Last weekend, Lubaga North MP did what no other Muganda politician has ever done in the history of Uganda. She told her political party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the rest of Uganda, in no uncertain terms, that she would put Buganda’s interests before those of FDC if the two conflicted.  She did it publicly and in writing, through a press release (see Beti Kamya: Baganda Must Put Buganda First and Vote As a Block). And, curiously, it very much looks like Beti may be acting on the resolutions that were passed by Ttabamiruka ’08,  the Baganda international conference which she attended in August this year.

Obviously, the FDC top brass have known of Kamya’s “Buganda first” agenda for many months. That is, since Besigye, Wafula Ogutu, Salam Musumba and Anne Mugisha, with tacit support form Sam Njuba, manipulated the FDC constitution, NRM style, to make sure that Kamya could not replace the late Hajji Sulaiman Kiggundu.  It has been months since Kamya outted Besigye as a Museveni-style dictator. To punish Beti, Wafula Ogutu and Anne Mugisha have planted numerous new stories, especially in the Indian owned The Monitor.  Monitor writers have written stories accusing Kamya of incompetence, blind ambition, spying for NRM, recklessness and any other character damaging attribute that the FDC brass got time to approve.  And Kamya has fought back, paralyzing the FDC’s activities in Buganda by successfully persuading Baganda FDC members not to participate in the party’s branch election within the kingdom.

Kamya took her “Buganda first” leadership to a totally another level when she internationalized it at Ttabamiruka ’08 in the USA.   At the annual Baganda international conference,  Kamya  found a few hundred well educated and very loyal Baganda who proved fertile soil for her words along with the popular  “Let’s have a divorce” message from Kyanjo. The Ttabamiruka Baganda fell in love with Beti’s declaration that total loyalty to Ssabasajja Kabaka and Buganda interests would guide all her future political actions.

Beti Kamya did not specifically refer to Ttabamiruka ’08 or its resolutions in her press release of last Saturday . However, Beti’s writings are in many ways aligned with the Ttabamiruka ’08 resolutions.  A contact within the Ttabamiruka community has told this columnist that Kamya’s press release has generated excitement in London and USA, especially around New York and Washington.  The contact said: “Many of us in the Ttabamiruka family see Beti’s press release as a signal that she is a woman of her word. She is acting on what we agreed on in New Jersey, especially abandoning cowardice, stopping the begging and getting Buganda rights debated across the kingdom.”

The Ttabamiruka ’08 resolutions in English are reproduced below. The Luganda version is at Ttabamiruka ‘08 Resolutions – Luganda Version.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

WE, THE CONFEREES AT THE TTABAMIRUKA 2008 IN NEW JERSEY

HAVING OBSERVED THAT:
-That the current governance of Buganda is devoid of Justice.
-That a governance without Justice breeds poverty, violence and corruption. We have observed these problems in Uganda since 1966 and continue to do so.
-We accept that it is our duty to reform the governance of our nation.

DO THEREBY RESOLVE:
1. That we are firm in our allegiance to our Ssabasajja Kabaka, traditions and customs, and we thank Ssabasajja Kabaka for his gracious message to the conference.

2. That we have abandoned cowardice, laziness and self effacement in our quest for Freedom and Justice. No officer of the Kingdom of Buganda may beg for Justice as a favour from anybody.

3. That we are proud of the courage and obedience to Ssabasajja Kabaka shown by His servants Betty Nambooze, Charles Mayega and Medard Lubega,and pledge to be as courageous as they are.

4. That it is the urgent duty of all Baganda, acting through their offices, associations and parties, to enter into direct discussions with the other peoples of Uganda on the terms of union and governance that are acceptable to all, and to draft a new Basic Law of the Land in accord with Buganda’s interests.

5. That such discussions must be based on the recognition that:
-Uganda is and remains an entity created and owned by the 14 ancient African Nations whose symbols are inscribed on the walls of the Parliament of Uganda, which came together in 1962 and agreed on the Independence constitution.
- Buganda, upon entering that agreement, was an independent nation that left British rule on October 8, 1962.
-These ancient nations created the central government to administer their common purpose, not to be an overlord.
- The assets and duties of the Central Government are granted to it by the assent of the ancient African nations that formed it. The central government has otherwise no proper title to such assets and has no right to apportion them at its pleasure.

6. That the right of the Baganda to administer Buganda internally, including control of governance and land, is not negotiable and may not be negotiated by any officer of the Kingdom. The Baganda recognize the right of the other nationalities in Uganda to assert a similar claim.

We urge all Baganda to debate these matters in their neighbourhoods, in their clans and in their councils and to publish their opinions .

We have reported these resolutions to Ssabasajja Kabaka through his representative where we are seated – 31 August 2008.

Betty Bakireke Nambooze has promised her listeners that the fight by her Civil Education Committee for Buganda’s land and human rights will soon be stepped up. She explained that the relative quiet that followed the illegal kidnap and captivity of herself, Lubega Sseggona and Peter Mayiga was only a tactical withdraw. The Civic Education Committee was appointed by Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi, with Nambooze as its chairman.

Nambooze made the remarks last Tuesday on the weekly CBS Radio FM talk show program Kiriza oba Gaana (Agree or Disagree). Earlier this week Buganda Post carried an exclusive report about the financial challenges the Nambooze and her committee were facing in continuing their work. During Kiriza oba Gaana, Nambooze said that they had made the tactical withdraw to give the Government campaign to sell the Land Act amendments fail by itself. She said (our translation), “We have given the other side a chance to sell their story but most people can see, no one is buying. So we are coming back soon to bring the truth to you again, and teach you what it really going on.”

Nambooze’s statements came only days after similar declarations by another Buganda official who was kidnapped and kept in captivity in August, 2008, Medard Lubega Sseggona (Lubega Sseggona Vows To Keep Fighting for Buganda). It is still not clear if there is any connection between the statements by the two popular Buganda rights advocates and the evidence that CBS Radio management is taking its orders from President Museveni’s government.

About a month earlier CBS Radio management and Katikkiro Walusimbi tried to discontinue Betty Nambooze’s programs, only to be stopped by Ssabasajja Kabaka himself. More recently, CBS management caved to the demands of Museveni’s minister, Amama Mbabazi, and refused to air live a program where his political opponents Jim Muhweezi and Kahinda Otafiire were to appear on September 28, 2008. Katikkiro Walusimbi has even appointed a special “internal censor” of CBS programs, Cambridge University trained Haj. Mustafa Mutyaba, to make sure that Mr. Museveni’s expectations are generally met by what is broadcast.

On August 6, 2008 Mr. Museveni’s government kidnapped Nambooze, together with Peter Mayiga, Buganda Minister of Information and Lubega Sseggona, Buganda Deputy Minister of Information. The three were illegally held for nearly a week until a judge ruled the detention to be illegal captivity. Originally the government claimed that the trio, together with others, had plotted to prosecute war against Uganda but when take to court, they were only charged with sedition.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

WE, THE CONFEREES AT THE TTABAMIRUKA 2008 IN NEW JERSEY

HAVING OBSERVED THAT:
-That the current governance of Buganda is devoid of Justice.

-That a governance without Justice breeds poverty, violence and corruption. We have observed these problems in Uganda since 1966 and continue to do so.

-We accept that it is our duty to reform the governance of our nation.

DO THEREBY RESOLVE:

1. That we are firm in our allegiance to our Ssabasajja Kabaka, traditions and customs, and we thank Ssabasajja Kabaka for his gracious message to the conference.

2. That we have abandoned cowardice, laziness and self effacement in our quest for Freedom and Justice. No officer of the Kingdom of Buganda may beg for Justice as a favour from anybody.

3. That we are proud of the courage and obedience to Ssabasajja Kabaka shown by His servants Betty Nambooze, Charles Mayega and Medard Lubega,and pledge to be as courageous as they are.

4. That it is the urgent duty of all Baganda, acting through their offices, associations and parties, to enter into direct discussions with the other peoples of Uganda on the terms of union and governance that are acceptable to all, and to draft a new Basic Law of the Land in accord with Buganda’s interests.

5. That such discussions must be based on the recognition that:

-Uganda is and remains an entity created and owned by the 14 ancient African Nations whose symbols are inscribed on the walls of the Parliament of Uganda, which came together in 1962 and agreed on the Independence constitution.

- Buganda, upon entering that agreement, was an independent nation that left British rule on October 8, 1962.

-These ancient nations created the central government to administer their common purpose, not to be an overlord.

- The assets and duties of the Central Government are granted to it by the assent of the ancient African nations that formed it. The central government has otherwise no proper title to such assets and has no right to apportion them at its pleasure.

6. That the right of the Baganda to administer Buganda internally, including control of governance and land, is not negotiable and may not be negotiated by any officer of the Kingdom. The Baganda recognize the right of the other nationalities in Uganda to assert a similar claim.

We urge all Baganda to debate these matters in their neighbourhoods, in their clans and in their councils and to publish their opinions .

We have reported these resolutions to Ssabasajja Kabaka through his representative where we are seated – 31 August 2008.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

FFE ABATEESA MU TTABAMIRUKA 2008 E NEW JERSEY MU AMERIKA

TUKIKAKASIZZA NTI

- Buganda efugibwa mu ngeri etaliimu bwenkanya.

- enfuga etalimu bwenkanya ereeta obwavu, obutabanguko n’effugabbi mu ggwanga. Emitawaana gino tugirabye era tukyagiraba mu ggwanga lyaffe ne mu Yuganda okuva mu 1966.

-enfuga erina okukyuka, era tukkirizza omulimu guno.

TUSSIZZA KIMU NTI:

1. Tuli bawulize eri Ssabasajja Kabaka , ennono, obuwangwa n’obulombolombo bwaffe. Tweyanzizza nnyo obubaka bwa Ssabasajja.

2. Tweyambudde obutiitiizi, obugayaavu n’obusabiriza nga tulwanirira eddembe n’obwenkanya. Tekigwanidde mukulembeze wa Buganda yenna okusabiriza.

3. Twenyumiririza mu buzira bw’Omuzaana Betty Nambooze n’Abasajja ba Kabaka Charles Mayiga ne Medard Lubega nga bagoberera okusiima kwa Ssabasajja Kabaka, era tweyama okuba abazira nga bo.

4. Kigwanidde Abaganda nga bayita mu nnono, mu buwangwa, mu by’obufuzi ne mu bulombolombo batandike okukolagana butereevu n’Abantu ba Yuganda abalala ku bwegassi n’enfuga gye baagala, era babage nabo Ssemateeka omupya atakontana na byetaago bya Buganda.

5. Kigwanidde enkolagana ebeere ku musingi guno;

-Yuganda nsi ya bantu baamu, abasibuka mu mawanga ekkumi n’ana agaalina obubonero ku kisenge mu Parliament ya Yuganda, agaakola endagaano ku nfuga egatta Yuganda mu 1962.

-Buganda yayingira mu ndagaano eyo nga eggwanga eryefuga,eryava mu bufuge nga October 8, 1962.

-Abantu twagunjawo gavumenti ya wakati etuweereze, sso ssi etuduumire.

-Abatu twassaawo Gavumenti eya wakati ebeere n’emirimu era n’ebintu bye tugisalira, sso ssi yo Gavumenti okweddiza obuyinza n’ebintu byonna ffe etubegereko.

6. Tekigwanidde kuteeesa ku buyinza bwa Baganda okufuga Buganda ku nsonga zonna ez’omunda, nga mw’otwalidde ennono n’ettaka. Tewali mukulembeze wa Buganda alina buyinza kuyingira mu kuteesa ku nsonga eno. N’ebya bannaffe ab’amawanga amalala tetubibasalirawo.

Tukubiriza Abaganda bateese ku nsonga zino mu byalo byabwe, mu bika ne mu nkiiko era basaasanye ebirowoozo byabwe.

Ebirowoozo byaffe tubiroopye Embuga nga tuyita mu Mubaka wa Ssabasajja mu ssaza wetutudde – 31 August 2008.

Driscilla, Ndibalekera, Kisakye and Ssuubi are among the many names which have been given to the new daughter to Kabaka’s Minister and recent Uganda government kidnap victim Medard Lubega Sseggona and his wife Diana Namuli Lubega. Driscilla was born on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 in Namirembe hospital. Both mother and daughter are in good health and have been receiving a stream of well wishers from all walks of life. Mrs. Namuli Lubega, who is a medical doctor by training, was reported to be excited and relieved that the delivery was free of complications despite the stress that the abduction of her husband had put on her.

An excited Medard Lubega praised both his wife and new daughter for their bravery and determination during their trials only days before the delivery. He humorously declared that his daughter was “a special person and very brave and we praise God that she is healthy because there was something like a conspiracy to turn her into an orphan on day one.”

Medard Lubega is one of the Mmengo three who were kidnapped by the Uganda government on July 20, 2008 and accused of, among other things sedition and promoting war. For nearly a week they were driven around Western Uganda for unclear reasons before being released on bail and police bond on July 25, 2008. During Medard Lubega’s captivity his wife, who was 8 months pregnant, mounted a search for him which took her to places like Kyenjojo and Bundibujo clocking over 400 miles of Uganda’s poorly maintained roads.

Our correspondent in London has been reliably informed that the Federo conference planned for August 22 to August 24, 2008 will have as their main speakers former Katikkiro Daniel Muliika, Kabaka’s Minister for Research, Daudi Mpanga and former kidnap victim and Chairperson of Kabaka’s Central Civic Education Committee, Betty Nambooze. Last weekend Muliika was the main speaker at the Uganda National Peoples’ Rights Association (UNAPERA) conference, also in the UK.

The Federo conference which is focused on the subject of Federo governance is organized by the federo.com, an advocacy group that promotes the Federo governance model for Uganda. The presence of so many highly poplar Baganda nationalists at the Federo conference is expected to boost both participation and the level of discussion.

After the Federo conference Muliika, Nambooze and Mpanga are expected to continue to Ttabamiruka ’08. We have not yet been able to confirm if Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega, Betty Kamya, or other firebrands such as Lukwago will join at Ttabamiruka.

According to the organizers of Ttabamiruka ’08, the speakers that have been confirmed for the international Baganda conference planned for August 31, 2008 include Former Katikkiro Dan Muliika, Kabaka’s Minister Owek. Daudi Mpanga and MP for Makindye West Hajj. Hussien Kyanjo. On a circular email dated August 8, 2008, the conference organizers announced that the trio had been confirmed and went on to promise the announcement of more “surprise” speakers. We have no additional information regarding the speakers who will be announced later, but according to our sources in New York those who were invited include Betty Nambooze, Betty Kamya, and Medard Lubega. There will also probably be someone to represent His Majesty, Ssabasajja Kabaka. Buganda Post has reliably learnt that the formal invitation was sent to Katikkiro Walusimbi to attend Ttabamiruka ’08. However, no information is yet available to us on his response.

Our London source who is familiar with Katikkiro Muliika’s planned trip to the U.K. next week has informed Buganda Post that Owek. Muliika will attend Ttabamiruka ‘08 in New Jersey, USA. According to the conference website, www.ttabamiruka.com, the theme of the conference is “Consolidating Ttabamiruka ’07 achievements and confronting Buganda’s escalating challenges.”

At the time of filing this report, it was not yet known what specific topics Owek. Muliika will speak about or whether he will be the guest of honor. There are also unconfirmed reports that other popular Baganda personalities who are at the forefront of the fight to protect Buganda land will attend the conference. Based on recent developments and news reports on the subject of Buganda land one would speculate that such personalities might include Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega, David Mpanga, Hussein Kyanjo, Betty Kamya and MP Lukwago.

Ttabamiruka is an annual international conference organized by Baganda for Baganda, Bajjwa and their friends to discuss Buganda specific issues, meet each other and celebrate their achievements. Ttabamiruka ‘08, like Ttabamiruka ‘07, is sponsored by Ggwangamujje NY/NJ.

Buganda Post has learnt from a source in Buganda Government that recent kidnap victim Betty Nambooze will probably undergo an operation by the end of next week. According to the source, Nambooze was released from Lubaga Hospital on Wednesday with strict doctor’s instructions to rest and gain strength for an expected operation to repair the effects of post caesarean birth wound infection that she contracted during her captivity.

Three Kabaka’s officials Betty Nambooze (Buganda Civic Education Central Committee chairperson), Charles Peter Mayiga (Information and Cabinet Affairs) and Medard Lubega (State for Information) were kidnapped on July 18, 2008 by members of CMI and State House security. The kidnappings were on the orders of President Museveni.

Over a period of three days after capture Nambooze, who is breast feeding, and her colleagues were driven more than 700 miles up and down the western region for still unclear reasons. Over the same period they would be kept in unsanitary local police jails and safe houses. It is through this process that her still unhealed caesarean section wound got infected and ruptured.

On July 29, 2008, Patriotic Baganda members of the Uganda’s Parliament told off President Museveni’s minister of internal affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda, after his presentation of an untruthful statement about the recent kidnap of 3 Buganda officials. Rugunda presented his statement, amid vigorous heckling, to a special session of the parliament, which was called to debate the arrest of Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega Sseggona and Betty Nambooze. Beti Kamya (Lubaga North) rubbished Rugunda’s statement, demanding that Mr. Museveni’s occupation government explain why Betty Nambooze was stripped naked at Jinja Road police station. Hussein Kyanjo (Makindye West) condemned the rampant abuse of human rights, insisting that the Buganda officials were not arrested by Police but by some other dubious armed forces. He revealed that shortly after the kidnapping of the Buganda officials, he (Kyanjo) spoke to the military officer who heads Uganda’s police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, who confirmed that the police were clearly unaware of the abduction. Issa Kikungwe (Kyaddondo South) reserved his attack for the excessive tribalism in government, which he blamed for most of Uganda’s ills. He pointed out that people from certain parts of Uganda routinely practice sectarianism and nothing is done but when others publicly complain about such sectarian behavior trumped up charges are brought against them. Michael Mabikke (Makindye East) warned the NRM that it must abandon its bushmen practices. They must come to grips with the fact that Buganda’s issues cannot and will not be swept under the rug. Even the British colonialists were not able to do it, and it will not go away with the NRM. One MP who most vocally supported the occupation government and Rugunda’s statement is Janet Kataha Museveni (Ruhama) the wife of Uganda’s president. She defended her husband’s government on the decision to violate Uganda’s constitution by holding the Buganda officials for over 48 hours without taking them to court. According to her, the government must not be blamed for violating the constitution because they lost time when they were transporting the captives across western Uganda. As far as she was concerned, what is more important is to deal with what she referred to as the abuse of her husband’s government. Rugunda’s full statement before Parliament is reproduced below:

Rt. Hon. Speaker, Hon. Members of Parliament,

1.On 25th July 2008, I received my copy of a letter, ref SP/8 written to the Clerk to Parliament by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, responding to a petition that Parliament convenes in plenary today, 29” July 2008 to handle business relating to the arrest, detention and subsequent release of the three persons named above. This petition required Parliament to convene and receive the official Government statement by the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs on the arrest of the three individuals, who happen to be officials of the Buganda Kingdom. Inter alia, the statement was to state:
i) The personnel who effected the arrest
ii) The subsequent confinement and treatment of the three
iii) The proper procedure for commencement of criminal proceedings
iv) The duration within which such proceedings ought to commence.

2 Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Members, Police has been closely monitoring actions and statements made from time to time by some individuals and groups. The statements have been both in the print and electronic media. Investigations were carried out in respect of these statements made by the three individuals that were viewed by Police as amounting to offences of:
i. Promoting war,
ii. Sedition,
iii. Incitement to violence,
iv. Threatening violence and
v. Sectarianism.

In addition, investigations revealed that acting jointly and at times individually, the three engaged in what appeared to be unlawful activities in Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kasese, Kibaale, Bundibugyo, Hoima and Kampala Districts. Investigations of the three individuals on Terrorism and other offences are still continuing.

3. At some point during the investigations, it became necessary to arrest the three. On Friday 18 July 2008, Police detectives arrested them, at different times, and from different locations within Kampala. Mr. Speaker Sir, since some of the acts constituting the alleged offences are said to have been committed in and outside Kampala, it was necessary to transfer them to areas outside Kampala in order to assist the Police in investigations. It is for this reason that it became difficult to adhere to the 48 hour rule regarding detention of suspects in police custody.

4. While the investigations were going on in those areas, Buganda Road Court, on Wednesday 23rd July 2008 issued a court order, ordering for their unconditional release from Police custody. Accordingly, the three were on Thursday 24th July 2008 released from Kyenjojo Police Station.

5. Mr. Speaker Sir, on the basis of evidence that had been gathered, and, in accordance with the law, the three were re-arrested.
• Mr. Medard Lubega and Mrs Betty Nambooze were produced before Nakawa Chief Magistrates court on Friday 25th July 2008 charged with sedition, as investigations continue for other charges of sectarianism, threatening violence, incitement to violence, and promoting war. The two accused were granted bail by court.
• Mr. Peter Mayiga was released on Police Bond at Jinja Road Police station pending further investigations.

6. Mr. Speaker Sir, regarding the specific issues put forward in the petition, I wish to state as follows:
a) The arrests were effected by the Police.
b) The three were at all times in Police custody.
c) Criminal proceedings may be instituted in several ways in accordance with section 42 subsection 1 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, inter alia, by a Police officer bringing a person arrested with or without a warrant before a Magistrate upon a charge.

It was under this provision that the proceedings against the three were commenced. d) Investigations start immediately information is received and thereby, criminal proceedings begin.

7. Mr. Speaker Sir, Government in accordance with the Constitution, will continue to carry out its mandate of ensuring security of the people and their property and is unequivocally committed to the rule of law.

8. Mr. Speaker Sir, Rule 60, in the Rules of Procedure of Parliament (The Rule on sub-judice), does not allow a matter that is before Court to be discussed out of Court. On Friday 21 July 2008, Mr. Medard Lubega and Ms. Betty Nambooze were charged in Court. In view of the above, I am wondering whether discussing this matter out of Court is not Sub-judice. I seek your guidance.

I thank you Rt. Hon. Speaker. Dr Ruhakana Rugunda