The Ekiba Kibe program on the SMS based Free Buganda Radio is now announcing Kabaka’s birthday at least two times a day. The presenter Mr. Robert Kabuye e Boston makes sure to remind his listeners to get ready to celebrate the birthday of the Lion of Buganda, Ssabasajja Kabaka, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.  Buganda Post has received reports from Baganda in places like United Arab Emirates, Durban South Africa, and different parts of the USA and Europe saying that they get Ekiba Kibe and it keeps Kabaka’s birthday in their minds.

Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Walugembe Mutebi II  was born at Mmengo  Lubiri on April 13, 1955. The Lion of Buganda (Emplogoma ya Buganda) is the  son of  Ssekabaka (past Kabaka)  Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II, who reigned between 1939 and 1969. His mother was Omuzaana Sarah Nalule, Kabejja, of the Nkima (monkey) clan. He was educated at Budo Junior School, King’s Mead School in Sussex and Bradford College. He then entered Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read Law.

Click on the following links Ekiba_Kibe14Mar10A,  Ekiba_Kibe14Mar10B,  Ekiba_Kibe14Mar10C or Ekiba_Kibe15Mar10A and to listen to four different Ekiba Kibe broadcasts from March 14 and March 15, 2010.

A reliable Uganda intelligence source in Kampala has told us that Olara Otunnu, a Ugandan politician from Acholi escaped death when his van collided with president Museveni’s presidential guard brigade (PGB) vehicles. According to the source, who requested that her identity be kept secret, the accident which occurred around Masindi in Bunyoro is too much of a coincidence to be believable. She explained that: “Based on the way the NRM government works, this accident was clearly staged to shake up the former United Nations undersecretary a little. I can assure you that, from now one he will think much more about what he says, where he goes and who he trusts in Uganda. Mr. Museveni calls the trick  ‘personal destabilization’.”

Our source is confident that Otunnu suffered no serious injuries although he was clearly shaken. She could not confirm to us if the PGB men who seem to have staged the accident were actually injured themselves. However, she said that, to make things appear genuine, it was likely that the Uganda government might announce that the PGB men were seriously injured or even that one of them died.

Apparently, Otunnu was travelling from northern Uganda where, for the first time in more 20 years, he attended the same public  function as Ugandan dictator, Yoweri Museveni. The police, ISO and PGB are all actively monitoring Otunnu’s movements since he returned to Uganda and expressed his intention to stand the position president in the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party. They both attended the consecration of a new Church of Uganda bishop for the Acholis in Gulu on December 20, 2009.

The UPC was responsible for the abolition of Uganda’s federal government, the exile and murder of  Ssekabaka (deceased Kabaka) Edward Muteesa II, stealing 9,000 square miles of Baganda native lands and carrying out genocide against Baganda in Bulemeezi, Buluri, Ssingo, Butambala and other counties (Luweero Triangle). As  a student and young man, Yoweri Museveni was a very active member of UPC’s notorious State Research Bureau, which was central to many of atrocities against Baganda. Later he turned against Obote and seized power after a 4 year a guerrilla war centered in the Luweero Triangle. Over 500,000 Baganda were murdered in the war.  It is estimated that Museveni’s Banyankore led NRM/NRA murdered up to 30-40% of these and put the blame on Obote, to gain support and recruits.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2009, about 100 Baganda from Boston, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, together with one Acholi, loudly demonstrated against President Museveni at the United Nations headquarters in New York. They denounced Museveni’s NRM government for its repressive occupation of Buganda, massacres in Luwero during Obote 2 regime, corruption and incompetence. Notably, the Baganda were joined by one Acholi, a brother of UN official, Olara Otunnu. This is despite the big support which Baganda gave to Acholi’s during demonstrations against the genocide that Museveni permitted in Northern Uganda. Basoga, Banyoro, Iteso and other Ugandan populations who are huge victims of  the NRM government’s policies were nowhere to be seen.

The demonstrations were prompted by the NRM government’s recent restriction of Kabaka Mutebi’s freedom of movement within his kingdom and the massacre of over 20 Baganda which followed the Kabaka’s subjects resisted. Later Ggwangamujje NY/NJ issued a statement that declared Buganda to be under armed occupation by the NRM and its collaborators.

There was drama when Uganda’s ambassador to the UN, Ruhakana Rugunda, and Museveni’s secretary and lover, Amelia Kyambadde, unknowingly walked in the direction of the Baganda demonstrators. One demonstrator shouted, “Omubi Omukiga Rugunda wuyo!” and the whole group, energized, start shouting accusations at the two Museveni staff. Visibly surprised and seemingly scared Rugunda and Kyambadde veered away as they continued to walk past the crowd.

This is the first time that Baganda have demonstrated against a Ugandan government over the issue of Buganda political rights. The demonstrations were organized by members of Ggwangamujje Boston and Ggwangamujje NY/NJ. Another, larger, demonstration is planned for Saturday in Boston, where Museveni is scheduled to be chief guest at this years’ NRM Gala. At the Gala, Museveni is expected to, among other things, thank his USA based NRM cadres like Elizabeth Musaazi, Nakku Senkeeto, Edirisa Kironde, Moses Kalemba, Zabasaja and Senoga (see “Descendants of I. K. Musaazi, Kulubya and Yusuf Lule Risk To Promote NRM In America“) for taking over UNAA.

Members of the Olara Otunnu led Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda (CDJ) have explained that the participation of the 4 well known American Baganda is because, during “Ttabamiruka 07 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Kabaka of Buganda urged Baganda to work for the acquisition of good governance, we need in Uganda, through seeking alliances and friendship with other ethnicities in Uganda.”

The CDJ document, sent to Buganda Post by Professor Aloysious Lugira, was responding to the posting by Buganda Post contributor, Bijugo Lumu, titled “UPC’s Olara Otunnu Enters ‘Mukago’ With America Baganda”.

The CDJ statement is shown below, without any editing.

Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda
CDJ

CDJ is an organization which belongs to the members of this association. On July 15, 2009 on the Buganda Post website an article written by Chris Bijugo Lumu was published. It was in reaction to a CDJ Press Release dated July 11, 2009, which appeared on the occasion of President Barack’s Accra/Ghana speech. Seeming as if Mr. Chris Bijugo Lumu was reacting out of some sort of hunch, a feeling or suspicion not based on facts, gave his article the title of “UPC’s Olara Otunnu Enters ‘Mukago’ With America Baganda”. He continued on with such allegations that “Olara Otunnu..secured a deal (“mukago”) with respected foreign based Baganda to promote his presidential candidacy”, among other statements.

It is unfortunate that Mr.Lumu chose to comment on the CDJ Press Release July 11, 2009 the way he did. His comments betray the impressions that he did not give a thourough reading of the document. Or if it could have been the case that he was not clear about what he read, he was never bothered to consult the indicated contacts at the end of the Press Release.

Mr. Lumu should do proud to Buganda if he would care to take some refresher courses on the vital Social Anthropology of Buganda. To establish omukago does not mean to “secure a deal” with the sense of okuliira mu kavuyo as his context seem to be implying. CDJ is not about entering mukago as may be reflected in the unfortunate doings of the nineteen sixties. Here we are about associating for the sake of contributing to the return of political sanity in Uganda.

Mr. Lumu emphasizes that “Olara Otunnu, secured a deal with respected foreign based Baganda to promote his presidential candidacy”. In the Press Release it is made categorically clear that “CDJ will not support any parties or candidates in the forthcoming electoral contests. Its preoccupation is to mount a vigorous campaign for genuinely free and fair elections, with a level playing field for all.” http://www.bugandapost.com/main/archives/436
The CDJ is not composed of only the five interim office bearers of the Association. There are many other Ugandans of a variety of backgrounds who are members of CDJ. The four Baganda who on an interim basis are at the head of the organization are there with full knowledge of the intentions of CDJ. Mr. Lumu points out that “CDJ leadership is clearly dominated by Baganda who are known to put Buganda and Kabaka first”. It is true.But these Baganda are there not to dominate, but to serve, with the view in mind of building for the future. In his Keynote speech at Ttabamiruka 07 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Kabaka of Buganda urged Baganda to work for the acquisition of good governance, we need in Uganda, through seeking alliances and friendship with other ethnicities in Uganda. http://www.ttabamiruka07.com

Signed by:
Mr. Olara A. Otunnu (Interim Chairman)
Mr. James Ssemakula (Interim Deputy Chairman)
Mr. John Mayanja (Interim President)
Mr. Mubiru Musoke (Interim Treasurer)
Professor Aloysius M.M. Lugira (Interim Secretary)
For further information, contact:
Professor Aloysius M.M. Lugira
Tel: 617-552-3539 or 781-439-3875
E-mail: lugira.cdj@gmail.com or lugira@bc.edu