Abazzukulu ba Buganda, the most active Baganda nationalist organization today, accuses Katikkiro Walusimbi and Mmengo of attempting to manipulate Ssabasajja Kabaka into giving up Buganda’s rights to self-determination. Abazzukulu did this in a public letter to the Katikkiro  signed by Chairman Jjunju Kamulali. Below are the main points of the 3-page letter Luganda letter, translated in into English. The original Luganda letter is reproduced in full at the bottom.

1. In the 1950’s the British imposed their style of elections on Buganda as the ransom for the return of Ssekabaka Muteesa II whom they had exiled in 1953. That condition is what is called the “Namirembe Agreement of 1955” today. The tragic results of that religion based election must not be forgotten because they started the divisions between Catholic and Protestant Baganda, with the Catholics who lost the Katikkiroship  becoming opponents of Mmengo. Between 1955 and 1962, the Catholics formed the DP while the Protestants spent their energies on fighting each other. When the Catholics [through DP] joined the politics of destroying Buganda, the Protestants teamed up with [the dangerous] Obote simply to beat the Catholics in DP. The results of all that is why we have tears in our eyes today. Why can’t we learn from our history?
2. In the 1981 elections, Baganda acted as one and supported their countryman [Paul Ssemwogerere], what Buganda got out of it is the troubles in Bulemeezi (Museveni’s guerilla war and Baganda massacres in Luweero Triangle).
3. Even if all the [80] Buganda MPs who win [in 2011] support the kingdom’s interests, what real effect will they have in the Uganda parliament [of more than 300 members] where the rest are against anything good for Buganda. And what scale will Mmengo use to accurately judge who supports Buganda enough?
4. It is clear that your true intention is to mortgage the Buganda nation because if kingdom representatives officially compete in the 2011 and lose, the world will expect Baganda to respect future decisions by the winners.
5. Buganda is a natural nation and Uganda is just an experiment in nation building. So Buganda, the nation, cannot officially participate in the disorganized elections of the confused Uganda, except if the intention is to end up worse off than before.
6. It must be remembered that in 1966 [May 19th], the Buganda Lukiiko passed a resolution telling the government of Uganda to leave Buganda soil, after it broke the 1962 independence agreement. Since that time, the Uganda government is occupying Buganda by force of arms. Until Buganda as a nation cancels the 1966 resolution the Uganda government rules us illegally under international law and we can take our case to international courts.
7. It seems that you, acting on instructions from the Uganda government, want to confuse the people of Buganda and make us think that Buganda issues can be solved by the 2011 elections. You claim to be the official representatives of Buganda in the elections to create the image that Buganda is officially and voluntarily competing in the elections and, therefore, is no longer under armed occupation.
8. This is not the first time that you have tried this trick to get the 1966 Lukiiko resolution officially cancelled and forgotten. First, you wanted to use the Charter system and when it failed to brought in the Regional Tier. After Buganda rejected the Regional Tier, you started the campaign to manipulate Kabaka Mutebi into signing the cancellation of the 1966 Lukiiko resolution, hiding behind what you called “negotiations” [with Museveni]. Now you are looking for another channel, the 2011 elections!
9.  If you really have no bad intentions for Buganda, it is not too late. Stop doing anything that creates the image that the nation of Buganda is officially participating in the 2011 elections or any other Ugandan elections. Buganda Government officials who want to stand in such elections, as individuals and not representatives of Buganda, should first resign from Kabaka’s service. If you cannot help Baganda against losing their human rights by participating in fake elections, please leave them to do so because of the armed occupation but not because of your manipulation.

 Original Letter

 EBBALUWA EY’OLWATU 

Eri,

Katikkiro wa Buganda
Owek J B Walusimbi
Bulange Mmengo

Ssebo,

Omulamwa:Temuguumaaza Baganda, okulonda kutunywereza bunywereza mu buwambe

Muvuddeyo ne mukubiriza Abaganda okwesimbawo era ne mubakubiriza n’okwewandiisa okulonda mbu basobole okukozesa obululu bwabwe balonde, mbu,  abakulembeze abawagira ebya Buganda era abasobola okufunira Buganda Federo n’ebyayo ebirala. Lwaki muguumaaza Obuganda? Lwaki muwaayo obuyinza bwa Buganda okwesalirawo?

Abangereza mu myaka gy’ataano baakakaatika enkola y’okulonda eya ‘ky’abanji’ ku Buganda ng’akakwakkulizo k’okuzza Ssekabaka Muteesa II gwe baali bawaηηangusizza mu 1953. Akakwakkulizo ako baakayisa mu kye baatuuma era kyetukyayita “endagaano ye Namirembe eya 1955”. Ebyatuviiramu tetulina kubyerabira. Okulonda okwaddirira kwazuukusa embiranye z’eddiini wakati w’Abapolotesitante n’Abakatuliki ekyaleetera Abaganda Abakatuliki abaawangulwa mu kulonda kw’obwa Katikkiro okufuuka abalabe ba Buganda abaasimbira Buganda ekkuuli okulaba nti efiirwa obutongole bwayo. Wakati wa 1955 ne 1962, Abaganda ng’okulonda kubaawuddemu Abakatuliki abeekolamu n’ekibiina ky’obufuzi  n’abapolotesitante abaali bawangudde obwakatikkiro e Mmengo baamala amaanyi gaabwe gonna nga beerwanyisa. Kulw’okuwangulagana baasaddaaka n’obwetwaze bwa Buganda, Abakatuliki bwe beegatta ku balabe ba Buganda okusalawo ebisanyaawo Buganda ate n’Abapolotesitante nabo ne basembeza Obote olw’okwagala okuwangula Abakatuliki mu kibiina kyabwe ekya DP. Ebyaava mu kino nakati by’ebikyatukaabya amaziga. Lwaki twefuula abeerabidde gyetuva? Lwaki tetuyigira ku bitutuuseeko?

Omuzungu yawugula Abaganda okuva ku bwetwaze nga yeeyambisa akakuubagano ako era ng’ayita mu kulonda n’atuzza mu mivuyo n’obutaliimu bwa Uganda. Weewaawo Ssekabaka Muteesa II yali amutebuse n’agaana Abaganda okwetaba mu kulonda kwa 1961, (ekyasobozesa Buganda okufunayoko ku byoya by’enswa naye era olwessuubi ly’obuwulize bwa Baganda mu kukuba akalulu, nga bwe mulagira kati Abaganda, Buganda yamira eddobo ly’abazungu n’edda mu butaliimu era obufuusa bwa Uganda. 

Mu 1961-62, Abaganda baali bakyalina ensa n’olwekyo baasobola ekitakyaddamu kusoboka bwe baakuba akalulu mu kitole nga bayise mu KY, ne bawangula, naye Obuwanguzi bwetwaggyamu bwatutuusaawa?

Abaganda baakuba obululu mu 1981 ne babuwa muganda munnaabwe Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere, naye baayambibwaki? Buganda yafunamu mu kulonda kwa 1981? Obutaliimu bw’olutalo lw’e Bulemeezi bwe mwagala Buganda eddemu?!

Olwaleero abatali Baganda bebasinga obungi mu Buganda, ate nga tukimanyi nti okuva mu myaka gy’enkaaga obukyayi ku Buganda buzze busigibwa mu Banna Yuganda ne busomesebwa ne mu masomero. Olwaleero entekateeka ssinziggu zikoleddwa okusiga n’okufukirira embiranye ey’amaanyi wakati w’Abaganda n’abatali Baganda abali mu Buganda n’ebweeru wayo, nga n’abantu ababadde mu Buganda entende emyaka n’emyaka, kati bagguddewo olutalo ku Buganda, nga ne Kabaka takkirizibwa kugenda mu masaza ga Buganda gye batudde.

 Abaganda bonna ne bwe basalawo ne bakuba akalulu kaabwe wamu tebasobola kuwangula kubanga batono nnyo ku balala abatabaagaliza.

Ne bwe kiba nti ekyewuunyo kibaddewo ababaka ba palamenti abava mu Buganda bonna abalondeddwa ne bawagira ebya Buganda; benkana ki ku babaka abava mu bitundu bya Uganda ebirala abawunyirwa ebya Buganda ziizi?

Ye bwe mugamba nti mugenda kuwagira abaneesimbawo abamanyi okwogera ensonga za Buganda obulungi, kipimo ki kye munaakozesa okubamanya n’okubeesiga? Olwo Abaganda be munaaba temuwagidde munaaba mubasindiseewa?

Okulonda tekulina kye kusobola kugasa Buganda. Mukimanyi bulungi nti Buganda ejja kuwangulwa mu buli ngeri yonna. Terina nkizo yonna mu nteekateeka y’okulonda kubanga beevuganya nabo beeba nnanyini kulonda n’okutegekebwa kwakwo.Be bakutegeka, be bakukubiriza, be babala obululu ate be babulangirira. 

Kirabika nga ekigendererwa kyammwe kuwaayo Buganda, kubanga Buganda bwe yeetaba mu kulonda mu butongole, n’ewangulwa, byonna ebirisalibwawo abaliba bawangudde okulonda okwo bijja kuba nga mu mateeka bikakata ku Buganda nga terina w’ebigaanira. Buganda bwe yeetaba mu kulonda mu butongole egenda kuba ekkirizza nti ebyaayo bisalibweewo abaliba bawangudde okulonda okwo.

Leka tukimanye, tukitegeere era tukikkirize nti Buganda entonde etambulira ku butonde bwayo ate Uganda empange obupanzi etambulira ku bupanzi ng’okukuba obululu. N’olwekyo Buganda teyinza era teriyinza kuganyulwa mu bupanzipanzi. Ky’ova olaba ng’okuviira ddala obululu lwe bwaleetebwa Omukolooni mu gy’ataano, Buganda terina mulundi gwe yali eganyuddwa okuggyako okugwa mu Bizibu ebigyegezaamu okugisaanyaawo.

Kisaanye kijjukirwe nti Olukiiko lwa Buganda olutongole mu 1966 lwayisa ekiteeso ekigoba gavumenti ya Uganda mu Buganda olw’okumenyawo endagaano ya 1962, eyali egatta Buganda ku Uganda kyeyagalire. Okuva olwo gavumenti ya Uganda yeekakaatika bwekakaatisi ku Buganda mu ngeri ya Kiriisamaanyi ekimenya amateeka g’ensi yonna. Okutuusa nga Buganda mu butongole emenyeewo ekirangiriro ky’olukiiko lwa Buganda ekyo ekyagoba gavumenti ya Uganda ku ttaka lya Buganda, gavumenti ya Uganda efuga Buganda mu bumenyi bw’amateeka era Buganda bwewaaba mu kooti y’ensi yonna, Uganda esobola okukakibwa okuddiza Buganda obwetwaaze bwaayo.

Abeebitiibwa b’e Mmengo, kirabika ng’ekigendererwa kyammwe gavumenti ya Uganda kye yabatuma, kwe kuguumaaza Abaganda, mbu, ebya Buganda bigenda kugonjoolwa nga tuyise mu kulonda kwa 2011, olwo mu kukola ekyo mwefuule abakiikirira Buganda mulabise Buganda ng’eyeetabye mu kulonda okwo mu butongole, n’olwekyo, mulabise Buganda ng’emenyeewo ekirangiriro ekyagoba gavumenti ya Uganda ku ttaka lya Buganda era kitegeeze nti Buganda eri mu Uganda kyeyagalire (teri mu buwambe); ekyo kiggyewo ensonga Omuganda yenna gy’asobola okusinziirako okuwaabira gavumenti ya Uganda mu kooti y’ensi yonna ku lw’okufunira Buganda Obwetwaaze.

Ekigendererwa kino mukiruddeko nnyo nga kikyabalemye okutuukiriza. Mwasooka kwagala kukiyisa mu Charter, bwe yalemwa, ne mutegeka kukiyisa mu Regional Tier. Obuganda bwe bwagigaana, mwe ne mukama wammwe pulezidenti-gavana mukoze binji okukaka Ssabasajja Kabaka akozese omukono gwe ku lwa Buganda amenyewo ekirangiriro kya 1966 nga muyita mu kye mwatuuma okuteesa.

Kati ekkubo mu lizudde mu kulonda kwa 2011.!!!

Bwe muba temulina kigendererwa kibi ku Buganda, obudde tebunnayita.

Mukomye okukola ebirabisa Buganda ng’eyokwetaba(mu butongole) mu kulonda kwa Uganda okwa 2011 oba okulonda kwonna okulala okutegekeddwa Uganda. Abakungu abaagala okwesimbawo balekulire emirimu gya Kabaka beetabe mu kulonda okwo ku lwabwe ng’abantu so ssi ng’abasimbiddwaawo oba abatumiddwa Buganda. Bwe muba temusobola kuyamba Baganda butawaayo dembe lyabwe kwesalirawo na kwefuga nga bayita mu kiguumaaza w’okukuba obululu, mubaleke babwetabemu olw’emmundu eyabateekebwaako, so si mwe kubakulembera kubatwalamu.    

Wangaala Buganda

Awangaale Ssaabasajja Kabaka

M . Jjunju Kamulali
(Ssentebe)

 By Andrew A. Limber

    It was a warm, slightly breezy July evening at the Civic Center in Glendale, Arizona, next to Phoenix, as the large banquet room filled to near-capacity with 500 well-dressed young adults representing a variety of nations-from Germany to South Korea, from Lebanon and Brazil to Canada and the Cayman Islands.     

Their constant smiles reflected both joy and a sense of relief at having reached a major academic milestone: completion of an on-line University of Phoenix international degree program.  

            The pre-graduation day reception and dinner featured the customary welcoming speeches, along with the more uncommon performances by Native Americans of traditional warrior “spirit dances.”  Then, another speech or two, a few more colorful dances, followed on stage by a slim young man in an earth-toned pullover shirt adorned with depictions of stately giraffes.

            As the personal story begins to unfold from the soft-spoken student from Uganda, the clank of silverware on the white linen-covered dinner tables fades, and the slight undertow of murmuring voices vanish into silence.

Walakira “Robert” Kisakye, 26, tells about his late father, Vincent, who as a teenager becomes the pen pal of a 10-year-old American girl named Lisa, as a result of her visit to the Parker Pen Pavilion at the World’s Fair in New York City in 1964.   

Over the years, the letter-writing flows on and Lisa comes to know and love Vincent, his wife, and their two daughters and son. In 1971, life in Uganda takes a brutal turn as a military coup installs Idi Amin as the country’s tyrannical ruler.  Vincent writes to Lisa of his people’s suffering, of his losing a small piece of land, and that his only work is making bricks by hand.  

The banquet room of fellow students and guests comes to a standstill.  Even the wait staff in their crisp black attire cease all activity, standing quiet and attentive, focused on Robert Kisakye as he continues relating his incredible journey leading to this July night in America.   

Somehow, he says, his father is able to come to New York in 1974 to finally meet his pen pal, then twenty.  Lisa and her family take Vincent everywhere, and he especially enjoys the United Nations visit.  After an emotional farewell, he returns to Uganda where, in 1979, Idi Amin is deposed.  Four years later, Vincent dies, and his widow assumes the correspondence until she passes away in 1999.  The letters to Lisa continue at the hand of the son, 16-year-old Walakira, also known as “Robert.”   

Meanwhile, Lisa fulfills her ambition to become a medical doctor, marries, has a family, and moves to Arizona-all the while maintaining contact with her second-generation pen pal in Africa.    

Although conditions since the tumultuous reign of Idi Amin in Uganda improve, life for its 31 million residents is a struggle, with half the country living below the international poverty line of $1.25 (U. S.) a day.  

Established in Chandler as a family practitioner, Dr. Lisa Wright and her husband, James, attempt to adopt Robert, but Ugandan law prohibits it.  Robert hungers for a formal education, and the Wrights consider enrolling him at Arizona State University, but the Ugandan government denies an exit visa.  

Undeterred, the Wright’s find the ideal solution at the University of Phoenix and its internationally respected on-line program. They pay for Robert’s entire tuition and enroll him in the information technology curriculum.  This brings the immediate bonus of making him employable at a telecommunications company in Uganda, where he works during the day and studies on-line at night.  

            Less than four years later, the once unemployed young Ugandan with a great appetite for knowledge but little hope for attending a university, was about to receive his bachelor’s degree in a roomful of fellow global graduates.

            The genesis of this momentous evening began 45 years earlier when a little American girl just happened to become the pen pal of a teenage African boy.  Such a seemingly unremarkable beginning to a most remarkable outcome is the stuff legends are made of

And no one expresses it better than Walakira Robert Kisakye himself when he concluded his remarks that night in Glendale, saying:

            “Four years ago, I was a young man in Africa who could never hope to have an education.  But today, I am here to graduate from the University of Phoenix.  So for me, this is a testimony that a single act of generosity might change the world, and proves that nothing is impossible-not even for an orphan boy in Uganda.”

When the words ended from the stage, there was an extended moment of pure silence in the cavernous banquet room.  Then came the rapidly building crescendo of nearly deafening applause, punctuated by the entire audience rising to its feet in tribute to the speaker, who had, in his unassuming yet powerful way, delivered a profound message:  

             No dream is impossible.

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As of February 28, 2010, 458,600 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.

For more information please contact Niamh Fitzgerald, Dicomm Media at nfitzgerald@dicommintl.com

The oldest Baganda nationalist organization, Abazzukulu ba Buganda, have issued a statement announcing that they will hold special ceremonies to mark 44 years since the government of Uganda occupied the Kingdom of Buganda by force of arms. The ceremonies, on May 24, 2010, will start with a congregation at the main gate (Wankaaki) of the Kabaka’s Palace (Lubiri) at Mmengo at 8:00 AM. One hour later, at 9:00 AM the sons and daughters of occupied Buganda will match for 5 kilometers (just over 3 miles) to the Kasubi Tombs site. At Kasubi, the Baganda will hold a seminar on Buganda national issues.

 Below is the full text of the announcement in Luganda.

 Eri Obuganda

OKUKUNGUBAGA OLWA BUGANDA OKUWEZA EMYAKA 44 MU BUWAMBE

(24^th May 1966 – 24^th May 2010)

Nga 24 May 2010, gigenda kuwera emyaka Ana mw’ena (44) bukya gavumenti ya Uganda ewamba Buganda. Olunaku olwo amagye ga gavumenti ya Uganda lwe gaalumba Ssekabaka Muteesa mu Lubiri eMmengo gye yeerwanirako n’asimattuka okumutta n’agenda mu buwanganguse e Bungereza gye yagyira omukono mu ngabo mu 1969.

Kw’olwo endagano ya 1962 eyali eggatta Buganda ku Uganda mu ngeri eya kyeyagalire lwe yamenyebwaawo. N’olwekyo okuva olwo Uganda yeekakaatika bwekakaatisi ku Buganda. Buganda teri mu Uganda lwa kweyagalira wabula ekakibwa bukakibwa ku maanyi ga mmndu. Buganda eri mu buwambe okuv’olwo.

Olw’ensonga eyo buli lunaku lwa 24^th May bwe lutuuka Abaganda abakimanyi era abakyalumirirwa  Obuganda bakungubaga. Okukungubaga kuno kubaamu okutambula okuva mu Lubiri lw’eMMengo okutuuka e Kasubi Nnabulagala mu masiro g’aba Ssekabaka gye bakkomekkereza okukungubaga okwo n’omusomo ogukwata ku buwambe Buganda mweri.

Okukungubaga kuno kukulemberwamu Olukiiko lw’Abazzukulu ba Buganda okuva mu 1999. N’omwaka guno, nga 24^th May 2010, okukungubaga kuno kugenda kubaawo. Abaganda abalumirirwa Obuganda abasobola bajja kukung’anira ku wankaaki w’olubiri lwe Mmengo ku makya ku ssaawa bbiri we bajja okusimbula ku ssaawa satu ez’okumakya batambule okugenda e Kasubi ewanaabeera omusomo ogukwata ku nsonga za Buganda.

Olukiiko lwa Bazzukulu ba Buganda lukusaba okwetaba mu kukungubaga kuno, era n’okuyamba mu nteekateeka yaakwo. Mu ngeri yonna (eg SMS) kkunga Obuganda okukungubaga ku lunaku olwo, sondayo ku nsimbi z’okupangisa ebikozesebwa n’okusaasaanya ebiwandiiko by’omusomo ogunaakolebwa kw’olwo, etc.

Olukiiko lw’Abazzukulu ba Buganda lwamerawo mu 1985 olw’obwetaavu bw’okuzzaawo Buganda nga bwe yali. Jjukira nti Buganda Ggwanga ttonde eryatondebwa Katonda nga Ttongole. Okuva mu 1985, olukiiko lw’Abazzukulu ba Buganda lutuula buli lunaku olw’okubiri mu wiiki. Buli muzzukulu wa Buganda wa ddenbe okukiika mu Lukiiko luno kasita taleetamu bitiibwa bye, byabufuzi bye, ddiini ye oba enzikiriza endala yonna ekontana oba evuganya n’obwetaavu bw’okwetengerera kwa Buganda. 

Alina ky’abuuza ku nsonga eyo kuba ku ssimu y’omuteesiteesi eno 0772534210.

M. Junju Kamulali

(Ssentebe)

Late last week, source who we know to be pro UNAA sent us an email claiming that the president of the Ugandan Diaspora and American Development Association (UADA) is hiding in Buganda after California courts issued a warrant for his arrest.  When our agent in Boston inquired with a UADA source,  she said that she heard of similar rumours but claimed it was the UNAA trying to spoil Mr. Ssenkumba’s name.  However, she hinted that Mr. Ssenkumba’s accusers could be mistaking him with his business partners, Kabukuru and Erica Mukasa who had some “minor problems with the law last year.”

Following the tip from our Boston source we found out from the United States District Court, Central District Of California, that, in fact, Erica Mukasa (42) and Julius Kabukuru (38) were imprisoned late last year. They were arrested in August 2009 on Federal charges of:  CONSPIRACY, ENCOURAGING OR INDUCING ALIENS TO ENTER OR RESIDE IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY, and IMPROPER ENTRY BY ALIEN.

So far it appears that Mr. Ssenkumba is a victim of the ruthless Uganda style politics between UNAA and UADA. UADA was started by 2009 UNAA presidential candidate Flex Kabuye after losing the election to Moses Wilson. Within a few months Kabuye was kicked out of his own party for still unclear reasons. Los Angeles based William Ssenkumba who became the new president and has provided major funding.

In the meantime, only last week Mr. Ssenkumba appointed a minister in the Buganda Government, Owek. Nakiwala Kiyingi to be UADA’s representative in Kampala. She is expected to be charge of local registration arrangements for the UADA convention in September 2010. Interestingly, at UNAA Chicago in September 2009, minister Kiyingi appointed Mr. William Ssenkumba as a Buganda Tourism Commissioner in the USA.  Now, Mr. Ssenkumba and Owek. Kiyingi are bosses to each other. This strange arrangement may become a minor concern for Kabaka’s Government if the rumours about Mr. Ssenkumba were to be true.

Justice Julia Sebutinde, Judge of the High Court of Uganda was scheduled to receive with an honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Edinburgh on June 30, 2009, according to a press conference issued by the university press office. Julia Semambo Sebutinde, a Muganda of Njovu clan, is among several internationally distinguished men and women who have been offered honorary degrees by Edinburgh University, which is ranked among the tops universities in the world. At this time, Sebutinde is seconded to the UN Special Court in Sierra Leone.

Others who have received Edinburgh honorary degrees at the same time as Sebutinde Mr Anthony Bryan Hayward – CEO of British Petroleum, Mr Muhtar Kent – President and CEO of Coca-Cola and Justice Unity Dow – High Court Judge, Botswana.

Sebutinde is married to John Bagunywa Sebutinde of Mmamba clan and they have two children. Additional information on the University of Edinburgh and its Summer 2009 degree awards is available at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/.