On February 7, 2010, the SMS based Ekiba Kibe program which is broadcast on Free Buganda Radio reported that Beti Kamya had been endorsed by  Katikkiro JB Walusimbi to campaign for Federo. The same program then asked Ms. Kamya to explain what the Katikkiro’s endorsement means.  The presenter,  Robert Kabuye of Boston tells Ms. Beti Kamya in Luganda: “MP owa Lubaga North, … Beti Kamya, watugambye eggulo nti wagenze ewa Walusimbi Katikkiro n’akwendosiinga ogende oyigirize Federo… Katikkiro oyo yayimirira mu lukungaana lwa Baganda nagamba nti Abaganda tuleme kweyisa nga bajulizi. Kati nnyabo, MP, gwe olina bukakafu ki nti taveyo naggamba nti oleme kwefula mujulizi?” (“Lubaga North MP, … Beti Kamya, yesterday you told us that you went to Katikkiro Walusimbi and he endorsed you to go teach Federo…. That same Katikkiro told a Baganda meeting that we, Baganda, must stop sacrificing for our nation as if we want to become martyrs. Now, Ms. MP, how do we know that he will not come out and similarly tell you not to sacrifice.”

Kabuye adds: “Bino ebitu tetwelabira. Abaganda aberabira baafa!” (“On these matters, we shall not forget.  The Baganda who forget died a long time ago.”)

Click on Ekiba_Kibe07Feb10 to listen to Kabuye’s full February 7, 2010 broadcast in Luganda.

Thanks to pressure from ordinary Baganda and politicians who are scared of losing votes in Buganda, Uganda’s life president Yoweri Museveni, would like to reopen Buganda’s CBS FM Radio now. However the prospects of this happening appear poor, given the growing number of power centers that oppose it and his own crude stubbornness.

Museveni erected the first hurdle when he decided to set what many observers consider unreasonable conditions, for rescinding the illegal closure of the most popular radio station in Uganda. The ridiculous conditions, even by the standards of donor governed Uganda, included firing all presenters who annoyed Ugandan president in the past, moving the radio station headquarters to a location more agreeable to the NRM government, only airing cultural programs and, most incredibly, dropping legal cases that CBS employees filed against government.

According to local press reports, the Buganda minister of information, Owek. Medard Lubega Ssegona, reacted swiftly, saying in Luganda: “Tetuyinza kuwaayo Bwakabaka  batuweemu leediyo. Obukwakkulizo bwa gavumenti bumenya Konsitityusoni n’amateeka amalala.” (“We cannot surrender our kingdom in exchange for a radio station. The [NRM] government’s demands are illegal.”). At the same time, a sources in Mmengo told us that Katikkiro Walusimbi and other businessmen in Buganda Government want to negotiate with Museveni on the conditions but are simply overwhelmed by the other forces.

The most formidable force against opening of CBS under Museveni’s arbitrary conditions is the Baganda masses and the Bataka (clan elders). This group, which also includes CBS Fans Club and the more nationalistic members of Buganda government, misses the radio station most and is putting most pressure on Museveni to re-open it. However, they are strongly opposed to the reopening if it will lead to changes in their radio station’s format or presenters. Although Kabaka Mutebi is quiet on the issue, word on the Baganda street is that he is fully with his subjects and the Bataka (as Ssabataka, Kabaka Mutebi is part of the Bataka).

Also strongly opposed for the reopening are Baganda members of the Ugandan opposition political parties, DP, FDC and UPC. Most of these political types would like CBS to remain closed until the 2011 elections to maximize Baganda anger and anti-NRM feelings. Joyce Nabbosa Sebugwaawo is a strong activist in the Bakiga/Banyankore led FDC and she quoted by the local press saying: “Gavumenti ekole ky’eyagala bwe baliyagala baligizzaako. Obukwakkulizo bwe batutaddeko tebujja kukola era tubugaanyi. Banaffe oba basazeewo kukola nga bannakyemalira, katubaleke bagende mu maaso.” (“Let the government do whatever they want. Whenever they decide they can reopen it. The conditions they have imposed are impractical and we rejected them. Our colleagues have chosen to be dictators, we will let them go ahead.”)

Others opposed to the CBS opening, but possibly working independently, are disgruntled NRMs who feel betrayed by Museveni. One example is Janat Mukwaya, who, according to state house sources, Museveni is anxious to drop. Mrs. Mukwaya reportedly knows this and she has already decided not to run for re-election in 2011. But she is privately afraid about her future, including the personal safety of her family because of the anti-Baganda crimes she has committed on behalf of  the Museveni who is now dumping her. Another one is Museveni’s vice president Gilbert Bukenya, who is seeing red over the not so subtle murder of his son followed by the the highly public ridicule by Museveni and Tamale Mirundi over the CHOGOM car scandal. These two and other disillusioned NRMs, reportedly now have individual “Ffena tufiirwe” (“If I lose everyone must lose”) agendas in connection with CBS Radio.  In general, they are pushing for CBS to remain closed so that hatred for Museveni and Banyankore in Buganda may increase. Short term agendas.

According  to the January 22, 2010 Ekiba Kibe program, broadcast on the SMS based Freed Buganda Radio, Betty Kamya, the popular Muganda politician will attend today’s Buganda liberation conference in Boston, USA.  Mr. Kabuye told his listeners that Betty Kamya,  Lubaga North MP in a Museveni’s parliament and founder of the Uganda Federal Alliance,would be the keynote speaker at the Buganda independence conference. The conference is organized by Ggwanga Mujje Boston and has attracted delegates from Canada, California, New York, Washington DC, Washington State,  Uganda, Europe and other places.

In a related development, during the above broadcast, Mr. Kabuye and his studio guest, one Mr. Lennard Muwonge Mukasa of New Jersey, told the listeners that  Brother Panas Bugembe and the  NRM’s Ruhakana Rugunda had quickly organized a “free food and drinks” party to pull away youths from Baganda meetings that are taking place in Boston and New York ( Buganda Post has seen an email indicating that the Ggwangamujje NY/NJ association general  meeting is also taking place this Saturday in the New York area).  In effect, Bugembe and Rugunda are using  Uganda taxpayer money to bribe youths with beer and food so that they stay away from Baganda events.  Buganda Post will inform our readers about the Baganda who are accepting the Bugembe/bribes bribes and attending the NRM function.

To listen to Mr. Kabuye and Mr. Muwonge in their the  January 22, 2010 Ekiba Kibe broadcast, click on Ekiba_Kibe22Jan10A. Apparently, at the time of the broadcast Mr. Kabuye and Mr. Muwonge were returning from Buganda independence demonstrations in Washington DC. Mr. Muwonge indicated that the Washington demonstrations has received strong media coverage, including from Voice of America. Another Buganda liberation demonstration will take place on January 26, 2010, the commemorate the armed occupation of Buganda by Balaalo led Ugandans. It will be at the UN headquarters in New York.

The Free Buganda Radio, which is broacasts to cell phones using multimedia messages (MMS), agrees with Abazzukulu ba Buganda that, the kingdom has no legal or other obligations to Uganda (see “Buganda Has No Legal Obligations To Uganda, Abazzukulu Clarify“). Robert Kabuye, who presents Ekiba Kibe program, hosted one John Mayanja, whom he introduced as the Chairman wa Ggwanga Mujje Boston. Mr. Mayanja went on to announce that Boston Baganda were to hold a Buganda liberation meeting on January 23, 2010. In the rest of the program, Mr. Mayanja and Mr. Kabuye explained that, in 1966, Uganda’s Milton Obote broke a contract with Buganda when he overthrew the Ugandan constitution. As a result, Buganda no longer part of the Uganda system and is not obliged to deal with Uganda. Mr. Mayanja urged Baganda to wake up and rtake charge of their future by liberating their Buganda.

We received the January 19, 2010 Ekiba Kibe program around 4:30 AM on January 20, 2010. It has been posted on Buganda Post just over 30 minutes afterwards. To listen to the full Ekiba Kibe program in Luganda click on Ekiba_Kibe19Jan10B.

The January 6, 2010 Ekiba Kibe program, which is broadcast to cellular telephones via multi-media message service (MMS), has accused Mmengo of incompetence and appealed to Baganda to realize that they do not need to rely on Mmengo to fight for Buganda’s rights and freedom. Boston based Robert Kabuye, who presented the Luganda program, challenged Mmengo to explain why they allowed themselves to be hoodwinked and humiliated by Museveni and his half-brother Salim Saleh over the land bill. He questioned their seriousness and sincerity when, after the bill had been passed and signed, they claim that they were still examining it.

Kabuye tells Katikkiro Walusimbi and others with like minds: “Abantu abali e Mmengo abatulyaamu enkwe, tukooye. Enough is enough! Tukoye abantu abakolelera Katonda n’embuto zaabwe…. Lwaaki mututunda nga tulaba?” (”To those of you in Mmengo, who are betraying us, we are fed up. Enough is enough! We are fed up with people who work for ‘God and my stomach’…. How can you betray us in broad daylight?”).  And to the ordinary citizens of Buganda Kabuye says: “Temutya, temugwaamu maanyi, ffe tujja. Tujja gawanye! Tujja kununula Buganda mu mateeka.” (Do not fear or  get discouraged, we are coming. We are coming in full force! We shall liberate Buganda, legally.”)

Yesterday’s Ekiba Kibe program also gives some brotherly advice to  Museveni’s vice president, Gilbert Bukenya: “Era Bukenya tukusaasidde. Tuwe ebyaama nga tebanakutta. Kati ogwo mulambo ogutambula. Bagenda kutta esaawa yonna!” (“We are sorry for you Bukenya. Give us [Museveni’s] secrets before they kill you. Because he is now a walking dead.  You will be killed any time”).

To listen to Mr. Kabuye’s full broadcast click on Ekiba_Kibe06Jan10B .

Last weekend, during the burial ceremony for former Bishop of Masaka, Adrian Ddungu, two Buganda ministers squirmed like children and begged Uganda dictator, Yoweri Museveni, to reopen CBS radio. The two were Jolly Lutaaya (with VP Bukenya and Katikkiro Walusimibi in photo), minister of Local Government, and Charles Peter Mayiga who holds the Information portfolio.  The funeral was in Masaka, Buddu.

Lutaaya appeared to have lost control of himself when he told Museveni: “Mr. President, our people say to you that they have learnt a lesson, and are begging you to switch their radio, CBS, back on.” Owek. Lutaaya went on to promise the Ugandan warlord that, if the people were cheering in response to his (Lutaaya’s) mention of CBS, then they would certainly be forever grateful after Museveni reopened the CBS FM radio.

Unsure if he had impressed the now smiling Museveni, Lutaaya, who appeared fully sober, went on to equate the Buganda nation and her Kabaka to children with the Uganda dictator as their father. To the dismay of many Baganda, Owek Lutaaya told Museveni: “Since you are the father of our nation, we beg you to treat us the way a father treats a child who has erred. Please punish but do not kill.” Museveni is the 9th president of Uganda and took power in 1986, a good 24 years after Uganda was declared and independent nation by the British.

Supporting Mr. Lutaaya, Owek. Peter Mayiga, who represented Katikkiro Walusimbi, pleaded with the then belligerent-looking Museveni to kindly listen to people’s requests. Museveni, who has in the past called Mayiga and other Mmengo officials “dishonest hyenas”, took advantage of the situation to further humiliate the two Mmengo officials. He told the crowd: “I have worked with the Kabaka from 1981, in London and through the liberation war. Then people like this Mayiga come to deceive you.” Museveni repeated his familiar claims that Buganda issues can only be solve through direct negotiations between him and Kabaka Mutebi.

The head of the NRM occupation government went on to call himself Buganda’s best friend and whine that, in its 10 years on the air, CBS FM never broadcast anything good about him. Amusingly, when he asked the crowd, “Has CBS ever broadcast anything good about me?”, the people shouted back in unison, “Yes!”

Jolly Lutaaya is one of the longest serving ministers in Buganda government. He is a wealthy real estate owner, trader and contractor. He, reportedly, became suddenly wealthy in the 1980’s, after getting fired by a major international company amid accusations of embezzlement. Like Katikkiro Walusimbi, Owek. Lutaaya’s Marvel Road Contractors heavily relies on government construction contracts. During the preparations for Kabaka Mutebi’s wedding Mr. Lutaaya was removed from the organizing committee and the Buganda cabinet after his was caught by palace guards (abambowa) driving away with building materials that Baganda donated to the Kabaka. He bounced back as minister by offering major funding to Mmengo and with support from then Katikkiro Joseph Mulwaanyamuli. Owek. Jolly Lutaaya is a member of the “Rich People’s Association” (Bagagga Bagalana), which is dominated by former convicts, money launderers, smugglers, and loan shacks. Sudhir Ruparelia, Godfrey Kirumira and Karim Hirji are some of the other well known members.

Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga has also been a Buganda official for at least 10 years. He, John Katende and Apollo Makubuya assisted former Katikkiro Mulwaanyamuli to develop the infamous Regional Tier agreement with Museveni in the late 1990s. In July 2004, members of Museveni’s sate house leaked evidence to the press that Mr. Mayiga, a lawyer with Buwuule and Mayiga Advocates, was involved in a Shs 800m bribe that Museveni paid to Mmengo to kill a Federo demo. In 2008 Owek. Mayiga was kidnapped by Uganda police, along with Betty Nambooze and Lubega Sseggona right after the First Buganda Conference. Curiously, Mr. Mayiga later admitted, he was well treated by the police and was never charged. On the other hand, Nambooze and Lubega were held under inhuman conditions and later charged with sedition and annoying Museveni.

Katikkiro JB Walusimbi’s efforts to convince Baganda that ,after more than 20 years of manipulation and iron-fist rule by the NRM government, their only option is to negotiate with Uganda’s warlords are starting to undermine the authority of his office.  Our sources in places as disparate as Nakulabye,  Masaka, Boston, New York and London all tell us that a growing number of Baganda are upset by Mr. Walusimbi’s undisguised efforts to show his loyalty to  Museveni, VP Gilbert Bukenya and the NRM occupation government.

On December 17, 2009, Owek. Walusimbi apologetically told the 2nd Buganda Conference, that “Buganda does not seek any type of special status” in response to demands by an Acholi, Mao, and a Munyankore cattle keeper, Kanyeihamba , that Baganda must first convince other Ugandans if they (Buganda) want Federo (see “Kabaka Mutebi and His Man Kyanjo Save Baganda Dignity At 2nd Buganda Conference” and “Katikkiro Walusimbi Tells Baganda, Stop Thinking Buganda Is Special”). Staying on message, two days later, Katikkiro Walusimbi told Buganda government workers at their end-of-year party that: “When fighting for Buganda’s freedom, you should not take the risk of becoming martyrs. We need to fight calmly.”

Since his appointment at Katikkiro, Mr. Walusimbi has not hidden his close relationship with the NRM government, especially Yoweri Museveni and VP Gilbert Bukenya. Indeed, early this year Ugandan warlord Museveni himself told a press conference: “We have no problem with Katikkiro Walusimbi … The Katikkiro is our man.”  Before September 2009, Mr. Walusimbi’s seemingly anti-Buganda actions were nearly always cancelled out by a highly tactical and excellently executed pro-Buganda campaign by committed Baganda nationalists on CBS FM Radio.  Walusimbi was no match for the dynamic team of Betty Nambooze, Lubega Ssegona, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, Daudi Mpanga, Hussein Kyango and others.

In the wake of the September 2009 NRM’s Kayunga massacre of Baganda who were protesting Museveni’s decision to bar Kabaka Mutebi from touring Bugerere county, the NRM closed down CBS FM Radio. That decision left Katikkiro Walusimbi with full control over what the public hears from Mmengo. He enjoys full access to NRM government media resources, from New Vision and Bukedde to Star FM and Bukedde FM.  All other media outlets in Uganda are barred from publishing any pro-Buganda messages, including those that praise the Buganda nation or Ssabasajja Kabaka, Mutebi II. But Mr. Walusimbi’s new found power over the Uganda’s media outlets seems to be coming at high cost to him personally and to Mmengo, the institution.   

A growing number of Baganda activists are choosing to go underground and are keeping their distance from Mmengo, convinced that the Katikkiro is Museveni’s top spy in the institution. In their view, Engr. JB Walusimbi, Peter Mayiga and Apollo Makubuya and their supporters have lost touch with the ordinary Baganda and alternative leadership is needed to deal with Buganda’s challenges.  More hope is being put on the likes Owek. Nsubuga Nsambu, Betty Nambooze and Hussein Kyanjo although they are also saddled with their continued active engagement in Uganda’s NRM dominated politics. 

It is against the above background that Baganda nationalists in the Diaspora taking on Walusimbi for what they see as his blatant betrayal of his office, for what they consider short-term financial gains.  Mr. Robert Kabuye of Boston who broadcasts on the widely popular SMS Radio program, Ekiba Kibe, spoke for many when he warned the Katikkiro to stop provocative anti-Buganda statements. In the 12/26/09 Ekiba Kibe Luganda program, Mr. Kabuye told the Katikkiro (excerpts): “Owek. Katikkiro … ggwe omuntu omu tosobola kutujjako Buganda. Abajulizi nabo baali Baganda ssebo….Tujja kulwanirira Obuganda. Oba ggwe bakuwadde kyebakuwa… ffe tetukyalina budde bwo! … Walusimbi, who are you? … Ffe tetulina kubeera nti Mmengo etumanyi okulwanirira Obuganda…” (“Owek Katikkiro … you, a single person, cannot take our Buganda from us. The martyrs were also Baganda sir … We are going to continue fighting for Buganda. If you have been bribed … we don’t have time for you! … Walusimbi, who are you? … We do not need to be known to Mmengo to fight for Buganda …”). Click on Ekibakibe_26Dec09A  to listen to Robert Kabuye’s full broadcast .

When we asked a leading Buganda analyst based  in New York to comment on the situation, he responded that Walusimbi’s behavior and the reaction it is eliciting from Baganda all over the world is typical of what happens when a nation is under occupation or captivity.  He explained: “Kabaka Mutebi has successfully overseen, especially with the help of Dan Muliika, a full re-emergence of the Buganda nation. Think about it, of the 6 or so million Baganda, at least 5 are 30 years are younger, unemployed, poor and are convinced that they are victims of a conspiracy among Banyankore, Bakiga, Rwandese, Indians and other foreigners to keep them in servitude. At the same time, thanks to Kabaka Mutebi’s steady hand, these young people know that they belong to a real nation, Buganda,  with a glorious history and legacy  worth defending.”

“On the other hand, everything the Museveni and his  NRM has done since 1986 was part of a long-term plan to impoverish and marginalize Baganda to the extent that most of them would eagerly seek other tribal identities.  Now that the opposite has happened and Buganda has become a stronger than it has ever  been since 1887 during Ssekabaka Muteesa I’s reign, it is automatic that we end up with an ‘occupied nation’ situation. That is why, over the last 2-3 years Museveni’s NRM has subconsciously adopted classic occupation force tactics. Similarly, Baganda are acquiring ever better occupation resistance skills, from street riots to underground operations, to propaganda machinery.  When you read about Nazi occupations across Europe, you will see mirror examples of collaborators like JB Walusimbi, appeasers like Peter Mayiga, business opportunists like some CBS Radio shareholders, those with divided-royalties like Baganda DPs, turncoats like Nsibambi and Robert Sebunya, infiltrators like Igiro Semajege,  traitors  like Bukenya and Ssekandi, and so on. 

“The message from Kabuye is only the first shot by outside Baganda that they might take command control of the struggle from Walusimbi and Mmengo.  In 1967 Mmengo was incompetent when it came to protecting Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa and the Namulondo of Buganda.  They lacked intelligence gathering/analysis and strategic planning skills and the same is true today. It appears that Mmengo should expect more challenge if Baganda in Diaspora agree with the masses at home  that the Mmengo of today is not up to the job.  Don’t be shocked if the signals for a future Buganda demonstrations come from Boston or New York. If I had the ear of Ssabasajja Kabaka, I would mention to him that, if he wishes, this may be a good time keep quiet and let you subjects do some work. Uganda’s pharaoh will one day have to let your people go. Ekikutte obudde kiributa!”

According to a Luganda email transmitted to us by Mr. Kitandwe, the Baganda nationalist organization, Bazzukulu ba Buganda, strongly oppose any negotiations between Buganda institutions and Museveni’s government under the current political environment in Uganda.  Bazzukulu base their opposition on the steady weakening Buganda has suffered since 1870, through the reckless adoption of foreign political ideologies by Mmengo. They say that it time to wake up and stop the damage.

Abazukulu argue that, at this time Buganda is in captivity and would only negotiate from a position of weakness. They describe the history that took Buganda from and being an independent nation down to her current “Occupied” status. They conclude that  negotiations with the occupying NRM regime are a bad idea because Buganda has nothing more to lose if they do not place. Yet they could expose Buganda to serious risk of manipulation. They itemize the following points:

• The current hype about negotiations is bait to get us tricked into accepting the enemy’s plans for us, as they have done to us many times in the past.
• We lose nothing if we spare ourselves from getting hoodwinked again.
• We lose nothing if we refuse to legitimize our enemy’s occupation rule over us.
• If we cannot find a solution, we must be willing to let other, future Baganda deal with it.
• We must not tie ourselves into a deadly knot that our grandchildren would never be able to undo.

 The full Luganda statement by Bazzukulu ba Buganda is reproduced below:

OKUTEESA KUNO TETULINA KYETUKUFUNAMU
Abazzukulu ba Buganda
December 24, 2009

 Tuyigire kubitutuuseeko

Wakati w’emyaaka 1870 ne 1888, Abaganda twawambagatira enzikiriza enzungu netuzissussa wezaali ziteekeddwa okukoma ng’enzikiriza. Obuwulize n’obugoberezi eri obwakabaka bwa Buganda obutukakatako twabugyayo netubuteeka mu madiini.

Kkajjampuni eyava mw’ekyo ate n’okuzzukuza  n’azzukuza, kwali ffe fenyini kukozesebwa bannanyini madiini ago okumaamulako Kabaka Mwanga II mu 1888. Olwokuba nga amadiini amagwira twagasussa ekifo ky’ago, gaatulwanaganya ffekanaffekka ebbanga eryo okuva mu 1888 okutuuka mu 1890.

Okugootaana kw’obuwulize bwaffe eri Nnamulondo, n’okulwanagana kwetwali tubaddemu mu ntalo z’amadiini okwaddirira byanaffuyiza ddala Buganda. Olwo omuzungu eyali atidde okwanganga  Buganda n’atuma Capt Lugard ajje amenye mujjenje ekkalu y’etwalire ekiwedde mu 1890 nga gugwako.

Buganda eyali enafuyiziddwa olw’okuva ku nkola entonde ey’ennono, teyalina kyakukola kirala okugyako okukkiriza Bungereza bye yali eyagala mu ndagaano ya 1890.

Omuze gw’okuwambagatira enkola engwira ezituleeterwa n’etutazipimira kkomo; gwayamba nyo era gwagondeza Abazungu omulimo gw’okutudyekadyeka nebatukkirizissa byebaali baagala netubateerako n’omukono. Ekyo kyekyaliwo mu 1890, 1892, 1893/4, ne 1900, mu ndagaano Lugard, Portal ne Johnson z’ebakkaka N’okudyekadyeka Abaganda.

Enkola y‘okudyekadyeka (“okuteesa”) baagyeyambisa nate okuzikiza olutalo l’wobwetwaze Ssekabaka Mutesa II lweyali akoleeza mu 1953; bwebaamala okumuwangangusa nebakakozesa ng’akakwakkulizo okutukkaka  okudyekebwadyekebwa mu “Ndagaano” ye Namirembe eya 1955, mwe baazukusiza embiranye z’amadiini e Mmengo nga bayita mu dimokulaase (kyabaangi) owekiboggwe eyakaka  Olukiiko lwa Buganda okulonda Katikiro.

Nate Abaganda bwe beefukulula nebattukiza okusaba obwetwaaze, omungereza yatutega akakiiko ka Lord Munster mbu kanoonya birowoozo byafe, gyekaamalira nga Munster azzizzaayo Abaganda mu “kuteesa” –okudyekebwadyekebwa okwaggweera e Lancaster ne ndagaano ya 1962 eyatukwenyakwenya n’etusuuza obwetwaze ng’etukookoonya Federo eyatukkirizisa obufuge mwetubonabonera

Tetulina kyetufiirwa

• Okuteesa okuyimbirirwa kugendererwamu kutudyekadyeka nga bwe bazze batukola; kutukkirizisa bufuge bwabwe tusseeko n’ekinkumu.
• Tetulina kyetufiirwa  nga tetugenze kutudyekadyeka.
• Tetulina kyetufiirwa ng’omulabe tetumuteereddeeko kinkumu kiraga nti tukkiriza obufuge bwetulimu.
• Kyetutasobodde kukola tukirekere Abaganda abaliddawo balitandikir’awo.
• Tetusiba kituttwa kirirema baliddawo kusumulula.

 Wangaala Buganda.

Awangaale Ssaabasajja Kabaka!

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.

This morning, a source in Boston forwarded a fresh broadcast  of Robert Kabuye’s Luganda Ekiba Kibe SMS program to us. The broadcast tells Baganda to wake up and start thinking  about Buganda first. Kabuye first tells his listeners about the recent demonstrations  in Washington DC and New York against Yoweri Museveni, the Uganda warlord and president. Kabuye observes that Baganda are alone in all recent demonstrations against Museveni because there are on the receiving end of Museveni’s oppression. He said: “They are oppressing us only because we are Baganda, because Buganda is our homeland and we are Baganda. Only if they could convince God to take us away from Buganda, then we would accept God to move us.”

In a charismatic loud voice Kabuye, points out that all Ugandan past and present rulers come to Buganda with nothing but go on to amass wealth by looting Buganda.  He concludes by saying: “Kati tulwanirira Buganda. Tusoke tweyambe, tuyambe abalala. Twabayamba, tebamatidde, tebatusanyukidde, tebatusiimye, batusasudde kutubonyabonya!” (“It is time to fight for Buganda. Let’s help ourselves before we help the others. We have helped them [in the past but] they are not content,  they are not happy, they do not appreciate [and] they are paying us with oppression.”)

Kabuye sends Ekiba Kibe programs directly to you cell phone where you can instantly listen to them. We have been reliably told that if you wish to start receiving  Ekiba Kibe broadcasts,  just email your phone number to dictatormuseveni@yahoo.com.  For more information, also go to  www.musevenimustgo.com.  If Kabuye, or anyone who gets these messages, can email it to us as a sound file, we shall include it here so that all our readers  who may not be able get them on the cell phones can hear them on their computer. Send it to info@bugandapost.com.