Baganda, opposition politicians and human rights activists cried foul yesterday when Justice Wilson Kwesiga sentenced special police constable Ramathan Magara  to a 14-year prison term for killing two Baganda men. The victims were Vincent Kavuma and Gideon Makabayi. Justice Kwesiga and Magara are both Banyankore. On February 15, 2006 Magara walked to his car, pulled out an AK 47 and fired into a crowd of supporters of the FDC president, Dr Kizza Besigye, after one of them threw a stone at his car and broke the wind shield. The then presidential candidate Besigye was meeting his supporters during a visiting to Mmengo Bulange.

The charge against Magara was murder of two people when he fired into the crowd of Besigye supporters. Justice Kwesiga rejected the argument by Magara’s lawyer, McDusman Kabega, that his client shot in self-defence. The justice said that this theory was presented only as an afterthought. Also, the two court assessors (private citizens who are appointed to guide the judge) recommended that Magara be found guilty of murder, which could have fetched a death sentence.

However, many observers, especially Baganda and opposition party members in the packed court were shocked when Justice Kwesiga said that what Magara did was more like killing “in the heat of passion caused by sudden provocation”. Based on that, the judge convicted Magara man slaughter and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. Several angry protesters outside the court complained that this lenience towards people who kill Baganda could encourage government security operatives to do the same. At the time of going to press, it was not clear if Mmengo has been following the case. Occasionally, Mmengo speaks out crimes or injustices such as ritual killings as a Ugandan problem but is usually quiet when individual Baganda are mistreated by the police and judges.

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.