA WA BUGANDA

Friday, March 19, 2010

PRESESS RELEASE

Dear Fellow Ugandans:

RE: KASUBI ROYAL TOMBS RESTORATION FUND

An emergency meeting for Baganda residing in Southern California was held on Thursday 18, Mar 2010 at 9411 Burnet Avenue, North Hills CA 91343 at 7:00PM.

The meeting was called by Lt. Frank Musisi to discuss the issue of the destroyed Kasubi Royal Tombs and the Way Forward.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE MADE AND ADOPTED IMMEDIATELY:

1.      To send a sympathy message to the Royal family of Buganda and to the entire Buganda kingdom for the loss of the royal regalia which was gutted in the inferno of last Tuesday’s that destroyed the Kasubi Royal Tombs.

2.      Pledged to restore the Kasubi Royal Tombs in collaboration with Mengo establishment, Buganda Kingdom, and the Baganda in Diaspora by mobilizing and contributing the necessary financial resources for this job.

3.      Established a special fund, ” Kasubi Royal Tombs Restoration Fund (KRTRF)”.

4.      A sum of $1 million is to be raised in between 8-12 months if at least 1000 Baganda and friends of Buganda in the United States each contribute $1000.

5.      An Interim Organizing Committee was put in place consisting of the following members to spearhead the project, KRTRF:

a.       Chairman:                                                          Lt. Frank Musisi

b.      Vice Chairman:                                                Mr. Damiano Kigoye.

c.       Secretary:                                                        Mr. Fredrick Mwanje.

d.      Treasurer:                                                         Ms. Prossy Musoke.

e.       Publicity Secretary and mobilization:            Mr. Dennis Nnyondo

f.       Assistant publicity Secretary/ Mobilization:  Mr. Arthur Ssembusi.

Interim Committee Advisors:

a.       Mr. Dennis Kavuma, Buganda Tourism ZSAR in the U.SA.

b.      William Ssenkumba, Buganda Tourism Commissioner

c.       Mr. Moses Male, Buganda Tourism Commissioner

d.      Mr. Siraje Mugambe- President of the Ugandan Community Organization in California (UCOC).

6.      Members present pledged a sum of $11,480 immediately to the KTRF

7.      Members resolved to send the Chairman, Lt. Frank Musisi immediately to Mengo to meet with Buganda Officials and update then on formation of the” Kasubi Tombs Restoration Fund (KTRF)” and way forward.

8.      Members resolved to advise the Buganda Leadership not to seek assistance from Uganda Politicians but rather concentrate on the generosity and spirit of the loyal Baganda and friends of Buganda around the globe.

For more information on how you can contribute towards the KTRF please contact:

Chairman, Lt. Frank Musisi (818)-994-1485,

Vice Chairman, Mr. Damiano Kigoye ( 310-227-9253),

Advisor, Buganda Tourism Zsar, Mr. Dennis Paul Kavuma at 818-620-9448,

and others on the Committee.

Awangaale Ssabassajja Maggulunnyondo, Wa Buganda.

Yours Sincerely,

Dennis Nnyondo (818-201-7048)
Publicity Secretary & Mobilizer
Kasubi Tombs Restoration Fund
Los Angeles, California (USA)

Below is the the Luganda statement that the Katikkiro of Buganda, Eng. JB Walusimbi, issued on the burning of Buganda’s sacred Kasubi Tombs. The main highlights of the statement are as follows;

• Katikkiro sends condolences to Ssaabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, ba Nnaalinnya, Abalangira n’Abambejja, and the whole of Buganda.
• The Ekibira section, the the remains of the former kings (Ssekabaka) are located suffered serious but limited damage.
• The Buganda kingdom will officially mourn for the loss of Kasubi for one week, starting on March 22, 2010.
• A committee of Buganda officials has already been formed to start investigating what materials and budget would be required to rebuild 130 year old highly unique structure.
• A special session of the Buganda Great Lukiiko has been called to discuss the grave situation on March 22, 2010.

The full text in Luganda is shown below;

March, 17, 2009

EKIWANDIIKO KYA KATIKKIRO KU KW’OKEBWA KWA MASIRO GE KASUBI

Owek. Katikkiro wa Buganda ne nnaku nyingi ategeza Obuganda n’abantu bonna aba Uganda nti enyumba enkulu Muzibuazaalampanga, omwagalamizibwa ba Ssekabaka ba Buganda bana, mu Masiro e Kasubi, abantu abettima abatannamanyibwa baagiteekedde omuliro n’ebengeya mu kiro eky’akeesezza olunaku Lwokusatu nga 16, March 2010.

Katikkiro asaasidde nnyo nnyo Ssaabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, ba Nnaalinnya, Abalangira n’abambejja n’Obuganda bwonna. Gutusinze mukama waffe.

Ekibira ba Ssekabaka gyebaagalamizibwa abaddukirize baakoze buli ekisoboka okutaakiriza yo ne watayonooneka nnyo. Olubiri luno olwakubibwa Ssekabaka Muteesa 1 emyaka egisoba mu 130 gwe mutima gwa Buganda.

Obuganda buli mu biwoobe era tutandiise okukungubaga. Okukungubaga okutongole kujja kutandika ku Lwokusooka nga 22 March era kujja kumalira ddala sabbiiti nnamba okutuuka nga 26 March 2010. Emikolo girikomekkerezebwa mu Masiro e Kasubi.

Akakiiko ka baminisita kateekeddwawo okukola enteekateeka y’okukungubaga eye sabbiiti ennamba, era kajja kutegeeza Obuganda enteekateeka nga bwe zinatambula.

Olukiiko lwa Buganda Olukulu luyitiddwa bukubirire ku Lwokusooka nga 22 March, 2010 ku ssaawa 4.00 ez’enkya tusobole okuteesa ku nsonga eno enkulu.

Watekeddwawo akakiiko kabakugu akagenda okwekenneenya ebyetaagisa (materials) n’ensimbi ezeetaagisa okuzzaawo Amasiro.

Obuganda butegeezebwa nti Obwakabaka busazeewo okuzzaawo Amasiro ga ba Ssekabaka gano, ng’akabonero k’omwoyo gwa Buganda ogutafa, ogutatya era ogutaggwawo.

Ssaabasajja Kabaka Awangaale!

Eng. J.B. Walusimbi

KATIKKIRO

Most Baganda in North America have reached one conclusion about the fire that gutted Buganda’s national shrine, Amasiro ge Kasubi, the royal cemetery where 4 late kings (Bassekabaka) and many other royals are buried. They put the blame squarely on president Yoweri Museveni and his NRM government. And their suspicions were strenghtned by reports that on Wednesday, scores of Baganda were shot by NRM military police because they gave a hostile audience to Museveni. Museveni went inspect the ashes in the place where the royal tombs once stood. Based on the emails we have received from all over the world, it appears that a huge majority of Baganda view Museveni’s visit as a case of the criminal returning to the scene of the crime.

According to the March 17, 2010 Ekiba Kibe broadcasts, Baganda held big Ggwangamujje mourning gatherings in Boston, New Jersey and Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mourning is expected to go on for sometime but no end dates have been announced.  On the same program, the Chairman of Ggwangamujje Boston describes the various ways Museveni has impoverished, robbed and even killed Baganda. As examples, Mr. Mayanja mentions the young virgins of Budo Primary School who were sacrificed in a ritual dormitory fire, other school fires, the destruction of Buganda agriculture, the closure of CBS, the theft of Buganda’s native lands and the murder of ordinary Baganda. Mr. Mayanja announced more mourning meetings, indicating that in America Baganda might mourn for the Kasubi tombs for longer than the one week which Mmengo wants for Buganda.

Click on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10C and on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10D to listen to the Ekiba Kibe programs of March 17, 2010.

Based on the emails we are receiving from Baganda all over the world, Kabaka Mutebi’s subjects are clearly boling with anger. Most of the emails are too graphic and provocative for us to publish. Below is one example from Mr. A. Kyobe:

STALKING THE LION
A. Kyobe

Burning down Buganda’s royal tombs is the kind of provocation that this government under the generalship of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is hunting for (yes, Uganda is under military rule—case in point, see Museveni’s martial strut after the Bududa landslides dressed in army uniform with a Kalashnikov across his chest).

This military president and his bush war comrades know they are getting close to the sensitive nerve that their armed-to-the-teethtribalistic government is hunting for in Buganda.

In fact, all their criminal acts against the people of Buganda are carefully thought-out stratagems to deprive the kingdom of its cherished culture and freedoms:

What with rigged elections, corruption, a malicious constitution that denied us our right to a federal system of government, murdering our Kikubo business corps and blaming it on armed robbers, burning our schools, grabbing our lands and creating false chiefdoms within our kingdom, and making business and economic progress nigh near impossible for the people of Buganda.

Destroying Buganda’s sources of revenue and now this arson….. The result shall be insurrection!

Such is the nerve that Museveni is probing for, prodding us into rebellion; his UPDF/NRM government is provoking us to go into the swamps as we protest these injustices so that they can unleash their lethal police force under Gen.Kayihura, and their illegal militias under the command of the likes of that madman Maj. Kakooza Mutale, and their kiboko-AK47-squads of the Banyankole-Batutsi element of UTODA, and of course the deadly beast of death that General Kaguta’s UPDF is (ask the people of Luwero, Acholiland, Teso, and Karamoja) .

Yes, these Musevenite armies are planning to grind Buganda and its king into smithereens.

And as Museveni’s blood brother, John Nagenda said, “there will not be a Buganda to make noise about but a Ruritanian jeremiad of an opera to amuse the republic.”
Long live the Kabaka.

The four insurgent generals are stalking your every movement with deatth.

You will hear, physically hear, more from us.

These will be good times to die.