On July 17, 2009 the Secretary General for the Democratic Party (DP) UK and Ireland Chapter issued a press release condemning the arrest of DP presidential aspirant, Samuel Lubega, by Mr. Museveni’s government. This writer have not been able to independently confirm the arrest of Mr. Lubega. However, the arrrest, tear gasing and general harrassment of Baganda DP candidates is as routine as voting itself during Uganda election seasons.

Below is the full text of the DP UK and Ireland chapter, without editing.

DP PRESS REALESE

Date: 17 July 2009.

The repeated unlawful Arrest of Democratic Party (DP) Presidential Candidate Samuel Lubega

DP Presidential aspirant, Samuel Lubega, has today Friday 17 July, been arrested for the second time this week, along with others, but it is not clear at the moment if and what charges have been preferred against them. Constitutionally, charges must be brought against them within 48 hours from the time of arrest. The current regime in Kampala is however known not to tolerate any form of dissent and oppositionists are regularly stopped from holding peaceful meetings, arrested and prosecuted on spurious charges, such as holding illegal rallies, obstructing police in the course of their duty and disrupting business and traffic. Indeed, earlier this week, Samuel Lubega and 19 others were arrested and charged with these very offences.

Mr. Lubega and the Democratic Party Activists were arrested by armed security personnel in the constituency office of the area DP Member of Parliament Mr. Muhammad Kawuma who had organised a meeting to sensitise his constituents on the Kampala Capital City Bill. If passed into law, this bill will deny millions of Kampala residents the right to elect their own representatives.

Members of DP UK & Ireland Chapter reiterate their condemnation in the strongest terms possible the repeated unlawful and arbitrary arrest of the DP Presidential Aspirant along with others, which amounts to political persecution.

Mr. Lubega is being held at Entebbe Police Station alongside the Activists of the Democratic Party. The activists were physically tortured and manhandled by the Security Personnel.

Members of the DP UK & Ireland Chapter expect and demand that there be unrestricted and unfettered access to Samuel Lubega and the activists by their families, legal representatives and friends in accordance with the laws of Uganda as well as international law.  We urge the government to ensure that any trial is conducted in accordance with the international standards of fair trial.

Members of the DP UK & Ireland Chapter will hold President Museveni personally responsible for the well-being, safety and lives of Mr Lubega and the DP Activists while they are in detention.

Additionally, the Security Minister Hon. Amama Mbabazi, Co-ordinator of Security Services in the President’s Office General David Tinyefuza, Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Kirunda Kiveijinja, the Inspector General of Police General Kale Kaihura and the Officer in Charge of the arresting police Station, as people sharing personal responsibility with the President for the personal safety, health and life of Samuel Lubega as well as that of the DP Activists.

Members of the DP UK & Ireland Chapter are aware of acts of poisoning and death of political prisoners during or after detention by State Security agents in Uganda and they are deeply concerned about the continued unlawful arrest and detention, intimidation, harassment and torture of Ugandans seeking to exercise their constitutional rights.

Derek Mutema

Secretary General DP UK and Ireland Chapter.

A report in the April 8, 2009 issue of the Uganda government Bukedde newspaper that, the day before, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi laid a flower wreath at the mass graves of victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide has upset some Baganda. Our reporters in both Masaka and Kampala have told us. According to the reports, most ordinary Baganda in Buddu and around Kampala think that it is a good thing to commemorate the terrible killings that took place in Rwanda. But a large majority of them are asking why the Katikkiro of Buganda found time and money to buy flowers for graves of Banyarwanda although he did not have time to accompany Kabaka Mutebi to Buluuli last October fearing to upset Museveni.

The Kampala people are especially unhappy that incidents like the Budo Junior fire and child sacrifices which target Baganda are just  quiet form genocide but Owek. Walusimbi does not take expensive flowers let alone mabugo (condolence funds) to the victim’s families. Some also complained that Katikkiro Walusimbi has not cared to officially investigate why tens of Baganda children are murdered every month without government action. Yet when one mulaalo child was killed around Kiboga in Ssingo county, the police commander even personally camped in the area until some people were arrested.

On October 8, 2008 Mr. Museveni’s armed soldiers stopped the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II from going to Nakasongola to preside at the 46th anniversary of independence from Britain. The president later stated that, while Kabaka Mutebi was being harassed, Katikkiro Walusimbi was in telephone negotiations with David Tinyefuza and Mr. Museveni’s state house. Nakasongola is the main town in Buluuli county of Buganda. October 9, 1962 is when Buganda formally joined the other parts of today’s Uganda to become a federal republic. Under the terms of the 1962 independence agreement, Buganda remained a kingdom under Kabaka and retained control of its own education, healthcare, police and local administration systems. In 1966 then prime minister Milton Obote overthrew the constitution, used Idi Amin to attack Kabaka’s palace, made the kingdom illegal, exiled the Kabaka and stole 9,000 square miles of Buganda native lands and numerous other properties.  After decades of persecution by Obote, Idi Amin and Obote II, the Baganda joined Mr. Museveni and thousands of  Rwandan Tutsi refugees to remove Obote II and make it possible for the Kabaka to return to his kingdom.

In 1993/94 thousands of  Rwandese Tutsi refugees used Uganda army weapons to take power in Rwanda, in the middle of a genocide which started after that country’s president Habyarimana was assassinated. After more than 20 years since Mr. Museveni and his Baganda and Tutsi partners removed the Obote II regime, Mr. Museveni has refused to return the 9,000 square miles of native lands that Obote stole. He also refused to recognize the Baganda rights to return to the status as a federal state within the republic of Uganda. As the Baganda continue to demand that Mr. Museveni act honorably, the relations between the Buganda Kingdom and central government have become increasingly hostile. And many Baganda, especially the youth, are demanding that Katikkiro (head of Buganda government) Walusimbi resign due to conflict of interests because of his strong business and personal relationships with both Mr. Museveni and Rwanda government.

On December 28, 2008 we reported that an upcoming Kadongo Kamu singer, Muzadde Seruwagi, has released on the most patriotic video by a Muganda ever – Ggwangamujje Buganda.  Since then we have received emails drawing our attention to other videos which are similary patriotic. Some of the readers who have contacted us have also argued that some of these videos, such as Akaalo ka Buganda, deliver equally patriotic and brave messages.

The original purpose of the story on Seruwagi’s  Ggwangamujje Buganda was to inform our readers about the growing dedication of young people, including musicians, to their country Buganda. Seruwagi and his powerful message was, as the title of the story said on a symbol of new brave Baganda. On request from you our readers, below is a list of other songs by young Baganda which serve clear evidence that Seruwagi’s dedication to Buganda and Kabaka are more common than one would expect. All the singers involved are less than 35 years and demonstrate through their songs that they have a strong sense of Buganda history, the importance of Kabaka and “urgency of now” when it comes to Buganda self determination.

1. Tuzzeewo Ekitibwa kya Buganda -   By Nanziga SDA Primary School

2. Akaalo ka Buganda -  By Sir William Kibuuka

3. Buganda Madaala -  By Henry Katamba

4. Ba Mutunda Byaapa -  By Dr. Fred Sebbaale

5. Ggwangamujje -  By Nalinya lwantale Girls SSS Educational song

6. Njagala Nnyimbire Omutanda -  By Mesach Semakula

Patriotism among Baganda is growing steadily as a reaction to President Museveni’s sustained multi-year campaign to marginalize Kabaka Mutebi and demoralize his subjects in  their demands for cultural, political and property rights.  Despite strong evidence that Katikkiro JB Walusimbi has friendly personal and business relationships with  Mr. Museveni and his government, Kabaka Mutebi has, over the last 1-2 years sent clear signals to his subjects that they must fight anti-Buganda plans and actions by Mr. Museveni’s government, often championed by Baganda collaborators in high government offices.

Baganda have stronglyand positively  responded to Kabaka Mutebi’s call, especially the youth and those in the diaspora. Baganda youth, starting with those  who are ministers in the Buganda government, to individuals like the singer Muzadde Seruwagi, are actively voicing their opposition to Mr. Museveni’s latest land law, which is designed to legalize the stealing of 9,000 of Buganda native lands. Baganda in the diaspora went a step further during the annual Ttabamiruka ’08 international conference. They passed resolutions specifically making cowardice among Baganda, when it comes to supporting Kabaka Mutebi in the fight for “ebyaffe” unacceptable and declaring that no Muganda has authority to negotiate away anything that President Museveni or previous Uganda presidents stole from Buganda.

Upcoming Kadongo Kamu singer, Muzadde Seruwagi, has released on the most patriotic video by a Muganda ever. It is entitled Ggwangamujje Buganda. The handsome Seruwagi uses his exceptional story telling skills to express his loyalty to Ssabasajja and expose those Buganda’s enemies.

A young parent, Seruwagi impressively narrates his family history and makes it clear that he is a Muganda (”Ffe tuli Baganda tetuli Banyoro”). He tells “them” (Writer: Banyankore) that if they don’t want Obugabe that is their but they deny Baganda their right to have Obwakabaka. He decries the dictatorial regime in power today and the persecution and imprisonment of Baganda. But warns that even if this continues, future Baganda will continue the fight for self-determination. With his infant children on the screen, he declares: “Tugeze nga munsibye e Luzira era mu baana benzaala elivaayo Kyadondo n’abanja. Aliyambibwaako muto we Kasirye ne lubaale omuzadde gwensamira.” Finally, Seruwagi appeals to all Baganda to teach their children to fight for Baganda’s political, cultural and property rights. (Click here to play the video)

Patriotism among Baganda is growing steadily as a reaction to President Museveni’s sustained multi-year campaign to marginalize Kabaka Mutebi and demoralize his subjects in  their demands for cultural, political and property rights.  Despite strong evidence that Katikkiro JB Walusimbi has friendly personal and business relationships with  Mr. Museveni and his government, Kabaka Mutebi has, over the last 1-2 years sent clear signals to his subjects that they must fight anti-Buganda plans and actions by Mr. Museveni’s government, often championed by Baganda collaborators in high government offices.

Baganda have stronglyand positively  responded to Kabaka Mutebi’s call, especially the youth and those in the diaspora. Baganda youth, starting with those  who are ministers in the Buganda government, to individuals like the singer Muzadde Seruwagi, are actively voicing their opposition to Mr. Museveni’s latest land law, which is designed to legalize the stealing of 9,000 of Buganda native lands. Baganda in the diaspora went a step further during the annual Ttabamiruka ’08 international conference. They passed resolutions specifically making cowardice among Baganda, when it comes to supporting Kabaka Mutebi in the fight for “ebyaffe” unacceptable and declaring that no Muganda has authority to negotiate away anything that President Museveni or previous Uganda presidents stole from Buganda.