On Monday, Somalia’s Al Shabaab Islamist group confirmed that it’s members set off  the two bomb explosions that killed at least 75 people and injured hundreds in Kampala.  In Somalia’s capital, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, al Shabaab’s spokesman, told reporters: “Al Shabaab was behind the two bomb blast in Ugandain the Somali capital Mogadishu.” He also  threatened more attacks in both Uganda and Burundi if the two countries leave their troops in Somalia.

“We thank the mujahideens that carried out the attack. We are sending a message to Uganda and Burundi, if they do not take out their AMISOM troops from Somalia, blasts will continue and it will happen in Bujumbura too.”

Earlier, the head of Uganda police, army Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura had told the local press that he suspected Al Shabaab to be behind the blasts that rocked Kabalagala, Kamwokya and Lugogo around 4:00 PM local time. Bombs that failed to explode were also found in another GABA Road location and in Makindye.

On its part, Uganda’s dictatorial NRM government has reacted with threats of retaliation. Without providing detalis, Uganda army spokesman, Felix Karuyigye said: “Our promise to the people of Uganda will be fulfilled. Whoever brings the war to us, we take it to him. We will take the war to Al Shabaab if they have claimed to be responsible for this act.” In reality, the Uganda army’s ability to act is fully dependent on the American and Europen countries who pay for the salaries and food of the Uganda forces in Somalia. In fact at least 50% of the total national budget is also funded by Western donor countries. Yoweri Museveni has ruled Uganda with an iron fist since 1986 and, during that period, his army has has been involved in war and occupation in Buganda, Rwanda, Congo, Southern Sudan and now Somalia.

walusimbi mayiga

The sacred Kasubi Tombs were burnt during the night of Wednesday March 16, 2010. Within 36 hours after the tragedy on March 18, 2010, Katikkiro Walusimbi announced that a technical committee had been set up to “analyze what was destroyed and draw a reconstruction budget”.  The Katikkiro also announced a finance committee, a committee to organize the official mourning, a security committee, a publicity committee and a coordination committee. He also said that special committees were to be formed by clan leaders (Abataka) and royal family (Abalangira n’Abambejja). On the same day, Mmengo announced that an account named Kasubi Royal Tombs, number 2210600019 had been opened in Centenary Bank, where well-wishers could contribute.  Curiously, the Katikkiro did not announce a committee to find out what could be the cause of fire. Up to now, there is little evidence that either the NRM occupation government or Mmengo is working hard to find who torched the tombs.

The speed at which Mmengo moved to start collecting money for reconstruction without consulting the people of Buganda, seems to have upset many of the Kabaka’s subjects.  Some Baganda are so suspicious that they want Mmengo investigated because they are behaving as if they had plans to rebuild the tombs even before they were burnt (see, “Members of Buganda Royal Family Issue Statement on Kasubi – English“, “Kasubi Fire Requires Independent Investigation, Archbishop Kizito Lwanga“  and “Ekiba Kibe Joins Bataka, Balangira and Bazzukulu To Warn Katikkiro“).

• The royal family issued their own statement to clarify that although Kasubi was for all Baganda, it was the sacred burial grounds for descendants of Ssekabaka Muteesa I.
• Buganda clan heads and cultural leaders (Abataka) also expressed strong opposition to Mmengo’s plans focus on working with UNESCO and the NRM occupation government to restore the sacred Baganda tombs.
• The Great Buganda Lukiiko resolved: “Olukiiko luyisiza ekiteeso eky’okuzzaawo Amasiro g’e Kasubi nga bwegaali era n’okugateeka ku mutindo” (“The Lukiiko has passed a resolution has passed a resolution to restore Amasiro g’e Kasubi [Kasubi Tombs] exactly they were and ensure that they up to standard”).  Note that the Lukiiko never spoke about modernization as the NRM controlled press is now claiming.
• Abazzukulu ba Buganda questioned Mmengo’s qualifications to restore and ancient cultural structure like Kasubi Tombs. They point out that the Mmengo had not record of completing even smaller construction projects such Twekobe or Bulange Plaza. They also rejected the idea letting UNESCO lead the project.
• Ekiba Kibe radio in Boston, which often reflects the frustration Baganda in the diaspora have with the NRM occupation of their country, also strongly advised Katikkiro Walusimbi to ensure that the Abataka and the royal family take the lead since they were responsible for the existence of Kasubi Tombs.
• The Catholic Archbishop of Kampala added a new angle when he called for an independent commission of inquiry and added that Mmengo officials are among those who must be questioned

It is not clear if Katikkiro Walusimbi and his cabinet are willing to become more transparent and allow the citizens of Buganda and owners of the tombs to play a bigger role.

When we sent an email to request the opinion of our New York based analyst, he replied: “If Katikkiro Walusimbi and his team go ahead without proper consultation and support from Baganda all over the world, the project is likely to get stuck like Twekobe and they may not be forgiven this time. There is no reason why they should be rushing. This is not a simple construction project but a job of restoring Baganda’s souls. The process we follow is even more important than the building we will get.

“For example, in my opinion, they should organize seminars for Baganda clans at each ssaza headquarters and with the royal family, to explain the situation and listen to ideas. They should also have similar seminars in Johannesburg, London, Stockholm, New York, Boston, Washington DC and Toronto and other Baganda population centres.  This may take months but will ensure that every Muganda feels part of the project and can properly heal from the shock they suffered when the tombs were burnt. After that, even US$5M dollars could be provided by Kabaka’s subjects alone. Money from others would still be welcome but it would not humiliate Baganda. If Katikkiro Walusimbi and his men continue to make and announce decisions without wide consulting, I can assure Baganda will stand and watch and that will force Mmengo to rely mostly on money from the NRM government and foreigners.  Using NRM money to restore Kasubi is like selling the tombs. Remember that most Baganda blame Museveni and his NRM for the burning of Kasubi Tombs.”

In the mean time, according to sources in Mmengo, the largest contributors so far are: New Vision (Shs 20M); Habib Kagimu (Shs 10M); Museveni’s Gilbert Bukenya (US$10,000); Tumusiime Mutebire (Shs 10M); Museveni’s Apollo Nsibambi ($10,000); Nile Breweries Board (Shs 20M); Mahdvani Group of Companies (Shs 100M); Standard Chartered (Shs 50M); Coca Cola (Shs 15M); and James Mulwana (Shs 10M). As it turns out, several of these were also among the biggest contributors to Museveni’s last presidential campaign. At this pace, the Katikkiro and his cabinet might one day be accused of  restoring the Kasubi Tombs with NRM blood money and keeping Baganda out of the process.

His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda,  Muwenda Mutebi II, formally closed this year’s Buganda Conference on December 17, 2009. Although the conference was dubbed a Buganda conference, it seemed to focus on appeasing non-Baganda and the NRM, in the hope that they will look kindly at Buganda’s quest for Federo. Indeed, the prime speaking spots were given to Supreme Court Judge George William Kanyeihamba (Munyankore), Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao (Achooli),  Colonel Kiiza Besigye of FDC (Mukiga) and Maj. Ronald Kakooza Mutale, a Museveni adviser on military affairs and notorious human rights abuser.

In a move that shocked many ordinary Baganda, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi brought in government owned Bukedde Radio to broadcast the conference proceedings on radio. This is despite the common knowledge that one of the many reasons why the NRM occupation government keeps Buganda’s CBS Radio closed is to give competitive advantage to Luganda radios owned by the government and NRM diehards like Peter Sematimba. This writer spoke to 10 Baganda in Nakulabye after the conference ended and a surprising 9 of them said that they were not interested in what Mmengo is doing anymore because they cannot trust the Katikkiro and close allies. All the 9 also said that they had not listened to or read about the Buganda conference because they were boycotting government radios and newspapers. It appears that the gap between what Mmengo is doing about the governance of Buganda and what ordinary Baganda expect seem to be getting wider and fast.

Below is the full text of Kabaka Mutebi’s remarks.

REMARKS MADE BY SSAABASAJJA KABAKA RONALD MUWENDA MUTEBI II WHILE CLOSING BUGANDA CONFERENCE 09 AT HOTEL AFRICANA, KAMPALA, 17TH DECEMBER 2009

Distinguished Participants

I thank you all who have presented papers at this conference and contributed in any way to the holding of this important meeting. I wish to particularly single out for special thanks to the organizers and sponsors of this conference who have sacrificed their time and other resources to bring us here today.

Buganda is a microcosm of Uganda due to our treasured tradition of openness. Everyone is welcome here and that is how our Kingdom came to prominence in this region two centuries ago. We value our past, but we also live in the present and think about the future. We are sometimes, dismissed as conservative, but at least all recognize that we have something of value to conserve.

Our colonial masters did not write on a clean slate in Uganda. They found well-established nations which they brought together to form the Uganda Protectorate which became the sovereign state of Uganda in 1962.

Buganda was around before colonialism; colonialism emasculated but did not kill her. Even when monarchial institutions were abolished in 1967 and Buganda was erased from the map of Uganda, she remained alive in our people’s hearts. That is why the restoration of the Buganda Monarch in 1993 was very popular, the symbol of Buganda’s identity is their Kabaka, that identity was restored and we are all very grateful.

I have always believed that Uganda can accommodate all of us and that we can live in peace and harmony. I also believe that peace and harmony requires that we should be able to talk to each other honestly and dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect. All this costs us nothing but priceless. We should never tire to talk to one another as members of one family Uganda. However, it is important to recognize that members of our family have their peculiar needs and concerns which should be seriously attended to. That is how our family can be kept happy and prosperous.

Take the theme of today’s conference: The Question of Federalism for Uganda. It is a very old issue which was partially resolved in the 1962 constitution. I say partially resolved because this system of governance did not embrace the whole of Uganda. This was a major weakness which independent Uganda should have resolved a long time ago by creating a uniform system of federal governance throughout Uganda. It is clear from the findings of the Odoki constitutional review commission that the overwhelming majority wanted to have that system of governance in Buganda and sixty percent outside Buganda. That was the authentic voice of the people. Why deny them that right?

I am happy that you deemed it worthy to discuss a very old question in Uganda. We should not tire of debate because debates are liberating and good for the soul. It took a long time to build democracies in the west; I have no illusions about this. It will take us time to build genuine democratic institutions here, but I hope at the end of the day, people will see their aspirations to fruition. Thank you for your erudite deliberations.

I now declare Buganda Conference 2009 closed.

An irate USA based muganda requested us to publish his paper on Federo, which he claims was censored by a Mmengo official whom he trusted to pass the document to the Buganda Conference organizer, Owek. Apollo Makubuya. Mr. Sam Galiwango claims that his schoolmate, who is now a Buganda government official, promised to pass the Luganda paper on to the organizers and ask them to respond to the author with more details about presenting  at the Buganda Conference on December 17, 2009. 

Mr. Galiwango’s email says: “My schoolmate and long term friend is now one of Kabaka’s ‘bakungu’. He lied to me that he had passed my paper to Owekitiibwa Makubuya and that I should wait for the official invitation to Buganda Conference. As time passed, I started to call my friend because I wanted to make travel arrangements to go to Buganda Conference but he would never pickup. By December 7th, I was so frustrated that I called a mutual friend in Kampala to find out if he knew anything. That is when I found out the painful truth.  Apparently, my schoolmate and friend, whom I have trusted for nearly 40 years,  trashed my paper on Federo and then started telling people that I was writing terrorist propaganda against Buganda. Can you imagine?”

The betrayed Muganda did not reveal the identity of the Mmengo official who double-crossed him. However, he requested us to print the paper, in the hope that many Baganda would still get a chance to read about his ideas this way. He concluded: “I think my friend is now more concerned about his stomach. As you will see when you read my paper, my message is simply that the ‘Federo’ slogan is a smoke screen – Federo cannot help Buganda. The only way is to go for what Buganda knew for 800 years –  independence. Clearly, my friend has lost his loyalty to Buganda and I have lost the trust I had in him all these years. Please help me to publish my paper, so that his bad motives can be defeated.”

We print Mr. Galiwango’s paper (in Luganda) below:

Federo Tesobola Kuleeta Mazima na Bwenkanya Mu Nfuga Ya Buganda
By Samwiri Galiwango
Pa, USA

Enyanjula
Ssabasajja yayima mu Lubiri lwe e Mmengo omwaka guno 2009, nga avudde mu kulambula essaza lye erye Buvuma, nategeeza Obuganda nti, waliwo enfuga ez’ewulo nga Federo ne Regional Tier ezogelwaako, naye ekikulu kiri nti “ffe kyetwagaala ge mazima n’obwenkanya” mu ngeri abantu ba Buganda gyebafugibwaamu. Ebigambo bya Ssabasajja bino yabikusikamu amagezi mangi nnyo era byetaaga kunyonyola, kubanga n’abakungu be abamu balabika tebabitegeera.

Oluvanyuma lw’okunyonyereza n’okwebuuza mu bakugu mu byafaayo (history), eby’obufuzi (politics) n’eby’okulowooza (philosophy) abenjawulo tukakasa nti, ebigambo empewo za ba Jjajja ffe zebyateeka mu birowoozo bya Ssabalongo bitegeeza kimu: Abaganda tulina obutemalira nnyo ku ngombo (slogans) nga Federo, Regional Tier, n’ebilara ng’ebyo. Twesibe ku kinyusi kya “mazima n’abwenkanya.”

Naye manya nti mu byafaayo by’abantu bonna (human history), teri bantu bali bafunye mazima na bwenkanya (truth and justice) nga tebalina ddembe (freedom) ate era teli  ggwanga lyaali lifunye ddembe tuufu nga lisabye ssabe. Mu ngeri eyo, ba Jjaja ffe abalwaana ennyo okuzimba Buganda kirabika baayita mu Kabaka wafe Mutebi buterevu okutulabula nti Obuganda bujja kugwaawo okujjako nga ffe abaliwo kati twetegese okulwanirira eddembe lyaffe ery’omugundu, erinatutuusa ku mazima n’obwenkaya byetweetaaga.

Tusinziira ku nsonga ezo wagulu okwebuuza nti, ddala Federo (federal system) kye ki? Era esobola okuyamba Buganda mu mbeera eriwo kati mu Uganda?  Ye Federo ensabe obusabi esobola okuwa Abaganda eddembe  erinatutuusa ku mazima n’obwenkanya mu ngeri gyetufugibwaamu Kabaka waffe byayogerako?  Tuddamu n’okumelengula ebibuuzo bino mu lupapula luno.

Federo Kye Ki?
Federo (federal system of government) ekolebwa amawanga oba ebitundu ebyenjawulo (states), nga birina ensonga enkulu ezibigatta, nebitta omukago okwekolamu ensi emu n’okuteekawo gavumenti eyawakati, obuyinza obumu ne budda wakati ate obulala nebusigala mu mu gavumenti ezebitundu. Ebyafaayo by’eby’obufuzi mu nsi ezenjawulo (world political history) biraga nti emisingi egikola Federo enyweevu mubaamu okufanya olulimi, eby’obuwangwa ebifanagana, okufananya empisa, ebitundu okufananya obutonde, okufananya eddiini, okubeera mu ssa erimu ery’ebyenfuna n’obuyigirize. Oluusi, n’okubeera n’ebizibu oba abalabe ebifaanana kiyinza okuyamba Federo. Mu bimpimpi, Federo eba nga omukwaano ogutandikira mu kuss’ekimu, gegusajjuka era ne gufuuka omukago.

Obubonero Obulaga Nti Federo Tejja Kukola

Waliwo obubonero obw’enkukunala obuyinza okulaga oyo aba ataddeyo omwooyo nti embeera eriwo tesobola kukiriza Federo kumalako. Ebyafaayo by’ebyobufuzi biraga nti Federo ezisinga okulema z’eezo ezitandika nga mu begatta mulimu abakakibwa. Anti guba nga mukwaano mukake era oyo akakibwa bitera okuggwa nga aliko obuvune, awamu n’obusungu. Federo ezisinga okuba ez’etututumu mu kubonyabonya abantu n’okuyiwa omusaayi omungi ennyo mwemuli eya Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Nigeria, East and West Pakistan,  awamu n’eya Uganda eya 1962.

Ebyokulabirako Bya Federo Eza Nnamaddala
Federo ezimanyiddwa enkukutivu mu nsi yonna mwemuli eya Girimani (Germany), eya America (USA), eya Canada, eya Switzerland awamu ne ya Buyindi (India). Wewaawo muzino zonna, waliwo enjawulo mu bitundu ebizikola, olusi ziri mu diini, obuwangwa, enimi, n’obugagga. Ekikulu kwekuba nti enjawukana zino si zamanyi kimala okulemesa ebibagatta. Oja kusanga Federo zino enzigumivu nga zirina enfuga eya democracy, era teziguminkiriza ba nakyemalira (dictators). Mu zonna, gavumenti eyawakati yekola ku by’okwerinda kw’ensi, ensonga z’amamawanga ag’ebweeru, emisango ejiyingiramu state ebiri oba okusingawo n’ensonga endala enkulu nga zikwaata ku state ebiri oba okusingawo. Obuyinza obukola ku nsonga ez’omunda mu ku buli kitundu, busigala mu bitundu (states). Muno mubaamu poliisi (police), emisango egiteyingizaamu state ndala, ebyenjigiriza (education), eby’obulamu (health), eby’ettaka, (land administration), n’ebirala.

Ekyokuyigirako Kya Federo Ayagwa:  Soviet Union
Mu Soviet Union, aba Communist bakakaka amawanga (states) nga Estonia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia n’amalala okubeera mu Federo ey’empaka nga abantu baago tebeyagaridde. Baatekawo enkola eya Communist Movement nga mu Uganda bwemuliimu NRM, era nga emirimu emirungi ne contract za business enene okubifuna olina kubeera wa Movement. Naye olw’okuba nti enjawulo mu butonde, ediini, obuwangwa, amadiini n’ebikula by’abantu mu mawanga gano byaali byamaanyi nnyo, Soviet Union yatagulukuka.  Gavumenti yawakati okuwalana n’okusosola mu mawanga, n’okunyaga ettaka n’obugagga bw’ebitundu ebokakibwa byafuuka namuginga eyasuula Federo eno nga ekyali nto ddala.

Ekyokuyigirako Kya Federo Efungamye:   Nigeria
Nigeria ekyaali Federo ne leero naye nga ekeesa lukya nga nkoko ya mutamivu. Abangereza baakaka amawanga agatakwatagana okwegatta okukola Nigeria okuva nga October 1960. N’okutusa leero entaalo ezaava mu kukakibwa kuno zikyayinda. Olutalo lwa Biafra ng’egezaako okwekutula ku Nigeria mu 1966-1967 lwafiramu nkumi na nkumi naye ne lero bikumi ebifa buli mwaaka nga aba Igbo bakyagezaako okulwanyiisa amagye ga gavumenti eyawakati olw’okubalyazaamanya n’okubasosola.

Ate waliwo entalo ez’edini nkumu kubanga mu mambuka ga Nigeria esingayo Basiramu ate mu maserengeta n’ebayo ba Bakulisitaayo n’abasamize. State za Nigeria ezimu zifugirwa mu mateeka ga busiramu aga Sharia, ate nga mu ndala atanywa mwenge bewuunya ekimuguddeko.

Enjawukana mu nimi, eby’enfuna, obuwangwa bya maanyi nnyo era Abanigeria abamu omuntu gwebasinga okutiira ddala kunsi ye Munigerai munaabwe. Mu ngeri y’emu Abanigeria bangi ekintu kyebasinga okunyagisa essanyu eringi ze sente z’omuwi w’omusolo Omunigeria. Ekidirira kwekubba obululu awamu n’okukola empapula ne sente eby’ebichupuli

Ebyaafayo Bya Federo Mu Uganda
Federo ya Uganda eya 1962 y’emu kuzaali zisinze okutandikibwa ku musingi omunafu ennyo. Ekisooka, abegatta okukola Federo bali balina enjawulo mpitirivu obungi. Buganda, Bunyoro, Tooro ne Ankole gali mawanga agetongodde ate nga gayimiridde ku missing gy’obwakabaka. Buganda ne Bunyoro zali zibaddewo okumala emyaaka egissuka 800 buli limu. Abantu baago nga balina ekikula kya Bantu group era nga bogera enimi ezifanana. Abakiga bali bamaze byaasa nga tebafugibwa Kabaka wamanyi. Abasoga, nabo bali mu kikula kya Bantu group, bali bafugibwa baami abanafu ddala era y’ensonga lwaki Kyabazinga wa Busoga eyasooka yali Muganda, Semei Kakakungulu. Abagisu n’Abasamya nabo bali mu Bantu group naye nga tebaalina bwakabaka era nga bafugibwa baami ba byaalo.

Abakaramoja bo balinga Abamasayi be Kenya. Federo ya Uganda weyatandikira nga Abakaramoja bali mu kwediima kubanga gavument eya wakati yali ebagaana okugenda mu kibuga e Moroto nga bali bukunya era n’okunyaga abakazi awamu n’ente mu ntalo zaabwe n’Abatulukana be Kenya ezabuuli mwaaka. Abakaramojja okuyita obwerere ate nga bo Abaganda tebalya nga tebanaabye mu ngalo y’emu ku nsonga omugenzi Michael Kintu, eyali Katikiiro mu 1960, zeyawa lwaaki Buganda yalina okugaana okuyingira mu Uganda era esigaale gwanga ery’etadde.  Yagamba nti, wakiri obwa Katikkiro okumusuba naye yali tasobola kuwagira Federo egatta abantu abataliko kakwaate kona mu butonde, okujjako okuba nti ffena Abazungu batufugako.

Wadde abantu ba Uganda abasigaddewo baali bagunjufu okusingako katono ku Bbakaramoja,  naye era Buganda teyabalinaako kakwaate ka butonde kona. Abacooli, Abalango, Abalugwaala, Abateeso, Abajaphadola (abamannya gatandika be ‘O’) tebalina kintu kibakwaaganya na Buganda mu butonde. Era y’ensonga lwaaki buli Uganda lwebadde n’abavuzi abava engulu abantu bano balaze obukambwe bungi nnyo eri Abaganda.

Okuwunzika, Federo ya Uganda eya 1962 yali tesobola kukola kubanga teyalina wadde ekisanyizo ekimu kw’ebyo byetulaba mu nsi nga India, America, Canada oba Switzerland. Yali yakukaka Baganda okwegatta n’abantu  abatali bagunjufu ate nga baavu. Era kyeyava esatulukuka my myaaka nga esatu gyokka Banamawanga nebatutwaala mu buddu n’obuwambe mwetufugirwa nakati.  Okuva mu 1962 tewali kintu kya nsonga Buganda kyeyali efunye okuva mu Uganda. Kwekugamba, Federo ya 1962 Buganda yagitwaala mu mbeera ya kunyagibwa na kunyigibwa.

Buganda Teyeetaaga Federo Mu Uganda Ya Leero
Kirina okujjukirwa nti mu 1960-1961, omulamwa gwa Buganda gwaali kwefuga nga ensi eyotongodde era n’entekateeka zali zitandise okugulawo ebitebe eb’yebweeru (embassies) mu London, Washington DC, Cairo n’awalala. Ekyalemesa be bakungu ba Buganda abamu, naddala mu Mmengo, abataatunula wala nebanyigiriza nti “nyama ntono, okayana ekuli mu nkwaawa” (compromise). Bazukulu babamu kubakungu abo kati balya mu kasasiro wa Banamawanga.

Mu mbeera eriwo kati mu Buganda ne Uganda, kyelaga kyokka nti Federo Buganda gyeyinza okufuna leero ate eba mbi nnyo okusinga n’eya 1962. Anti kati Mmengo Federo gyenoonya ya kumala kwegayirira balabe baffe nga Abanyoro, Abacooli, Abalaalo n’Abakiga bakirize okugituwa.

Ebitabo ebitukuvu bitugamba nti, “Abamu balina amaaso naye tebalaba, balina amatu naye tebawulira.” Naye ffe tulowooza nti kiri mumusana nti Banamawanga bonna mu Uganda, mpozzi okujjako Abatoro, tebagala Buganda kubeera ya maanyi.  Amazima gali nti kuba kwelimba na butitiizi okugamba abaana n’abazukulu baffe nti Buganda esobola okufuna Federo eyeyagaza mu Uganda ya leero, nga tuyita mu kusomesa (“okwegayirira”)  Banamawanga abatuwalana. Mu byafaayo, Kabaka waffe amazima n’obwenkanya bye yatukutiira tewali bantu bali babituuseko nga bayita mu kusomesa na kwegayirira abalabe baabwe.

Olwo Tukole Ki?
Tumaze okwanjula bwiino n’ensonga lwaaki Federo tesobola kukola mu Uganda. Federo ya 1962 yali nnungiko kubanga Buganda teyayita mu kwegayirira okugifuna. Ate Banamawana bali tabanaba kunyaga bintu bya Buganda nga mailo 9,000, ettaka ly’embuga, ebibira awamu n’ebizimbe. Embeera eriwo kati mbi nnyo kubanga ne Katikkiro wa Buganda musuubuzi era nga ebyenfuna ye byesigamye ku mirimu gya kuzimbira gavumenti eyawakati. Bwegutyo, ne ba minisita mu Government ya ssabasajja abasukka 50% nabo basubuuzi oba bana byabufuzi by Uganda. Ekirala kiri nti Federo ya 1962 teyatesebwaako mu nkukutu. Naye kati Mmengo yakifuula muze okuteesa n’abalabe ba Buganda mu nkukutu nebakomawo kututegeeza butegeeza ebyavuddeyo.

Kyetuva tuwunzika nga tugamba nti, okusookera ddala, Katikkiro wa Buganda asaana yetondere Ssabasajja n’Obuganda bwonna olw’okulemwa okutukiriza emirimu gye era n’obutabuulira Ssabasajja mazima nti mu mbeera eno eriwo, Buganda tesobola kufuna Federo ya nnamaddala.  Ekiddilira, abakungu be Mmengo batandike okubuliira Ssabasajja n’abantu ba Buganda amazima ku nsonga ya Federo. Nga mukadde wange omu abeera e  New York bweyanyinnyola emabegako, Buganda yali nsi eyetadde (independent nation) okumala emyaaka nga 800 n’okusoba. Federo ya Buganda yaliwo emyaaka egitawera 4, okuva mu October 1962 okutuuka mu May 1966, era neefa. Okuva mu 1966, emyaaka 43, Buganda efugirwa mu buwambe na kunyagwa (occupation).

Ekubo etuufu Buganda lyesaana okukwaata kwekuddayo kunfuga yaffe eyatukolera okumala emyaaka egisukka mu 800. Nga Katikkiro n’abakungu be Mmengo ababadde bawabya Obuganda ne Kabaka waffe nti Federo ey’okulupapula (theoretical) nnungi bamaze okwetonda, ekiddilira kwe kusomesa abantu ba Buganda nti tuli mu buwambe (occupation) okutandika embagirawo. Ekyo kiddirirwe okuyigiriza abantu baffe obukodyo bw’okulwaanirira okwejja mu buwambe.

President Museveni’s propaganda team were wise to bar all Uganda TV stations from broadcasting the proceedings at the NRM’s independence day celebrations on October 9, 2009 at Kololo Airstrip.  That is because, this year’s ceremony saw the smallest crowd of ordinary Ugandans in the 47 years since the British granted independence to Uganda on October 9, 2009. Leaving out the many security or government officials and about 60 boda boda’s, approximately 900 ordinary people attended. Notably, even with this small crowd, the majority wore yellow NRM party tee shirts which were given out free in poor areas to entice people to come to the event.

Conspicuously absent were foreign dignitaries from Libya and neighboring countries. Even the so called cultural leaders, who Museveni supports financially, stayed home – Omukama of Toro, Omukama of Bunyoro, Kyabazinga of Busoga, Omorimor of Teso and Rwot of Acholi. The only non-government VIPs present were a few diplomats accredited to Uganda, junior officials from Kenya, Tanzania and Southern Sudan plus Mr. Museveni’s own Ssabaluri Mwogeza Butamanya (coincidentally, it literally translates to  ”the one who speaks with ignorance”) and Sabanyala Kimeze.

State House Panic and Propaganda Plan

On October 7, 2009, Mr. Museveni’s statehouse received reliable information that over 10,000 people had greeted Kabaka Mutebi in Mityana (Ssingo county), on his way to the Buganda independence event in Mubende, Buwekula county. They knew right away that Kabaka’s crowds could embarrass Museveni at the Uganda independence celebrations on the 9th. So, they turned their attention to controlling the news about Kabaka Mutebi’s activities.

According to our sources in Mr. Meseveni’s ISO, the plan which was hatched by Tamale Mirundi, Robert Kobushenga, Kabakumba Matsiko and a certain Mafabi included 5 main elements: (a) Minimize the crowd in any pictures of Kabaka Mutebi’s crowds if shown in government newspapers. (b) Use physical barriers to force the crowd at Kololo into a relatively small but longish area just below Upper Kololo Terrace road so that the numbers can look big in photos taken from a low angle; (c) Have Mr. Museveni enter the ceremonies through the crowd area, so that we can take photos showing many people around the president, (d) force all major media outlets to broadcast the events at Kololo, using a single audio/video feed from the government’s Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), and (e) strengthen enforcement of the rules which Godfrey Mutabazi had placed on radio stations, barring any praise of Kabaka or Buganda.

The Monitor Does Not Cooperate

On October 8 and 9, New Vision and Bukedde reported on Kabaka’s tour of Buwekula but omitted any mention of Buganda Independence celebrations, only referring to bulungi bwa nsi (national service) but without translating it to English. Also, they have avoided any picture which show the huge crowds that the Kabaka attracted in Mubende or Mityana. The crowd at the main Mubende celebrations was approximately 25,000 people.

In a sign that the Aga Khan’s The Monitor newspaper editors may be starting to rethink their anti-Buganda sentiments, they defied Museveni and published a photo showing Kabaka Mutebi with thousands of his subjects jubilating around him. Furthermore, they published parts of the Kabaka’s tough “47 Years Wasted” speech, although with incorrect translation in some parts (see “Kabaka Mutebi Disowns Katikkiro’s Apologetic Tone“).

Ghost NRM Independence Day Celebrations

On October 9, Mr. Museveni’s worst fears came to pass. Despite the efforts of his propaganda people, the 900 or so crowd was to small for anyone to ignore. However, state house forced WBS TV, NTV, and NBS to suspend regularly scheduled programming and transmit the UBC TV feed from Kololo live for over 5 hours. And the UBC camera were continuously glued on the marching troops and the VIPs, skipping the miserable crowd. And in a sign that Museveni is losing confidence, he gave his shortest independence day speech ever even though the event lasted from 10:00AM to 3:30 AM.

Uncharacteristically, Museveni read his independence day speech strictly from the script, without any of his trademark long strays to abuse or threaten Baganda, aid donors and others. Also, although he had been fully briefed about Kabaka Mutebi’s statement that Buganda has gained nothing out of 47 years of independence, the Uganda warlord did not mention the subject at all (see “Kabaka Mutebi Disowns Katikkiro’s Apologetic Tone“).

Museveni’s speech included nothing he has not said over the last few years.

• He boasted of his record on education and raised eyebrows when he interpreted the rampant unemployment in Uganda as a sign of his successes, saying: “We no longer have to be frustrated by these people who don’t want to work. You find a problem person somewhere, you act, get rid of that person and get another one because they are many here now.”
• He pledged, as he has done numerous since 1986, that he will fight corruption. But immediately warned that the war on corruption, which is now much worse now than in 1986, will not be won overnight but through a protracted struggle. This time, he spared judges and the police and blamed accountants, auditors and accounting officers for the persistent corruption. However, he promised his outwardly bored audience that he has new army of young “clean” accountants and auditor to lead the war on graft. He did not mention where the got their education or earned their professional experience.
• He made the “obvious” observation that recent oil discoveries would increase self-reliance and make Uganda less dependent on foreign aid.
• Mr. Museveni (once again) revealed that problem of theft of drugs is a serious problem in the health sector. He did not mention the status of the corruption charges against his ministers and NRM stalwarts Michael Mukula and Jim Muwhezi.

Museveni’s Colonel’s on Empty Stomachs

The otherwise dull event could not end without typical Ugandan breakdown. The man in charge of the parade at the very long ceremonies, UPDF’s Col. Peter Ekweru, fainted and fell on his face due to hunger and exhaustion. Sources could not confirm how a whole colonel could command an important national parade on a empty stomach.

Museveni’s NRM USA organization will, until it collapses, remember September 26, 2009 as a bloody day. Pressure from American Baganda forced their primary funder, Uganda’s ruler, Yoweri Museveni keep away from their 2009 NRM Forum in Boston.  The pressure came from the widely publicized plans by Baganda to demonstrate at the venue and the persistence of the same Kabaka’s subjects who came to the venue even after mixed messages about Museveni’s attendance. The Baganda came from New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Canada and elsewhere.

An estimated 200 Baganda , under the eye of the Boston Police, stood  across the street from the entrance to the Marriott Copley Place Hotel and loudly demonstrated from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.  They held  up placards that, among other things,  accused Museveni of genocide, stated that Buganda is an occupied country and demanded the release of Baganda political prisoners. Throughout the over 5 hours of demonstration, Baganda kept singing “Kitiibwa kya Buganda”, praising Kabaka Mutebi and chanting slogans like “Akaalo ka Buganda keeko, akalo kaliko nannyiniko”, “Tulina Kabaka, tulina ennyondo”, “We want change, Museveni must go!” and so on. Curious car drivers kept honking and showing ‘V” signs, which kept the demonstrators energized.

Our contact within  NRM USA admitted that the Baganda demonstration caused the NRM Forum to flop but would not comment of where Museveni was hiding.  Speaking on condition anonymity the source told us that between 25 and 30 people attended the event.  And when pressed, the source admitted that this number included over 15 organizers, government officials and spouses. Interestingly, the source, who is usually very defensive of  Museveni, said “no comment” when asked if the Uganda president has been scared away by the Baganda. However, the source agreed that Buganda Post was “in the ball park” when we reported that president Museveni had decided to leave early and skip Boston, and then changed his mind. When we brought up the feet pain issues, the source only asked: “Where do you get that nonsense from?”.

A prominent Muganda analyst based in New York told us that there is no doubt in his mind that Baganda demonstrators in New York and Boston combined with the Obama snub shook up Museveni.  The analyst explained: “You have to remember that throughout the Bush years, Museveni enjoyed open access to the US State House. For some reason he has not gotten used to the idea that Bush left, so he assumed that Obama would meet him personally. Thanks to Johnny Carson’s [US Undersecretary of State for Africa] intimate knowledge of Museveni’s regime, Obama administration put together a well-planned snub, which included ensuring that Obama’s TV images showed him speaking to the Uganda’s corrupt strongman for less than 5 seconds and immediately turning his back to him.

Our analyst adds: “In meeting Moammar Gadaffi, Museveni was hoping to make America  jealous. Now, if Obama’s administration fell for I would be shocked. I understand that Museveni had some meetings with Balaalo students under the secret state house scholarship and got a briefing on the progress of a program by Ruhakana Rugunda and his wife to recruit Baganda women in the USA.  However, the only thing he seriously looked forward to was holding court at the NRM Forum in Boston. In scaring  Museveni away from Boston and sabotaging the forum, the USA Baganda exposed his cowardice. However, very much like a man who gets fired from his job and runs home beat his children, expect the sulking Museveni to return to Uganda and take his frustration on Kabaka and Baganda, to revenge the humiliation he has suffered. The interesting part is that Buganda will get even stronger as no one can claim the ‘twebaka ku tulo’ and ‘Tumukwaate mpola’ crap.”

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.