A source close to Eng. JB Walusimbi has told us that the 65 year Katikkiro of Buganda has is losing interest in position and could be looking for ways get out of the 4-year contract with the kingdom. The source, who is a member of the Katikkiro’s Magunda sub clan (ssiga) of the Ffumbe (civet cat) clan, said: “Since even before the Kayunga riots, Engineer Walusimbi has been facing pressures to leave the office from all sides, even our clan elders, or show more that he is loyal to the Kabaka. Even we his own brothers and sisters have been pressuring him in our own ways because he is shaming our whole clan. By the way, when he was appointed Katikkiro, many of us who are insiders tried to oppose because we knew his background but we were not properly consulted.”

Our source told us that since the Kayunga riots, it appears that Engineer JB Walusimbi has been rethinking his part time job as Katikkiro. She says: “First,  it looks like JB realized during the riots that Baganda youth might one of these days kill him or some of his 6 children because of the image that he is on Museveni’s side. As a person, he wants to be Katikkiro but it is impossible for him when he is much closer  to Gilbert Bukenya and Museveni than he is to Kabaka Mutebi. And the way that Baganda youths are attacking him, is giving him high blood pressure. That is why he is really losing interest, because no one trusts him. Not even most of us members of his Magunda ssiga.”

Many Baganda were incensed with the statement that Katikkiro Walusimbi issued after the “gun on your head” Kabaka Mutebi was forced to have with Uganda warlord, Yoweri Museveni on September 30, 2009 (see “Katikkiro JB Walusimbi Praises Gunpoint Meeting Between Kabaka and Museveni“).  Since then, Katikkiro Walusimbi, has all but abandoned making pro-Buganda public statements or associating himself with the hundreds of Baganda who were murdered or continue to be arrested and tortured by the NRM government. The Katikkiro is even low key on the arrests and continuing harassment of Kabaka’s officials by Museveni’s security forces. He reportedly avoided assisting Kabaka’s official ,Betty Nambooze, with her medical problems, for fear of annoying Museveni who hates her.  According to local press reports, Kabaka Mutebi was forced to personally get involved in Nambooze’s case, working through other obedient ministers to provide her with much needed medical care.

If it is true that Engineer Walusimbi is losing interest his position as Katikkiro, there is evidence that he could be developing a new interest. Over the last two weeks, Katikkiro Walusimbi’s high profile engagements were closing the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) trade show and presiding over the Rotary Club announcement of free medical operations program for the poor. At the UMA event, Owek. Walusimbi surprised many in the audience when he promised that Buganda would never reclaim the 9,000 square miles from its illegal occupiers but only partner with them to generate income from the land. The subject of how the 9,000 miles would be administered has never been discussed by the Buganda Lukiiko. Many of Engineer Walusimbi’s critics are also upset that this “Kabaka ow’ebweeru” was giving attention to Rotary Club medical operations instead of putting priority on getting Betty Nambooze the urgent surgery she needs.

President Museveni’s propaganda team were wise to bar all Uganda TV stations from broadcasting the proceedings at the NRM’s independence day celebrations on October 9, 2009 at Kololo Airstrip.  That is because, this year’s ceremony saw the smallest crowd of ordinary Ugandans in the 47 years since the British granted independence to Uganda on October 9, 2009. Leaving out the many security or government officials and about 60 boda boda’s, approximately 900 ordinary people attended. Notably, even with this small crowd, the majority wore yellow NRM party tee shirts which were given out free in poor areas to entice people to come to the event.

Conspicuously absent were foreign dignitaries from Libya and neighboring countries. Even the so called cultural leaders, who Museveni supports financially, stayed home – Omukama of Toro, Omukama of Bunyoro, Kyabazinga of Busoga, Omorimor of Teso and Rwot of Acholi. The only non-government VIPs present were a few diplomats accredited to Uganda, junior officials from Kenya, Tanzania and Southern Sudan plus Mr. Museveni’s own Ssabaluri Mwogeza Butamanya (coincidentally, it literally translates to  ”the one who speaks with ignorance”) and Sabanyala Kimeze.

State House Panic and Propaganda Plan

On October 7, 2009, Mr. Museveni’s statehouse received reliable information that over 10,000 people had greeted Kabaka Mutebi in Mityana (Ssingo county), on his way to the Buganda independence event in Mubende, Buwekula county. They knew right away that Kabaka’s crowds could embarrass Museveni at the Uganda independence celebrations on the 9th. So, they turned their attention to controlling the news about Kabaka Mutebi’s activities.

According to our sources in Mr. Meseveni’s ISO, the plan which was hatched by Tamale Mirundi, Robert Kobushenga, Kabakumba Matsiko and a certain Mafabi included 5 main elements: (a) Minimize the crowd in any pictures of Kabaka Mutebi’s crowds if shown in government newspapers. (b) Use physical barriers to force the crowd at Kololo into a relatively small but longish area just below Upper Kololo Terrace road so that the numbers can look big in photos taken from a low angle; (c) Have Mr. Museveni enter the ceremonies through the crowd area, so that we can take photos showing many people around the president, (d) force all major media outlets to broadcast the events at Kololo, using a single audio/video feed from the government’s Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), and (e) strengthen enforcement of the rules which Godfrey Mutabazi had placed on radio stations, barring any praise of Kabaka or Buganda.

The Monitor Does Not Cooperate

On October 8 and 9, New Vision and Bukedde reported on Kabaka’s tour of Buwekula but omitted any mention of Buganda Independence celebrations, only referring to bulungi bwa nsi (national service) but without translating it to English. Also, they have avoided any picture which show the huge crowds that the Kabaka attracted in Mubende or Mityana. The crowd at the main Mubende celebrations was approximately 25,000 people.

In a sign that the Aga Khan’s The Monitor newspaper editors may be starting to rethink their anti-Buganda sentiments, they defied Museveni and published a photo showing Kabaka Mutebi with thousands of his subjects jubilating around him. Furthermore, they published parts of the Kabaka’s tough “47 Years Wasted” speech, although with incorrect translation in some parts (see “Kabaka Mutebi Disowns Katikkiro’s Apologetic Tone“).

Ghost NRM Independence Day Celebrations

On October 9, Mr. Museveni’s worst fears came to pass. Despite the efforts of his propaganda people, the 900 or so crowd was to small for anyone to ignore. However, state house forced WBS TV, NTV, and NBS to suspend regularly scheduled programming and transmit the UBC TV feed from Kololo live for over 5 hours. And the UBC camera were continuously glued on the marching troops and the VIPs, skipping the miserable crowd. And in a sign that Museveni is losing confidence, he gave his shortest independence day speech ever even though the event lasted from 10:00AM to 3:30 AM.

Uncharacteristically, Museveni read his independence day speech strictly from the script, without any of his trademark long strays to abuse or threaten Baganda, aid donors and others. Also, although he had been fully briefed about Kabaka Mutebi’s statement that Buganda has gained nothing out of 47 years of independence, the Uganda warlord did not mention the subject at all (see “Kabaka Mutebi Disowns Katikkiro’s Apologetic Tone“).

Museveni’s speech included nothing he has not said over the last few years.

• He boasted of his record on education and raised eyebrows when he interpreted the rampant unemployment in Uganda as a sign of his successes, saying: “We no longer have to be frustrated by these people who don’t want to work. You find a problem person somewhere, you act, get rid of that person and get another one because they are many here now.”
• He pledged, as he has done numerous since 1986, that he will fight corruption. But immediately warned that the war on corruption, which is now much worse now than in 1986, will not be won overnight but through a protracted struggle. This time, he spared judges and the police and blamed accountants, auditors and accounting officers for the persistent corruption. However, he promised his outwardly bored audience that he has new army of young “clean” accountants and auditor to lead the war on graft. He did not mention where the got their education or earned their professional experience.
• He made the “obvious” observation that recent oil discoveries would increase self-reliance and make Uganda less dependent on foreign aid.
• Mr. Museveni (once again) revealed that problem of theft of drugs is a serious problem in the health sector. He did not mention the status of the corruption charges against his ministers and NRM stalwarts Michael Mukula and Jim Muwhezi.

Museveni’s Colonel’s on Empty Stomachs

The otherwise dull event could not end without typical Ugandan breakdown. The man in charge of the parade at the very long ceremonies, UPDF’s Col. Peter Ekweru, fainted and fell on his face due to hunger and exhaustion. Sources could not confirm how a whole colonel could command an important national parade on a empty stomach.

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

BUGANDA EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMITTEE
PRESS RELEASE

July 20th, 2008

The Kingdom of Buganda has set up the Buganda Emergency Response Committee to provide a reference point on matters regarding the arrest of members and an official of the Buganda Government.

As an interim measure pending an emergency Cabinet Meeting tomorrow, the following are designated as spokespersons for the Kingdom of Buganda:

1. Owek. Daudi Mpanga, Minister of State for Research Tel: 0772 700660
2. Owek. Mathias Mpuuga, Minister of State for Youth Tel: 0772 418504

The Current Situation:

Two Ministers of the Buganda Government and the Chairperson of Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee were arrested by plain clothed security operatives on Friday July 18th 2008. The individuals are:

1. Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga (Minister of Information and Cabinet and Lukiiko Affairs, Buganda Government);
2. Owek. Medard Lubega (Minister of State for Information, Buganda Government); and
3. Omuk. Betty Nambooze Bakireke (CCEC, Buganda Government).

The arrests came on the day of the successful inaugural Buganda Conference, held at Hotel Africana.

The Buganda Government has not yet been officially informed of the charges being preferred against the detainees but according to a statement attributed to the Inspector General of Police, Major General Kale Kayihura, the charges are:

1. Promoting sectarianism;
2. Inciting violence;
3. Sedition; and
4. Terrorism.

We have reliable information that the detainees have been transferred to Bundibugyo, Ibanda and Kyenjojo, respectively. The reason given for this unusually cruel and degrading action is to purportedly charge the individuals in the area where the crimes were allegedly committed. However it is clear that the true intention must be to continue to deny the detainees their rights to bail, access to next of kin, and access to legal representation.

We wish to state unequivocally that the charges are a complete fabrication and point directly to a hidden agenda of intimidation and humiliation of the people of Buganda. These people are being charged for no reason other than that they are Baganda who are speaking out on the issues that are of concern to the people of Buganda. They are therefore nothing more than Prisoners of Conscience, detained because of their unwavering promotion of the culture, cultural institutions, language and traditions of the Baganda.

Baganda and the people of Uganda will recall that our history of political and constitutional instability as well as confrontation with forces of tyranny, oppression and exploitation began with unnecessarily heavy-handed and illegal actions taken by the Central Government against the Kingdom of Buganda. The escalation we see today brings back unhappy memories of times when people were sent into internal exile or simply disappeared because of their cultural identity or their political beliefs.

Immediate Actions:

1. The Katikiro Owekitibwa John Baptist Walusimbi has been and is actively engaged in negotiations with senior members of Government and the security services to try and secure the release of the detainees and is keeping the Ssabassajja Kabaka fully informed;
2. An emergency Cabinet meeting has been called for 9:00am 21st July 2008 to discuss the situation and resolve on the way forward;
3. A co-ordination desk will be established at Bulange, Mengo, to provide timely and accurate information as the situation unfolds however, in the interim co-ordination and information shall be provided by the above named designated spokespersons; and
4. Legal representation is being arranged for the detainees by the Kingdom in conjunction with the Uganda Law Society.

The Detainees Physical Wellbeing and Welfare:

The Kingdom of Buganda and the families of the detainees will do their best to ensure that the detainees have access to food, clothing and medical care, it should not be in any doubt that responsibility for the physical wellbeing and welfare of the detainees rests squarely with the Government of Uganda.

Call to Action:

We call upon all Ugandans, Religious Bodies as well as human rights and civil society organizations to join the Kingdom of Buganda in denouncing this heavy-handed and illegal action and to engage the Government of Uganda to abide by the Constitution and to cease and desist from the needless persecution of people who are engaged in lawful and democratic debate.

OWEK. APOLLO MAKUBUYA
Attorney General and Minister for Research/
Chairperson Buganda Emergency Response Committee

BUGANDA EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMITTEE
EKIWANDIIKO EKY’AMAWULIRE

20 July 2008

Obwakabaka bwa Buganda butaddewo akakiiko, Buganda Emergency Response Committee, akanalondoola era n’okwanaganya ensoga ezikwatagana nokusibwa kwa ba minisita ba Gavumenti ya Ssabasajja ababiri awamu n’omukungu wa kakiiko akasomesa ebyettaka.

Embeera kaakano:

Baminisita: Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, owebyamawulire, n’omumyukawe Owek. Medard Lubega Ssegona Akalya Amagwa n’omukungu Omuky. Betty Nambooze Bakireke bakatibwa kulwokutaano, nga 18 July 2008 olunaku Buganda lweyatuuza olukiiko (conference) tabamiruka okuteesa kunsonga eziruma Obuganda.

Akakiiko kano kateredwawo okutuusa olukiiko lwenkya (Monday 21st July 2008) saawa satu ez’okumakya Akakiiko Akafuzi (Cabinet) lwekanatuula e Bulange Mengo.

Abogeezi abatongole aba Buganda abikiseera bebano

1. Owekitiibwa Daudi Mpanga (minisita omubeezi w’okunonyereza)
2. Owekitibwa Mathias Mpuuga (omumyuka wa minisita wabavubuka)

Gavumenti ya Ssabasajja tenategezeebwa nsonga eyakwasiza abakungu bano mubutongole. Naye ekiwandiko ekigambibwa nti kyafulumizidwa omukulu wa Polisi Kale Kayihura kigamba nti abakungu bano bagenda kuvunanibwa emisango jino wamanga:

1. Okusosola mumawanga (Promoting Sectarianism);
2. Okukuma mubantu ogutaaka (Inciting Violence);
3. Okutyoboola omukulembeze w’egwanga (Sedition);
4. Okukolagana n’ebibiina by’abayeekera (Concealment of treason); ne
5. Obutujju (Terrorism).

Ensonda ezesigika zitutegezezza nti abantu baffe bano bajuludwa mu ttumbi budde n’ebatwalibwa ebunaayira. Betty Nambooze ateberezebwa okuba nga ali Kyenjojo mu Toro, Medard Ssegona nga ali Ibanda mu Ankore ate ye Charles Peter Mayiga nga ali kunsalo Uganda ne Congo e Bundibugyo.

Ensonga eyatwazizza abantu bano ebunayiira mumbeera embi ennyo, mbu kugezaako kubavunanira mubitundu gyebadiza emisango gino newankubadde nga mubitundu bino tukimanyi nti tebalinyangayo. Ekyo kiraga nti ekigendererwa kwekubatulugunya nga babaremesa okw’ogera ne bannamateeka ba’bwe wamu nabenganda zaabwe ekintu ekimenya amateeka.

Twagala okutegeeza egwanga lyonna nti ebisango ebiteredwa kubantu baffe bijingirere ebiraga nti waliwo entekateeka enekusifu eyokujolonga era n’okufebya era nokulinyirira Ababaganda. Bantu baffe bano balangwa kw’ogera kunsoga eziruma Abaganda. Kino kiraga nti bano basibe abemyeyo (prisoner of conscience) abalangwa olulimi lwebogera, ebyobuwangwa byabwe nensi yabwe Buganda.

Abantu ba Ssabasajja nebanaUganda ffenna tujukira bulungi nti ebiseera ebya kazigizigi mu gwanga lyaffe byatandikibwawo ebikolwa ebyekizigu ebyokulumba Obuganda ebyakolebwa abaali mu gavumenti eyawakati.

Ekutulugunya abakungu ba Ssabasajja kitujukiza mbeera eno eyenyiike banaUganda bwebawangangusibwa nga mugwanga munda nga batwalibwa ebunayiira nga e Karamoja oba okubuzibwawo olwensibuko oba enzikiriza yabwe.

Ebikoredwa:

1. Owekitibwa Katikkiro John Baptist Walusimbi ali munteseganya nabakungu ba gavumenti eyawakati okulaba nga abantu baffe bano bayimbulwa era Ssabasajja bulimbeera eriwo emutegezebwa;
2. Akakiiko akafuzi aka Buganda (Cabinet) kayitidwa bunambiro okutuula enkya ku Monday ssawa satu ez’okumakya kakubaganye birowoozo kunsonga eno ennene;
3. Wajja kutekebwawo ofiisi ekwanaganya ensonga zino e Bulange Mengo okuva olunaku lwenkya. Eno no ye ofiisi enetunulira ere nebateegeza embeera nga bwenetambula;
4. Ba puliida (lawyers) abanaawolereza abasibe bamaze okuyungurwa gavumenti ya Ssabasajja wamu ne kitongole kyabanamateeka mu gwanga (Uganda Law Society).

Embeera y’abantu ba Ssabasajja:

Gavumenti ya Ssabasajja n’oBuganda bwonna saako nabomumaka gabasibe bajja kola ekisoboka okutwalira abasibe emmere, engoye n’obujanjabi. Naye ababasibye tebeyibala kubanga obuvunanyizibwa nabuli kalonda akwatagana kubulamu bwabantu baffe ali mumikono gyabwe. Era tubatunuulide n’eriiso ejjogi.

Tukubiriza banna Uganda mwenna, abakulu bamadiini, abalwanirizi be dembe okutwegatakko mukuvumirira embeera eno eyobumenyi bwamateeka nobusibira mubbwa. Era ffena wamu tuteekwa okujukiza gavumenti yawakati nti etekwa okugondera ssemateeka era nokukomya mbagirawo okutuntuza abantu bonna mugwanga abakubaganya ebirowoozo kunsonga yonna.

Owekitibwa Apollo Makubuya
Ssabawolereza wa Gavumenti ya Buganda era akulira okunonyereza
Ssentebe Buganda Emergency Response Committee