In early July 2009 the leading Internet search engine and software services company, Google, Inc., introduced an interface that allows users to access their search tools in Luganda. Unfortunately, about 50% of the translations are only literal, and semantically incorrect. Since July 27, 2009, thirty five (35) Baganda have contacted Buganda Post by email to complain about the abuse of their language by Google. Some of the upset Baganda see this abuse of their language as another assault on their culture by foreigners at the same time that Museveni’s government is character assassinating their Kabaka.

One London resident named Nakibuuka even suggested that Mmengo, Ekibiina ky’Olulimi Oluganda (Luganda Language Society) and Makerere University Luganda department should protest to Google, Inc. for their racist approach to black people. She asks: “Would Google accept a Hebrew platform that was translated by a team of Arabs? If it is not ‘all black people are the same’ racism, how come Google used a team of translators none of whom is a Muganda? It is time for Baganda to deal with Museveni, Northerners, Banyankore, Iteso and even Google aggressively if they continue to ridicule our Kabaka and other pillars of our Buganda nation. Doing nothing is surrendering to these guys to decide what broken Luganda our Baganda children will learn.”

When we checked out the Luganda Google site, http://www.google.com/intl/lg/, there was evidence why some Baganda are angry that their language had been butchered so badly. Evidently, the translators primarily relied on and English-to-Luganda dictionary and casual knowledge of the language to create Google’s new Luganda platform. For example, “Advanced Search” was translated to “Enonya eya Wagulu”, which is not only spelt wrong but is a poor approximation of the semantic meaning. Equally ridiculous is the translation of “Language Tools” to “Ebikozesa ebya Olulimi”. Even worse is the translation of “Groups” to “Ebibinjja” (which means “gangs” or “armies”, when correctly spelt).

According to a source at the Makerere University Luganda Language Institute, Google was conned by unscrupulous Iteso and Banyakore and sold a fake translation. The sources pointed Buganda Post to an article written by one Rwandese, Denis Gikunda , at http://sites.google.com/site/gwscommunitytranslation/uganda, which identifies the individuals that Google trusted with translating a highly nuanced Luganda language, which has existed for more than 1,000 years. According to Gikunda’s story the team that created Google’s Luganda platform includes:  Jonathan Gosier (unclear nationality), Emmanuel Oluka (Acholi or Langi), James Olweny (Iteso), Barbara Birungi (Munyankore), James Nabireeba (Munyankore) and Jerry Opollot (Iteso). Luganda is not the mother tongue to any of the translators.

Yesterday Henry Kisambira, a Uganda police officer posted in Nakaseke,told Buganda Road Court Magistrate Margaret Tibulya that he did not personally know Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo or Kitgum MP Beatrice Anywar or about their involvement in the Mabira Forest demonstrations.

Kisambira’s statement dealt a crushing blow to the Uganda government’s case where the prosecution alleged that Kyanjo, Anywar and others incited the public and lead the Mabira demonstrations on April 12, 2007 in Kampala. In his testimony, Kisambira told the judge that at the timeof the deomnstrations he was posted in Kampala as a traffic cop and was deployed on Entebbe Road and around the Clock Tower. He testified that he saw a mob which overpowered police and beat an Indian to death.

Kisambira also denied having any knowledge or evidence that would connect Kyanjo’s other co-accused Ken Lukyaamuzi and Mukasa Mbidde to the Mabira demonstrations.

A member of the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) convention organizing committee who requested anonymity has informed Buganda Post of still secret plans for President Yoweri Museveni to attend the 2008 annual UNAA convention starting on August 31, 2008. The UNAA official revealed to Buganda Post that, “Museveni’s attendance is still being kept secret for obvious reasons and will only be announced after authorization by State House.” He declined to answer when asked whether anyone else on the organizing committee was aware of these plans. However, he volunteered that part of the plan included inviting Mmengo officials, all expenses paid, and that the President might use their presence as an opportunity to humiliate Buganda among the Diaspora population.

It is an open secret in the Ugandan community in the North America that Mr. Museveni has invested heavily in the UNAA convention of 2008 after the unexpected success of Baganda Ttabamiruka ’07. The stakes were further raised by the July 18, 2008 Ttabamiruka inspired Buganda conference in Kampala, where the question of Buganda self determination was a major topic. Efforts to get comments about Mr. Museveni’s trip from the Ugandan embassy in Washington D.C. were unsuccessful.

According to the Ttabamiruka ’08 website www.ttabamiruka.com, the main speakers at the Baganda conference include former Katikkiro Dan Muliika, Daudi Mpanga and Hussein Kyanjo. See Muliika, Kyanjo and Mpanga to Speak at Ttabamiruka ‘08

UGANDA NATIONAL PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ASSOCIATION
LONDON SEAT

PART I LONDON UGANDAN CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE
Ugandans in the UK demand the Right to Internal Self-determination, Federo,
National Reconciliation and Peace in Northern Uganda

On Saturday 9th August 2008, Uganda National Peoples’ Rights Association (UNAPERA) convened the Part I London Ugandan Conference in Durning Hall, Earlham Grove, London E7. The Conference lasted for eight hours and was attended by a big number of Ugandans whose participation was very lively and marked from time to time with thunderous applauses to Oweekitiibwa Dan Muliika, the Esteemed Peoples’ Rights Defender (RPRIDE) of UNAPERA, who opened and presided over the Part I Conference. In his message, Oweekitiibwa Muliika said that according to Odoki Commission 97% of Ugandans demaded federo and more than 60% of Ugandans demanded the same. He said that UNAPERA campaign is about educating people so that they may know their rights. He urged all Ugandans wherever they may be to stand up for their rights and sacrifice for the cause of their rights.

The attendees of Part I London Ugandan Conference built a consensus and demanded the Ugandan Government (i) to recognise the right to internal democratic self-determination for the national peoples of Uganda; (ii) to allow Ugandan national peoples to be governed under a federal system of government and (iii); to bring about peace in Northern Uganda. They emphasised that due to divide-and-rule tricks of Ugandan presidents and animosity among Ugandans, all Ugandans in Uganda and in the Diaspora need to start a process of national reconciliation and to work for national unity.

Mr. Mulinda argued that the different national peoples of Uganda include the Banyoro, the Acholi, the Iteso, the Banyankore, the Basoga, the Baganda, to mention but a few. He said that those national peoples are nations and not mere communities, as the 1995 Uganda Constitution dubs them. He maintained that their rights to internal democratic self determination, to federo, to culture, to language, to identity and to land must be fully recognised and respected by the Uganda Government.

Among the Conference Presenters included Dr Benjamin Obonyo – the EPRIDE Vice for the Diaspora, Ms Cathy Nansubuga – the Youth Leader of Wakiso District and UNAPERA Vice Global Secretary, Mr. Yiga Ssempogo – the UNAPERA-UK Chair, Mr. John Baptist Ayela – the UNAPERA-UK Vice Chair, Mr. Charles Mangeni – the UNAPERA-UK Secretary, Mr. Hood Ssempebwa – the UNAPERA-UK Publicity Secretary and Mr. Ricardo Mulinda – the UNAPERA Global Involvement Co-Chair and Conference Organising Chair.

At the end of Part I Conference, it was declared that Part II London Ugandan Conference was to be held next Saturday 16th August 2008. It was said that Hon. Dan Muliika would again preside over the Part II Conference. Part II Conference would also be held in Durning Hall, Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, E7, starting from 3.00 pm until 9.00pm.

Ricardo Mulinda
UNAPERA Global Involvement Co-Chair

Hood Ssempebwa
UNAPERA-UK Publicity Secretary

59 Brimsdown House, Devas Street, London E3 3LW
Tel: +44 (0)207 987 0396
Mob: +44 (0)790 395 6760
Web: www.unapera.com
Email: info@unapera.com; uganda@unapera.com; uk@unapera.com

According to the Ttabamiruka ’08 website, members of Gwangamujje NY/NJ, a social organization for New York area Baganda, has set up a “special medical fund to assist Ms. Betty Nambooze Bakireke, Chairperson of Buganda Kingdom’s Central Civic Education Committee, and others towards payment of their medical bills.” Nambooze was released from Rubaga Hospital on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 with strict doctor’s instructions to rest and gain strength for an operation to repair the effects of a post caesarean birth wound infection that she contracted during her captivity.
 
According to Ggwangamujje sources, the primary goal of the fund is to enable Ms. Betty Nambooze to receive a detailed, high technology, medical check up in one of the top hospitals in New York. Depending on the amount of money donated, appropriate assistance will also be extended to the other kidnap victims, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega. For more information on how to donate visit the Ttabamiruka website at  www.ttabamiruka.com/donations.
 
At the time of filing this report, we had received confirmation that Ms. Nambooze will attend and speak at the Federo conference in London, starting on August 22, 2008. A similar confirmation from the Ttabamiruka organizers was not yet available.

Taking the cue from President Museveni on Uganda politics and Dr. Besigye in FDC party politics many non-Baganda, especially in the American UNAA network, are drumming up hatred against Baganda on the Internet. Ironically, the founders of UNAA and about 90% of the organizers of the UNAA convention are Baganda. However, thanks to funding by President Museveni and Vice President Bukenya, the organization has become the NRM’s most important tool for fighting Baganda organizations in the diaspora.

Below, this columnist shares one example of the anti-Gandaism that is rampant on the UNAA network. In the message below, one Engineer David Basobokwe (dbasobokwe@yahoo.co.uk) demonstrates the type of anti-Ganda rhetoric that Baganda who lead UNAA will happily live with, in exchange for Mr. Museveni’s money. Note that this man, if this is his true name, lives in Kampala, Buganda.

This columnist argues that Baganda, starting with Katikkiro Walusimbi, must realize that no type of appeasement or negotiations can deal with the type of hatred expressed by Engineer David Basobokwe against Baganda. And it is the hatred that is responsible for the land grabbing in Buganda, impoverishment of Baganda and other targeted anti-Buganda programs. These Basobokwe types  must be isolated and fully exposed for what they are.

From: David Basobokwe
To: Oryema Johnson
Cc: ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com ; northernlightnet@yahoogroups.com ; mulindwa@look.ca ; north south
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2008 2:05 PM
Subject: Baganda Nonsense.

Eng.David Basobokwe
 
Kampala.

At the time of filing this report, former Buganda Katikkiro Daniel Muliika is in London as guest of honor and main speaker at Uganda National Peoples’ Rights Association (UNAPERA). The theme of the one day conference is “Campaigning For Ugandan National Peoples’ Rights, Federalism, Peace In Northern Uganda, Social Justice, and Environmental Protection And Posterity”. When we contacted one of the organizers, Mr. Richard Mulinda, by phone he could not give more details because speeches were underway. Katikkiro Muliika arrived in London on Friday on his first leg of an international trip which will take him to Ttabamiruka ’08, the annual Baganda conference. At Ttabamiruka ‘08, Owek. Muliika is expected to speak on the burning issues affecting Buganda today, namely land, political freedom, and poverty.