This writer has received a copy of a June 30, 2009 letter from the Acting President of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, which cancelled the plans for Ttabamiruka ’09. The letter says that the current global economic situation and a need to strengthen the health of the New York Ggwangamujje Baganda organization are the main reasons for the cancellation. The same letter also announces that preparations for Ttabamiruka ’10 will start this month.

The organization’s president, Mr. Sullyman Bunkeddeko, is on some sort of leave of absence since June 14, 2009. The vice president, Mr. Charles Mukasa, is the Acting chief executive. It is not yet clear why Mr. Bunkeddeko, who led the organization during Ttabamiruka ’08, is on a leave of absence.

However, Ggwangamujje organizations in America seem to be having major problems. The Boston chapter is at a standstill because their elections were called off more than one a month ago, after they became a shouting match. Source in Mmengo and Boston tell us that the NRM is determined to take over or destroy Boston Ggwangamujje, whichever comes first. And reports from Washington DC indicate that the  chapter there has been taken over by pro-NRM elements who have publicly made it clear that their Ggwangamujje is for all Ugandans, not just Baganda (the “Ggwanga” in Ggwangamujje is Uganda).

The letter cancelling Ttabamiruka ‘09 is reproduced below:

June 30, 2009

Dear Members of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ:

RE: LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE PRESIDENT

This is a follow-up to the June 14, 2009 letter from our President, now on a leave of absence.

SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN
It is quite difficult for me to step into the role of Acting President on short notice. However, with your support and cooperation, I will try my best to work with the Board and establish a minimum action plan to make some progress during Mr. Bunkeddeko’s leave of absence.

“VOICE OF CUSTOMER” MEETING
Your input and support will be critical to the success of the minimum action plan that I have mentioned above. Since Ggwangamujje NY/NJ is a service organization, we will start with what you expect from your investment in the organization.  You will shortly receive an invitation to a meeting to discuss ideas on what to include in our minimum action plan.

TTABAMIRUKA ‘09
After consulting the Board and Mr. Edward Semambya, I regret to inform you that Ggwangamujje NY/NJ will not organize a Ttabamiruka ’09. The current state of the economy and the urgent need to strengthen the health of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ were key considerations. I have however requested Mr. Semambya to initiate plans for Ttabamiruka ’10 as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of July 2009.

Thank you.

Charles Mukasa

Acting President
Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Inc.

When the appointed time  for  the Ggwanga Mujje Boston meeting came last Sunday, those who came to replace Rev. Kaasa Nakabaale’s executive and confirm the Ttabamiruka date change could not get what they wanted. And the reason was because the special elections they wanted to hold were illegal according to the Ggwangamujje constitution.  According to the constitution of Ggwangamujje a meeting that will have a vote to change the Executive must be announced 30 day in advance.

Approximately 100 Baganda met in Waltham (Boston suburb) expecting to see a verbal fight that would end with the replacement of the current executive  with one that is more friendly to the objectives Museveni funded UNAA. However, the election could not happen because although Nakabaale’s opponents had done a solid underground lobbying (kakuyege) they had ignored the the constitution.  The situation was similar to elections in President Museveni’s  Uganda, where all the rules are ignored during the campaign and arguments about what is legal and what is not start during vote counting. They were also similar to President Mwai Kibaki’s Kenyan politics because, after agreeing that the elections cannot take place the Boston meeting “compromised” for  Mr. Mayanja Buwembo to “share” the Chairman’s powers with Rev. Nakabaale until elections in December.

The Ttabamiruka ’09 date change is expected to be looked at again after the association gets the new Executive. If Nakabaale loses in December, however it is expected that the UNAA and NRM teams will be the winners and they will push their agenda to kill Ttabamiruka much more easily. Note that not all UNAA diehards are NRM operatives but the two share the goal to kill Ttabamiruka.

During a controversial October 26, 2008 general meeting  of Gganga Mujje Boston,  attendees voted to change the Ttabamiruka ’09 meeting date from September 2009 to a much less practical July 2009, to the benefits of the UNAA Convention in Chicago. They also agreed on a special meeting on November 9, 2008 to replace the current Executive led by Rev. Kaasa Nakabaale. Notable, when  the minutes of the October 26, meeting were written by Vice Chairman Moses Bukenya (not the secretary who was also present)  they omitted the names of UNAA’s Moses Kalemba and a few others who had put up strong arguments for changing the Ttabamiruka date.

Members of the Ggwangamujje Boston Executive include Reverend Nakabaale (President), NRM’s Bukenya (Vice President), Prof. Lugira, Kato Kajubi, Samalie Kajubi, Ssali, Mark Kizza, Mayanja and Dan Nvule. Historically, the Boston chapter of Ggwangamujje has suffered from NRM manipulation, placing a cloud of doubt over the overall loyalty of Boston Baganda to their Kabaka and nation. The immediate past president of Ggwangamujje Boston is a strong NRM Abdul Kimbugwe who simultaneously held that position with Chairmanship of UNAA.  Also historically UNAA receives funding from President Museveni’s government.  Mr. Museveni’s funding activities have been independently reported in the India Ocean Newsletter of October 27, 2008. And have has been admitted to in email exchanges between UNAA officials and Moses Byaruhanga of  Uganda state house which this reporter has seen.

Baganda in the United Kingdom had a meeting on July 20th to discuss the mounting problems in Buganda, specifically the imprisonment of the Mmengo officials. Below is the statement they released as a result of the meeting. PUBLIC MEETING OF UGANDANS RESIDENT IN UK We, the Ugandans originating from the Kingdom of Buganda and our friends who support democracy, the rule of law and free speech, assembled here in London, UK on 20 July 2008, at an emergency meeting which has been convened to discuss the increasing Human Rights Violations in Uganda and in particular having discussed;

1. The brutal arrest, without a lawful warrant of arrest, by a combined force of Uganda Police and State Intelligence operatives and subsequent imprisonment of: Ow’ekitiibwa Peter Charles Mayiga, Ow’ekitiibwa. Medard Lubega Sseggona both serving Ministers in HM The Kabaka’s Government plus Hon Betty Nambooze, member of the land Bill sensitization Committee.
2. The increasing intimidation by the Government of Uganda against all those who are opposed to the Land Bill.
3. The singling out of Baganda while turning a blind eye to others who have made statements which could promote sectarianism and incite violence.
4. The increasing threat and intimidation of the press including random unlawful rounding up and detention of Press workers.

The increasing violation of Human Rights in Uganda by the Government of Uganda . We resolve as follows:

1. To ask the Government of Uganda to free the two Buganda Ministers and a member of the Land Bill Sensitisation Committee immediately and unconditionally.
2. To ask the Government of Uganda to uphold the freedom of the press and not to take undemocratic measures to muzzle the voices of those who have different views from that of the Government or, more precisely, to that of a few individuals in the Government
3. To ask the Government of Uganda to observe the rule of law at all times and avoid acts of intimidation, threats of imprisonment, misuse of the police and the judiciary.

We would like to re-assure all those concerned that no level of intimidation or threats will derail us from pursuing fairness in matters pertaining to Buganda. If anything, these threats and intimidation only strengthen our resolve. We end by re-iterating our full support and unswerving royalty to H.M. Ssaabasajja Kabaka and the Mmengo Government resolutions on the the ill fated Land Bill 2007, Federo and the return of all Buganda’s confiscated assets foremost of which is our 9000 square miles of land.

Signed:

Joseph Musisi -Chairman Buganda Community in UK
Fred Ssemugera -Chairman Bika bya Baganda UK
Godfrey Ssekisonge -Chairman Saagala Agalamidde UK
Lawrence Muyimba -Chairman The Centre
Moses Luzinda -Chairman Ramos