Over the last two weeks, the chairman of president Museveni’s Uganda Broadcasting Council (UBC) has had a chats with virtually all major radio station owners and ordered them to adhere to certain “profession practices” or face closure like CBS FM Radio (Radio ya Ssabasajja). We have learnt that Mr. Mutabazi did not seek input several members of  the broadcast council and mostly depended on talking points which he put together with assistance from Robert Kabushenga, Tamale Mirundi, Robert Sebunya and Moses Byaruhanga.  His method of work angered some members of the UBC who feel abused and marginalized by state house. It is through these conditions that we received the information in Mutabazi’s talking points.

Our sources have also confirmed that president Museveni approved the measures and their ongoing implementation before he left for the UN general assembly in the USA. And after his encounter with Kabaka on Wednesday, he ordered that the measures be continued, a sign that the meeting with Kabaka did not change anything for him.

According to our sources, Godfrey Mutabazi obtained partial college education in North America before returning home in the early 1990’s to work in Museveni spy network. In 1998, he was appointed to the Uganda Broadcasting Council. He became the chairman around 2003 and started calling himself Engineer Mutabazi. He is highly secretive and ordered that information on UBC members, even names, be removed from the UBC website. Members terms are 3 years but he has been automatically reappointed 4 times.

Both Mutabazi, who implemented the closure of CBS FM Radio and General Kalyekezi Kayihura, the police commander who stopped Kabaka from going to Kayunga are Rwandese Tutsi who came to Uganda as refugees. This fact plus persistent but unconfirmed rumors that president Museveni’s unknown biological father was a Tutsi is feeding the growing belief among Baganda that their kingdom is under occupation by foreign mercenaries.

Uganda has 129 radio stations and 7 TV stations in different states of operation. The biggest broadcasting houses, of which CBS FM Radio has been the market leader for over 10 years, are mostly owned by Baganda. Their leadership significantly depended on their higher coverage of Buganda kingdom events and people, especially the Kabaka.

Besides Mutabazi, the other current UBC member are Tim Lwanga Mutekanga, George Omunyokol, Aggrey Kibenge, Kenneth Kazooba, Aga Sekalala, Kagole Kivumbi, Juliana Naumo, Godfrey Kibuuka, Patrick Mukiibi and Catherine Omaswa.

Below is an edited and reorganize version of Mutabazi’s talking points. Certain names, offices and other details have been removed or reworded to protect our sources.

UBC RULES OF THE ROAD TO BROADCASTERS

-TALKING POINTS -

(HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL)

Kabaka

1.  Stop calling him “His Majesty”; instead use “His Highness” not to contradict the President and other NRM officials.

2.  Use “Mr. Mutebi” instead of “Kabaka” as much as possible. Start slowly and build up.

3.  Stop using the terms “Empologoma”, “Chuchu”, “Nyanja Temanyiirwa”, “Baffe”, “Namunswa” or other terms, which encourage Buganda sectarianism.

4.  Avoid stories that portray him as a strong person who is influenced by moderates and NRM supporters.

5.  Promote stories that portray him as a weak person who is under pressure from a few radical Baganda.

6.  Promote stories and images that suggest that he has a friendly relationship with H.E. the VP.

Buganda

1.  Stop playing the “Kitibwa kya Buganda” song or other nationalistic Buganda songs because they promote sectarianism.

2.  Stop referring to Buganda as a kingdom. Instead, consistently use “Central Region” or, if clarity demands it, “Buganda Region”.

3.  Stop referring to the old Buganda counties. Stick to district and constituency names (even if they include old county names in part).

4.  Freely report all stories where the Katikkiro and members of his cabinet are promoting peace, hard work, friendly relations with other Ugandans and “fair treatment” from the H. E. the President.

5.  Avoid stories that include strong pro-Buganda statements by religious leaders. Promote stories where religious leaders call for calm

6.  Don’t use the words “genocide” or “occupation” or “torture” or “safe house” or similar words in connection with any arrests of Baganda for any reasons.

7.  Refer to Banyala as an ethnic minority which is fighting to secede from Buganda. Stop mentioning the population of Banyala.

8.  Do not promote Baganda only events like clan football matches, cultural competitions, Nkoba za Mbogo, etc.

Buganda Radicals and Rioters

1.  Stop reporting stories on the activities of Allan Waligo, Nambooze, Sseggona, Muliika, Nsubuga Nsambu, Mpanga, Nkoba za Mbogo, and other Baganda radicals. The exception is when the story suggests that they are becoming weak and trying to incite violence against non Baganda.

2.  Keep reporting on police cases against Nambooze, Lukwago and other similar anti-government activists to a minimum.

3.  Do not use the term “political prisoners” to refer to any of the rioters.

4.  Avoid referring to the those who participated in the Kayunga related rioting as “Baganda” since some of them were not Baganda. The rioters were common criminals and a few anti-government elements who exploited the situation to loot.

5. When it make sense you can refer to the radicals who incite violence or those who engage in riots as “terrorists”

Mengo

1.  Stop reporting stories on the activities of Waliggo, Nambooze, Sseggona, Muliika, Nsubuga Nsambu, Nkoba za Mbogo, and other Baganda radicals. The exception is when the story suggests that they are becoming weak and cannot incite Baganda sectarianism.

2.  Keep reporting on police cases against Nambooze, Lukwago and other similar anti-government activists to a minimum.

3.  Avoid using terms like “Buganda Government” or “Buganda Kingdom Government”.

4.  Report positively on the Katikiro and other Mengo people who don’t make outwardly sectarian statement.

5.  Report positively on health, agriculture, education and other developmental program by Mengo.

6. Avoid using the “Owekitibwa” title becuase it can cause misplaced feeling of importance.

In a statement likely to anger many Baganda who are loyal to Kabaka Mutebi, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi yesterday praised the meeting between Kabaka Mutebi and Uganda warlord, Yoweri Museveni. A source in Buganda Government, who requested anonymity, sent as a message to alert us to the statement, which Katikkiro Walusimbi posted on the Buganda official website www.buganda.or.ug. The same source also told us: “Buganda’s cabinet is much divided. Some who have a strange history with Museveni, like Owek. Mayiga and Owek. Walusimbi appear to be unwilling to make Museveni angry at any cost. Then there are principled and brave people like Nsubuga Nsambu, Mpanga, Ssegona, Mpuuga and even Kabuuza Mukasa who seem to reason that cowardice is not acceptable when Buganda and Kabaka are at stake. Some are of ‘wamma wandiba omutuufu’ type, either chasing personal interests in Mmengo or good people who are simply unable to cope with the problems Buganda is facing today. An even bigger problem is that our people are part-time when Museveni’s agents work around the clock.”

The statement issued by Katikkiro Walusimbi  paints the picture that all previous tensions between Buganda and her occupiers have disappeared with this one meeting. In one section of his statement, the Katikkiro specifically claims that:  “The meeting marks an end to the rift that had grown between the Kingdom and the central government and has been appreciated by both leaders.”  The Katikkiro’s statement does not reveal whether he consulted the Kabaka or the Buganda cabinet its issue.

Immediately after getting the Internet address for the statement, we shared it with our New York based analyst and asked for his opinion. In his email reply to this writer, the analyst said: “I refuse to accept that this statement was written by a whole Katikkiro of the Kingdom of Buganda because it is totally unrelated to reality. Before the meeting, Museveni had murdered over 30 Baganda, wounded hundreds and imprisoned over 700, threatened to abolish the Buganda kingdom, was arresting Lubega Sseggona and hunting for Betty Namboozi. Yet Engineer Walusimbi tells us with a straight face that, in a one-hour meeting,  Kabaka Mutebi abandoned his principles and his loyal subjects preferring to close any rift with a foreigner who is occupying his Kingdom by force of arms. Every serious Muganda knows that Kabaka went to the meeting at gun point. If the Engineer is telling the truth then I am Michael Jackson – the guy who died was an impostor.”

The statement issued by Katikkiro JB Walusimbi is reproduced in full below:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM KATIKKIRO’S OFFICE

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Eng J.B.Walusimbi informs the people of Buganda that the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has met the president, H.E Yoweri Katguta Museveni on an official visit at State House in Entebbe.

On arrival at State House, His majesty was warmly welcomed by the president and they both discussed various issues.

The meeting marks an end to the rift that had grown between the Kingdom and the central government and has been appreciated by both leaders.

On his visit, the Kabaka was accompanied by the Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi, Prince David Wasajja, Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilson Mutebi of Mityana, minister for Nkuluze Amb. William Matovu, Chairperson Bataka council Nakirembeka Eng Alan Waliggo, A.D. Lubowa, Mahabub Ssemakalu and Peter Mpanga.

J.B. WALUSIMBI

KATIKKIRO.

30-09-2009

According to an unaccredited news story on the Buganda Government official website, Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee has resumed its campaign against the campaign anti-Buganda policies and laws by the NRM government. Its scope has, reportedly, been redefined to put more emphasis on the Federo system of governance.

The committee, which was personally appointed by Ssabasajja Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi, is credited for awakening Baganda to the reality that Mr. Museveni and his NRM are committed to destroy Buganda through unjust and discriminative laws such as the Land Act. It is chaired by the indefatigable and exceptionally popular Betty Nambooze.

Frustrated by the effectiveness of Kabaka’s Central Civic Education Committee, president Museveni ordered the kidnap and torture of Betty Nambooze and two other Buganda officials, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega Ssegona in August 2008 (see “Museveni Quietly Retreats On Fake Nambooze and Lubega Case“). After several days of police torture and depravation, Mr. Museveni ordered the release of all three Baganda under pressure from human rights groups, United States and other foreign aid donors and a defiant Baganda population.

The article on the official Buganda Government website is reproduced below.

CENTRAL CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE RESUMES DUTIES

By Our Reporter

Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee has resumed its duties and this time it will put much more emphasis on the essence of a federo system of governance to every one across Buganda and Uganda in relation to Ssaabasajja Kabaka’s call for truth and justice.

The committee started with a one day sensitization workshop for all its members in which it was agreed that the theme “truth and justice” is quite extensive and require absolute attention.

Committee members further agreed that with truth and justice in place, the Kingdom will live in harmony since most of the injustices will be dealt away with.

The workshop was opened by an official for community mobilization in the office of the 1st deputy Katikkiro, Ssewava Sserubiri who also emphasized that where there is justice, there is likely to be no encroachment on other people’s land and no oppression from anyone which will lead to fundamental development in the Kingdom.

The Member of Parliament for Kampala Central, Erias Lukwago who is also a committee member advised that Buganda should come out and put to task all the members of parliament from this region to show their stand on the issue of federo. Lukwago argued that this will help the Kingdom to determine the support for federo in the Ugandan parliament and be able to vote wisely in the forth coming elections.

The chairperson of the committee, Betty Nambooze Bakireke announced a new system of mobilization whereby telephone contacts of everyone in Buganda will be obtained and various messages on various issues will be sent to every one in Buganda for development purposes.

The workshop was closed by the minister of state for research in Buganda Kingdom, David Mpanga who said that the recess period has been so useful because members have been able to identify their weaknesses which have been ironed out and are ready to face their prey with no major obstacles.

It was a major public relations score when the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr.  Cyprian Kizito Lwanga spoke in support of his (Walusimbi’s) omumuli program, which is supposed to be funded by grants from Mr. Museveni. And more of the embattled Katikkiro’s prayers were answered when Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II went to a previously scheduled visit to Busujju county, which Mmengo dubbed “the launching of omumuli”.  In what some might intepret as support for Katikkiro Walusimbi’s money deal with President Museveni, Kabaka Mutebi called on Baganda to spend less time listening to radio talk shows and more on working hard.

Mr. Museveni’s government is indirectly assisting the Katikkiro’s public relations campaign, with the government New Vision and Bukedde mouthpieces, along with Aga Khan’s The Monitor putting a spin on what the Kabaka and the Archbishop said to magnify the support Walusimbi enjoys from these very important figures.

The quick succession of Mr. Walusimbi’s  two public relations triumphs has left many Baganda political analysts, including his strongest critics, admitting that the Katikkiro, and his political advisor, VP Bukenya, can show impressive political skills.

However, according to one youthful Buganda government official, Katikkiro Walusimbi’s publica relations success may be short lived because they are based bending the truth and on the belief that president Museveni can keep promises. The official who requested that his name not be revealed for fear of being persecuted told us: “The Katikkiro keeps telling us Catholics that the ‘‘Bapoto’ [protestants] and Basiramu [Moslems] are not against the money but only want to bring him down. Obviously, many of us, especially the youth know that he is not telling the truth. The corrupt people here in Mmengo are from all religions. And the champions of Buganda political and human rights like Nambooze, Ssengona, Mpanga, Kyanjo and so on also come from all religions. It is like the Katikkiro is saying that any Catholic who says that our kingdom must not be manipulated with Shs 350 Million is stupid and being misled by non-Catholics. Money which cannot even buy 3 acreas in Kololo!”

The official went on to predict that Katikkiro Walusimbi’s claim that the Baganda opposition to Museveni’s money is an anti Catholic conspiracy is what may bring him down. He explained:  “The most predictable thing about Museveni is that he never keeps a promise. Soon or later he will either refuse to deliver all the Shs 1 Billion or he will introduce some strange conditions like pushing for some Banyankore from the Auditor General office to look into Mmengo accounts. Or, because weak accountability systems Mumuli is borrowing from Mr. Museveni’s corrupt NAADS, most of the money will end up misused.  The looming disaster for Walusimbi is that, since nothing which depends on Museveni’s promises works, the Katikkiro will end up hugely embarrassing both the Kabaka Mutebi and Archbishop Lwanga when his Mumuli delivers nothing but more corruption. It may be worse than Regional Tier because this time Museveni will be able to arrogantly say, ‘Nabawa bu miliyooni 350 nebubalema!; kati Federo mugisobola mutya?’ ['You have failed to manage a mere Shs 350 Million; how can you deal with the federal system you demand?']”

On April 20, Katikkiro Walusimbi announced to the Buganda Lukiiko that he had already accepted Shs 350 Million (US$162,790), as the first payment of what he claimed to be an unconditional grant of Shs 2 Billion (US$ 930,232) offer from President Museveni to fund the mumuli program. A large section of the Buganda population were angered by Katikkiro Walusimbi, with many in the Buganda youth movement accusing him of selling Buganda, at Shs 430 per person. Some have even threatened Mr. Walusimbi with death (see Katikkiro Walusimbi Takes Museveni’s Money, Puts His Life At Risk).

On March 9, 2009 Buganda Post exclusively reported that Katikkiro Walusimbi had convinced Mr. Museveni to pay that  to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Museveni’s vice president Gilbert Bukenya. (See “Katikkiro Walusimbi Dodges Talks, Leaves Museveni Holding A Bag Of Stones“). According to our State House sources, the Shs 350 Million that Mr. Walusimbi accepted is art of this agreement.

In a move which has left some Baganda in shock, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Engineer JB Walusimbi has included a Munyarwanda in the team to negotiate with President Museveni over the disputed amendments to the Land Act of 1998. The Munyarwanda is Fred Higiro Semajege, who serves as the deputy speaker of the Buganda Lukiiko despite complaints by many Baganda who believe that he is an agent of the Rwanda government. In an email sent to Buganda Post, one former minister at Mmengo said: “We are shocked! In taking a Rwandese to negotiate with other Rwandese and Banyankore over the rights of Baganda, Walusimbi has made it so obvious that his loyalty lies with Rwandese and Banyankore, not with Buganda. In the process, he and his friends may create the basis for long term hatred of Banyarwanda and Banyankore in Buganda. It is as if everyone involved in this nonsense is totally incapable of seeing beyond their nose. How can they take such a huge risk on a government that is collasing under the weight of its corruption?”. Earlier this month Buganda Post reported that Baganda in Masaka and Kampala were troubled by Katikkiro Walusimbi’s special attention to Rwanda (see Baganda Question Katikkiro On Flowers For Rwanda Victims).

On Monday April 20, 2009, Katikkiro Walusimbi informed the Buganda Lukiiko that he had chosen a committee of 10 to represent Buganda in the negotiations with Mr. Museveni’s government. Owek. Walusimbi and Rwandese Mr. Semajege would lead the committee, with Apollo Makubuya and Charles Peter Mayiga, the two lawyers who, along with John Katende, previously advised former Katikkiro Mulwaanyamuli Semwogerere to accept the Regional Tier deal with Museveni. Later, at Ttabamiruka ‘07 in New Jersey Makubuya apologized to Baganda, saying: “I mistakenly participated in the negotiations because I sincerely believed that we were dealing with principled and honorable people on the Uganda government side”.

The team will also include Dr. Masagazi Masaazi who earlier named as one of Mr. Walusimbi’s representatives in numerous money related secret negotiations with Mr. Museveni over the past several months (see Uganda Government Names Katikkiro’s Co-conspirators). Another member of the team is Haji Abdul Nadduli, best known for being disqualified from running for Luweero district chairman after forging his academic qualifications which later lead to his imprisonment. Additional members of the committee are Mr. William Matovu, Naalinya Beatrice Namikka, Mrs. Joyce Mpanga and Retired Bishop Wilson Mutebi of Mityana.

On Thursday February 26, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi stood up president Museveni of Uganda when he did not turn up for the much publicized land negotiations between Mmengo and Museveni.  According to our sources, Walusimbi could not go because key members of his cabinet overruled him. They insisted that Mmengo must not negotiate with Museveni about giving up anything to him on his proposed Land (Amendment) Bill, 2008. They argued that it would be disobedience to Kabaka Mutebi who had publicly called it a bad bill and told all Baganda to oppose it. Equally important, they insisted that while talking to Museveni was alright, it must be about full restoration of all Buganda’s property and political rights – not begging.

The problem for Walusimbi is that he had already assured Museveni that he could bring Mmengo to the table to negotiate the contentious Land (Amendment) Bill, 2008. So when the loyal Baganda ministers put their feet down he was left in a fix. And he opted to simply hide from Museveni. One source close to Museveni’s state house told us that: “Museveni is very annoyed that Walusimbi failed to turn up.  The president was made to look like a man who was promised some gold by Congolese con men and left holding a bag full of stones. He has been asking people near him, ‘What is wrong with Baganda?’ ”

It has been widely reported by the local Buganda press that Museveni and JB Walusimbi have been engaged in secret negotiations over Buganda issues since July 2008. What we can exclusively report from a highly reliable source very close to the Katikkiro is that the negotiations primarily focused on how to soften what Museveni, Walusimbi and other NRM big wigs think is Kabaka Mutebi’s excessive power today. Mr. Museveni and the Katikkiro had reportedly reached agreements the following key areas by January 28, 2009:

1. Museveni had convinced JB Walusimbi that if Kabaka Mutebi continued to accumulate so much power over Baganda it could lead to a show down where Baganda like him (Walusimbi) were going to lose lives and their businesses. And the way to control the Kabaka’s escalating influence was to remove Nambooze, Mpanga and Ssegona from CBS Radio and give the Katikkiro more control over Mmengo.
2. Walusimbi had convinced Museveni to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Gilbert Bukenya’s support.
3. The two sides had agreed that to soften Kabaka Mutebi it was important to isolate him more from the Baganda youths who are getting more dangerous, starting with the removal of Betty Nambooze from CBS. Curiously, the two sides had also agreed that the removal of Nambooze could be made simpler if it was accompanied with the firing of highly unpopular Baganda like Tamale Mirundi or Minister Kinobe or even Nsibambi.

What Museveni and Katikkiro Walusimbi could not control are the leaks about their so called secret talks over the months. For example, rumors of Museveni’s willingness to fire Tamale Mirundi or even Nsibambi to appease Baganda first surfaced in early January 2009. Apparently the many leaks helped the intended victims to plan and execute necessary counter moves.

A New York based Muganda thought leader told this reporter that it is the leakages which probably led Museveni to panic and hold that bizarre press conference on February 10, 2009. He said:  “I think that the leaks reached the intended victims at Mmengo Bulange and they fought back with rapid fire on CBS FM radio. Indeed, my contacts tell me that after getting an ISO briefing on the public response to the February 7th Mambo Baado presentation by Mpanga and Nambooze, Museveni decided to temporarily withdraw his Land (Amendment) Bill, 2008.  In effect, ISO people told him that Nambooze and Mpanga had mobilized Baganda youth to a point where public violence was inevitable if the land bill was read in parliament. In fact, in a slip of the toungue, Museveni admitted the role Nambooze and Mpanga in his panicky decision when he told the press conference:  ‘Don’t allow anyone to mislead you that we are withdrawing the bill because of the lies told by Nambooze and Mpanga on CBS radio’.”

This is my last column on Buganda Post for the foreseeable future and it is dedicated to one of the few Baganda politicians who have the capacity to see beyond the “village chief” political system that President Museveni created in Uganda.  It  is Beti Namisango Kamya, the woman who threw a spanner in the Banyankore/Bakiga/Banyarwanda conspiracy to marginalize Baganda and make Kabaka and his subjects beggars in their own homeland. More on Beti later.

Why I am leaving and what it next for Buganda Post

It is always very difficult to say goodbye to the ones you love.  Even more so when the reasons for leaving a totally out of your control.  It is against that background that this columnist must tell you that this will be her last posting for the foreseeable future. The main reason for my leaving is financial. Our original sponsor, God bless his soul, is not able to continue funding me in this severe economic recession and I need to improve my income security urgently.  Maybe in future, when the financial situation is better, I may contribute again in some capacity.

In the meantime, I have recommended to the sponsor that we get other people whose commitment to Buganda and Ssabasajja Kabaka is unquestionable to take over Buganda Post and operate it on a more business like footing.  We have been offering everything for free, including advertising for Ttabamiruka, Red Cross, Human Rights Watch and other worthy causes.  However, I think Buganda Post has potential to sustain itself financially with several contributors and paid advertising. If you have any interest or suggestions you can contact the sponsor (Sam) on info@BugandaPost.com.

Now back to Beti Namisango Kamya

To understand the importance of what Beti has achieved since September 2008, you must first understand that Mr. Museveni, Dr. Kiiza Besigye and the rest of the Banyankore/Bakiga/Banyarwanda clique who now control all aspects of our lives were confident that they could carry on all their personal and political fights in Buganda while the Baganda were doing the water carrying for them.  In the NRM, Mr. Museveni was comfortable with his Baganda political henchmen like Apollo Nsibambi , Gilbert Bukenya and Sekandi. And, in FDC,  Dr. Besigye was hoping to match Museveni’s Baganda henchmen with Sam Njuba , Beti Kamya and (curiously) Yusuf Nsibambi.

Then, out of the blue, the soldier’s daughter saw the light! Besigye had manipulated the FDC constitution in Museveni style to bar Kamya from competing top the late Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu as party president.  Yet Kamya had done all the heavy lifting to consolidate FDC while Besigye was hiding in South Africa. Confusion, anger and personal doubt must have followed for Beti. But it is clear that the urge to go home and serve her Kabaka in these tough times won Beti over. Around August/September 2008  Beti started her “Buganda first” message and connected with the Ttabamiruka people in America.  That  is the spanner Beti threw in the Museveni/Besigye exclusive political sports league in Uganda.  It is a “game changer”.

Beti understands what Dr. Martin Luther King was talking about

In his famous  “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King said:  “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

I believe that my sister Beti Namisango Kamya is telling us that Buganda cannot afford the “luxury of cooling off” periods to negotiate, which Katikkiro JB Walusimbi and Mr. Museveni are forcing on us. Nor can Buganda  afford the tranquilizing drug of gradualism (“nyama ntono, okayana eri mu nkwaawa”) , the signature tactic Katikkiro Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere  and Museveni used to lead Baganda  into the Regional Tier abyss.

Omuzaana Beti Kamya is also addressing the “dark and desolate valley” of desperation where Buganda  has been forced by the Banyankore/Bakiga/Banyarwanda conspiracy.  A valley where foreigners can even stop Kabaka from visiting his subject in Buluuli. And I think that Beti  is telling us that, now is the time to lift our nation Buganda from the “quicksands of racial injustices” that we have suffered from Uganda party politics and will which will continue if we trust Ugandan political parties.

This columnist does not know if Beti Kamya has ever even listened to or read Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. But it is clear that she and her advisors understand what  Martin Luther King was talking about. For that I salute Beti Kamya and all other Baganda who are intelligent enough and brave enough to realize that our salvation will come from being and behaving like “Baganda first” – Uganda is now nothing but a looting spree! We must stand shoulder to shoulder with Beti Kamya, Mpanga, Nambooze, Kyanjo and all other loyal Baganda to build a internation buganda freedom movement to resist the looting of Buganda.

Ssabasajja Kabaka Awangaale.

Omulongo Nakato

In what some Baganda political analysts see as a veiled reference to embattled Katikkiro JB Walusimbi, the Buganda Minister of State for Research, Daudi Mpanga, and the Chairman of Kabaka’s Central Civic Education Committee (CCEC), Betty Nambooze have warned Baganda that Buganda’s enemies are trying to isolate Kabaka Mutebi from his subjects.  Mpanga and Nambooze were speaking at a one day seminar which was organized by the CCEC for the surrogate speakers (abogezi) who work at kwanjula ceremonies.

Disregarding Kabaka’s instructions, Katikkiro Walusimbi has for several months been secretly negotiating with president Museveni and vice president Bukenya on how to quieten the “Mmengo radicals” who are fighting the president’s anti-Buganda amendments to the already hated 1995 Land Act. Resurrection of the Regional Tier law and funding Walusimbi’s so called development programs to take Baganda’s attention away from land have also been discussed.

Minister Mpanga warned the people of Buganda to be more careful about the new laws being fronted by the government of Uganda because some of them have bad intensions of obliterating Buganda Kingdom. He said: “The central government has a practice introducing and promoting as beneficial to Ugandans when, in truth, they are solely designed to destroy the Buganda the Kingdom.” Mpanga added that the challenges that Buganda faces require courageous people and leaders plus strength in unity, for the kingdom to build its strength and glory.

On her part, Betty Nambooze Bakireke told the seminar participants that the CCEC is supposed to provide a communication bridge between Baganda and their true leaders so that Buganda’s enemies do not succeed at isolating Kabaka Mutebi from his subjects.

Source in both Mmengo and the vice president’s office told this reporter that patriotic Mmengo officials like Mpanga and Nambooze are very frustrated by the fact that they own leader betrays them to what in reality are enemy forces. And the frustration is made worse by the common belief in Bulange that the Katikkiro is a very intelligent man and who is probably only driven by person interests.

The Attorney General of Buganda, Owek. Apollo Makubuya, told a press conference yesterday that the Kingdom of Buganda is determined to continue fighting against President Museveni’s Land Amendment Bill 2007. After several months of appearing to be in limbo, the controversial bill was brought back to the Uganda parliament in mid Novembers for scrutiny and approval. The bill seeks to some sections of the 1998 Land Act, to enable the thousands of Balaalo and other foreigners who the government has imported into Buganda from Western Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Congo to get immediate legal rights to Buganda lands which was illegally taken. Such land includes Buganda’s 9,000 square miles as well as large tracts of private Baganda land, whose owners are either overseas or powerless to protect it.

President Museveni’s key soldiers pushing the unpopular bill in parliament include Baganda Edward Sekandi (the speaker), Apollo Nsibambi, Rose Namayanja, Ruth Nankabirwa, Abraham Byandaala and James Kinobe. According to parliamentary sources, the the bill is highly likely to pass because virtually all western MP’s routinely vote for anti-Buganda bills and many Baganda MPs have been “facilitated” to toe the NRM line. The Baganda MP’s who are leading the fight on Buganda’s side include Michael Mabikke, Moses Kabuusu, Sarah Nyombi Nansubuga, Beti Kamya and Hussein Kyanjo.

At the December 8, 2008 press conference Attorney General Makubuya and Buganda Minister for Research, Daudi Mpanga, made it clear that Buganda will continue to fight the anti-Buganda bill. As he has done in the past, Makubuya pointed out that the bill amounts to a deception which was hastily put together.  “It does not address the real courses of eviction as the government claims,” he argued. On his part, Daudi calmly told the press that Mr. Museveni’s parliament could pass the bill if they want. However, it would not work in Buganda.