Former Buganda Katikkiro, Daniel Muliika, and past president of the Uganda North American Association (UNAA), Frank Musisi will be the headliners at the October 17, 2009 emergency conference in Boston, USA. The official organizers are Ggwangamujje Boston. The organizaton has had no active executive since its elections failed elections in November 2008 (see ” November 9th Ggwanga Mujje Meeting Similar to Uganda and Kenyan Elections“).

After the September disturbances, however, the community elected Mr. Buwembo Mayanja to be the caretaker leader and see the association through the troubled times until a new executive is elected. So, Mr. Mayanja is the key decision maker, assisted by several other community members. It is Mr. Mayanja who announced the Emergency Buganda Conference shortly after Lt. Frank Musisi lost the UNAA presidency to Moses Wilson. This writer was there at the Chicago UNAA when, within minutes after Musisi lost the vote, he publicaly declared that he had been cheated and he was now going to focus on leading the Buganda cause in America. He made these statements in the presence of  Omulangira Wasajja and Buganda ministers Nakiwala Kiyingi and  Peter Mayiga who came to represent Buganda.

According to the Buganda Emergency Conference poster that the organizers have been cirulating over the last few weeks, the objectives of the event are (a) To examine the current conditions in Buganda and (b) to find ways to get out of the dire situation. However SMS messages which have been broadcast over Baganda cell phones by one of the organizers, Robert Kabuye, explain that the meeting will choose someone to be Buganda’s candidate against Museveni in the 2011 elections. The SMS messages have  led to some Bganda to suspect that the real goal of the Boston emergency conference may be to “crown” Musisi. This suspicion was strenghtned when Musisi told a Baganda meeting in Los Angeles last weeked that he had been “blessed” as the new leader of all Baganda in America. He never explained the process through which he had been chosen or whether either the Kabaka or the Katikkiro were part of it. And our efforts to confirm through Baganda American leaders if Mmengo or Kabaka appointed Musisi were unsuccessful.

Our sources both in Boston and Washington DC have confirmed that Mr. Mayanja is a strong Musisi supporter, as are several other Boston Baganda. The sources also say that other key Musisi promoters, including Mr. Kabonge and Mrs. Flavia Magoba of Washington DC, Mr. Male of California and Mr. James Semakula also of California. We have not been able to establish if Owek. Dan Muliika came to the meeting to promote Lt. Musisi or simply to present his opinions on the situation in Buganda. However, the former Katikkiro’s position should become clear today, after the true conference agenda is revealed and presentations are made. Robert Kabuye has announced that Mr. Muliika will be the keynote speaker.

Lt. Musisi is a member of the USA army who came to America with the help of his cousin and promnient anti-Buganda kingdom Museveni aide, the late Col. Serwanga Lwanga. The late Col. led the campaign to block the return of the Bulange to Buganda, claiming that Buganda has sold its majestic office building to Milton Obote of Idi Amin.

Sunday 30^th August was yet again the Annual Clans of the Baganda in the UK  Sports day which was held at McMillan Stadium at Newham Leisure Centre in East London. As usual, it was a well attended event with a range of activities to suit almost everybody from the age of 3 upwards. Competitive activities included table tennis, badminton, basket ball, omweso, draughts, football and athletics field and track. The 50 plus had no excuse not to participate as there was a walking race as well. As last year, Jomayi Property Consultants teamed up with Empapula Za Kakobe magazine to sponsor this event with contribution from Pier One Sound Systems plus the many volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly.

The essence of this sports day is to bring together the Baganda in their major building block which is the clan. It is an opportunity not only to have fun and keep fit but to fraternise with one’s clansmates, strengthen the sense of togetherness and, probably most importantly, inculcate in the young ones, even those born outside of Buganda, the fact that they have strong cultural roots which they should cherish wherever they are. It makes them aware that they are related to people they may never have met before and this sense of belonging to a wider, bigger entity which eventually makes you a Muganda and explains one’s surname and eventually who you may and may not marry is treasured.

This sports day is unique in that it involves everyone who wants to compete and amass points for their clan unlike back at home where only those selected as good enough and trained represent their clan. This makes everyone feel important for their clan.

The medals ceremony was presided over by Prince Daudi Ggolooba and Naalinnya Elizabeth Nakabiri introduced by Fred Ssemugera the Chairman of Ebika Bya Baganda E Bungereza. This was preceeded by the crowds rendering of”Ekitiibwa kya Buganda ” ( Buganda’s anthem )which was made jespecially joyful by the  under 13’s who sung it with gusto and enthusiasm. All this was after one of the highlights of the day, the tug of war which is one of the events where one sees the effort and pride contestants put in on behalf of their clans, the weaker ones often being literary dragged on the floor but still walking off with pride. The medals won, especially by the young people, were the icing on the cake. Many winners walked away proudly with wide smiles and a sense of belonging and worthiness, let alone the self esteem of achievement for self and clan.

This year, Ngabi were toppled into second place by Mmamba. Third were Lugave and Ndiga fourth. A total of twenty six clans were represented.

The highly popular London hosted Annual Ebika Bya Baganda e Bungereza Sports Day for this year is slated for Sunday 30th August 2009 according to one of the organizers, Mw. Fred Ssemugera. Individual and team events will include track and field, rope tag of war, omweso, drafts, table tennis, basketball, badminton, swimming and 5-a-side soccer. The track and field competitions will pit Baganda of all ages in 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter as well as 100 x 4 relay sprints.

The Baganda games will be held at the McMillan Stadium, Newham Leisure Centre, Plaistow, London, E13,  from  1:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The guest of honor will be Buganda government minister for Tourism, Ow’ek. Nakiwala Kiyingi. Other ceremonies on the same venue will include an exhibition of arts and crafts from Buganda and viewing of videos promoting tourism in Buganda.

More information is available from  Fred Ssemugera on 0208 428 9553 and 07956 455 133, Dr. Ssekweyama on  0208 670 5590, Yosef Serugo on  01708 747 398, Yiga Matovu on 0208 854 3554 and Daudi Sserukeera on 07944 162 354.

Sources in Chicago and Los Angeles have told this writer that Owek. Sendaula decided to cancel his plans to attend UNAA 2009 in Chicago. The reasons for the decision are still unclear but analysts believe that it may be to avoid getting caught up in the political fights which are expected over the election of the organization’s new president.

On August 18, I wrote that the Deputy Katikkiro, Owek. Emmanuel Sendaula was scheduled to attend the UNAA conference in Chicago over the American Labor Day weekend (first weekend in September) this year (see”Owek. Sendaula And Uganda Style Politics Expected At Chicago UNAA“). He was expected to lead a delegation, which would include Kabaka’s minister for tourism, Owek. Nakiwala Kiyingi. It is still unclear who will be in the Mmengo delegation and who will lead it.

These developments come right after of a clear and strong statement by Kabaka Mutebi last weekend that Buganda was moving ahead on its match to self-determination even if some people are not bright enough to understand what Baganda mean by Federo. Kabaka Mutebi’s guidance last weekend, has left some Baganda in North America concerned that Mmengo’s attendance and active involvement in UNAA’s decisive and unfamiliar politics could sabotage the Kabaka’s message among American Baganda.

According to reports from Chicago, USA, Deputy Katikkiro, Owek.  Emmanuel Sendaula is expected to attend the UNAA conference in that city on the America Labor Day weekend. Owek. Sendaula will lead a Mmengo team, which will include Minister for Tourism, Nakiwala-Kiyingi. It is still unclear what role the Deputy Katikkiro will play at UNAA, which is expected to be attended by at least 50 Uganda governmental officials. However, there are reports that Minister Nakiwala-Kiyingi will announce one well known NRM as Buganda’s tourism representative in USA and Canada.  We have already received an email claiming that certain Baganda who want to see more transparency and support for Kabaka from Mmengo plan to demand “okunyonyolwa lwaaki Ssabasajja n’abataka tebawagirwa kimala” from the Deputy Katikkiro. The same Baganda also plan to demand that Minister Nakiwala-Kiyingi explain what qualifications her choice of Buganda tourism representative in North America has for such a sensitive job. And why she selected him in a non-transparent and suspicious way, typical of NRM.

The decision by Katikkiro Walusimbi to send a Mmengo delegation to UNAA could be seem as clear evidence that his commitment is with the NRM dominated Uganda politics than Buganda’s fight for her rights which Kabaka Mutebi is talking about. That is because last year, Katikkiro Walusimbi boycotted the Baganda international conference, Ttabamiruka ‘08. According to www.ttabamiruka.com, the planning for Ttabamiruka ‘10 should be already going on. Ttabamiruka focus on Buganda issues only and does not allow any Uganda style politics.

The UNAA conference this year is expected to be most affected by Uganda politics in history. There is concern by the organizers that Uganda style politics will take over during the elections of the new UNAA leadership because Mr. Museveni is determined to control UNAA. The current president, Frank Musisi is competing against Edward Wilson and Flex Kabuye, younger brother Colonel Kayanja of the infamous Operation Wembley.  Musisi beat Wilson two years ago. Supporters of Mr. Musisi, who is independent of Uganda politics, are upset about the close relationship his two opponents have with the NRM government.  In places like Boston, Edward Wilson and Flex Kabuye are routinely referred to as the NRM candidates . Musisi’s supporters are genuinely afraid that one of the NRM candidates will declare support for the other one (whoever appears to be strongest) in order to beat Musisi through a Uganda style kavuyo.

In the meantime, the UNAA organizers chose to give the conference a truly Ugandan flavor by inviting Illinois Senator Roland Burriss as the keynote speaker. Senator Roland is a colorful man who was appointed to the senate by former Governor Rod Blagojevich in the middle of impeachment proceedings involving the selling of President Obama’s former seat.  During the impeachment trial, tapes were audio tapes were publicly played where now Senator Burriss discussed raising funds for the Governor and at the same time expressed interest in being appointed to replace Obama to the Senate seat.