On Tuesday, April 28, 2009, the oldest active Buganda nationalist organization, Abazzukulu ba Buganda, passed a resolution that Mmengo made a huge mistake when they accepted Shs 350 Million (US$162,790) from president Museveni. The organization members were at their weekly meeting along Kabaka Anjagala Road, near Mmengo Bulange. They warned the Katikkiro and his group that, as they spend Museveni’s money, they should be mindful that it has strings attached that could even land some of them into deep trouble. They criticized Katikkiro Walusimbi for taking the money without consulting Baganda and going to the Buganda Lukiiko only to block its discussion by throwing tantrums.

The organization’s secretary, Mr. Njuki Mubiru explained that Mr. Museveni’s govermnent had set a trap for Mr. Walusimbi and the others who will enjoy the money: “After they have misused the money the Uganda govermnent will surely ask for accountability; when they can’t provide it, they could well end up jailed as it happened with a Museveni confidant, Teddy Seezi Kyeeye.

Abazzukulu ba Buganda have been at the forefront of resisting Mr. Museveni’s attempts to undermine the Buganda’s national interests. They led the protests against attempts by princess Ndagire and her supporters to defame Kabaka Mutebi and take over Kasubi Tombs. They were also instrumental in exposing and fighting the infamous anti-Buganda Regional Tier agreement which Katikkiro Mulwaanyamuli Ssemwogerere, along with Charles Peter Mayiga, John Katende and Apollo Makubuya negotiated with Mr. Museveni. The organization was founded by Haji Jjunju Kamulali and others. They are also known for their persistent fight against attempts by retired Church of Uganda Archipishop and Katikkiro Walusimbi to lease the Lubiri to Ugandan businessmen, including those who have been implicated in war crimes in Congo, money laundering and illegal drug trafficking.

During the April 20, 2009 Buganda Lukiiko meeting Katikkiro Walusimbi announced his unilateral decision to accept  Shs 350 Million (US$162,790), about the price of a half acre plot of land on Naguru hill, as a gift from Mr. Museveni to Buganda. According to Mr. Walusimbi, the Shs 350 Million is the first installment on a Shs 1 Billion (US$930,000) grant from President Museveni to Buganda to fund his (Mr. Walusimbi’s) personal plan for Buganda, called omumuli. Mr. Museveni’s government owes the Buganda Kingdom at least Shs 10 Billion (US$9,300,000) in real estate rent and other arrears. This is in addition to 9,000 square miles of Buganda native lands worth hundreds of millions of US dollars which were stolen in 1966. 

It was a major public relations score when the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr.  Cyprian Kizito Lwanga spoke in support of his (Walusimbi’s) omumuli program, which is supposed to be funded by grants from Mr. Museveni. And more of the embattled Katikkiro’s prayers were answered when Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II went to a previously scheduled visit to Busujju county, which Mmengo dubbed “the launching of omumuli”.  In what some might intepret as support for Katikkiro Walusimbi’s money deal with President Museveni, Kabaka Mutebi called on Baganda to spend less time listening to radio talk shows and more on working hard.

Mr. Museveni’s government is indirectly assisting the Katikkiro’s public relations campaign, with the government New Vision and Bukedde mouthpieces, along with Aga Khan’s The Monitor putting a spin on what the Kabaka and the Archbishop said to magnify the support Walusimbi enjoys from these very important figures.

The quick succession of Mr. Walusimbi’s  two public relations triumphs has left many Baganda political analysts, including his strongest critics, admitting that the Katikkiro, and his political advisor, VP Bukenya, can show impressive political skills.

However, according to one youthful Buganda government official, Katikkiro Walusimbi’s publica relations success may be short lived because they are based bending the truth and on the belief that president Museveni can keep promises. The official who requested that his name not be revealed for fear of being persecuted told us: “The Katikkiro keeps telling us Catholics that the ‘‘Bapoto’ [protestants] and Basiramu [Moslems] are not against the money but only want to bring him down. Obviously, many of us, especially the youth know that he is not telling the truth. The corrupt people here in Mmengo are from all religions. And the champions of Buganda political and human rights like Nambooze, Ssengona, Mpanga, Kyanjo and so on also come from all religions. It is like the Katikkiro is saying that any Catholic who says that our kingdom must not be manipulated with Shs 350 Million is stupid and being misled by non-Catholics. Money which cannot even buy 3 acreas in Kololo!”

The official went on to predict that Katikkiro Walusimbi’s claim that the Baganda opposition to Museveni’s money is an anti Catholic conspiracy is what may bring him down. He explained:  “The most predictable thing about Museveni is that he never keeps a promise. Soon or later he will either refuse to deliver all the Shs 1 Billion or he will introduce some strange conditions like pushing for some Banyankore from the Auditor General office to look into Mmengo accounts. Or, because weak accountability systems Mumuli is borrowing from Mr. Museveni’s corrupt NAADS, most of the money will end up misused.  The looming disaster for Walusimbi is that, since nothing which depends on Museveni’s promises works, the Katikkiro will end up hugely embarrassing both the Kabaka Mutebi and Archbishop Lwanga when his Mumuli delivers nothing but more corruption. It may be worse than Regional Tier because this time Museveni will be able to arrogantly say, ‘Nabawa bu miliyooni 350 nebubalema!; kati Federo mugisobola mutya?’ ['You have failed to manage a mere Shs 350 Million; how can you deal with the federal system you demand?']”

On April 20, Katikkiro Walusimbi announced to the Buganda Lukiiko that he had already accepted Shs 350 Million (US$162,790), as the first payment of what he claimed to be an unconditional grant of Shs 2 Billion (US$ 930,232) offer from President Museveni to fund the mumuli program. A large section of the Buganda population were angered by Katikkiro Walusimbi, with many in the Buganda youth movement accusing him of selling Buganda, at Shs 430 per person. Some have even threatened Mr. Walusimbi with death (see Katikkiro Walusimbi Takes Museveni’s Money, Puts His Life At Risk).

On March 9, 2009 Buganda Post exclusively reported that Katikkiro Walusimbi had convinced Mr. Museveni to pay that  to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Museveni’s vice president Gilbert Bukenya. (See “Katikkiro Walusimbi Dodges Talks, Leaves Museveni Holding A Bag Of Stones“). According to our State House sources, the Shs 350 Million that Mr. Walusimbi accepted is art of this agreement.

On March 14, 2009 a conference of so called Uganda’s kings sponsored by president Museveni’s govenment resolved to support anti-Buganda laws such as Regional Tier. More than 50 kings, cultural leaders and chiefsand their prime ministers, and ministers, who met at Masindi Hotel under the chairmanship of he Omukama of Bunyoro, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru. Prominently present were Mr. Museveni’s recently created “minor kings” in Buganda, the Isaabaruuli of Buruuli, Mwatysansozi Mwogeza Butamanya Omubwijwa,  The Isaabanyala of Bunyala Capt. Kimeze Beeka Mpagi Byarufu. Wisely, Ssabajja Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi and the Buganda Mmengo were not involved at all.

According to the press statement circulated by the Press Secretary to the Omukama of Bunyoro,  Henry Ford Miirima, the European Community and the United States government, through the USAID, got directly and actively involved in activitites that appear to aim at dismantling the Buganda Kingdom.  Mr. Miriima’s statement says that the European Union “has pledged to give financial backing to the Kings Forum as long as the body is impeccably transparent” and USAID “assisted” the forum.

The Uganda kings’ forum report is reproduced in full below:

UGANDA KINGS’ FORUM REPORT

Uganda’s kings, cultural leaders and chiefs establish a uniting Forum at a one-day conference at Masindi Hotel March 14, 2009

A congregation of more than fifty of Uganda’s kings, cultural leaders and chiefsand their prime ministers, and ministers, who met at Masindi Hotel March 14, resolved to establish a legal Kings’ forum with a fully fledged Secretariat, based at Kabuusu, Kampala.

Chaired by the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, the one-day conference attended by nearly all of Uganda kings and cultural leaders except the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, resolved to transform their forum into a registered legal entity with a permanent Secretariat located at Kabuusu in Kampala on a land which was donated by the Kamuswaga of Kooki, His Highness Apolo Isansa II.

To kick-start the Kings Forum their majesties contributed nearly fifteen million Uganda Shillings. While the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitasra chaired the conference, the Master of Ceremonies was Bunyoro-Kitara’s Speaker of the kingdom’s Parliament, Orukurato Orukuro orw’obukama bwa Bunyoro-Kitara, Rev. Fr. Bonevantura Kyaligonza.

The Speaker informed the Forum that the European Union, which is already organizing another large Cultural Heritage conference in Bunyoro-Kitara in May this year, has pledged to give financial backing to the Kings Forum as long as the body is impeccably transparent and has in place qualified and highly responsible officials to manage the funds of the Forum. Other bodies to assist the Forum are the Uganda Ministry of Gender and USAID.

Noting the absence of the Buganda kingdom delegation, the Kamuswaga of Kooki, Apolo Isansa proposed, and the proposal was adopted, the Forum  send a high-powered delegation to Buganda Kingdom Government to explain the kingdom the benefits and objectives of the Kings’ Forum and how it is intended to uplift the economic, cultural and social well-being of the population in their regions.

Their Majesties made it very clear that the Kings and all Traditional and Cultural leaders need the participation of Buganda Kingdom in this Forum.

Conspicuously present and seated next to the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, were The Isaabaruuli of Buruuli, Mwatysansozi Mwogeza Butamanya Omubwijwa,  The Isaabanyala of Bunyala Capt. Kimeze Beeka Mpagi Byarufu.

The Traditional Rulers of Acholi, Alur, Bamasaaba, Tororo, Teso, attended in person.

Nine resolutions adopted.

The Forum which consisted of Kings, Traditional rulers and cultural leaders, chiefs and their Prime ministers, Principal Private Secretaries, and other ministers, all totaling over fifty, passed the following nine  resolutions:

1. All kings, cultural leaders and chief to speak with one strong voice.
2. The Forum to urge the Uganda Government to speed up the formation of the Regional Ties system which was agreed upon by Uganda’s Parliament.
3. The Forum to urge the Uganda to resume the policy of paying royalities to kings and cultural leaders as it was in the past.
4. The Forum to support Bunyoro-Kitara’s demand for the Uganda Government to redress the historical wrongs and injustices in the form of the seven lost counties which were donated and annexed to Buganda kingdom to reward Buganda for her role in assisting British colonizers to colonise Uganda.
5. To register the forum as the National Kings, Cultural leaders and chiefs Forum so that it acquires legality.
6. To streamline the cultural institutions so that there is no consideration of anyone of them as being on top of the others.
7. To strongly advocate and initiate policies to develop, promote and teach our cultural languages and begin examining them from infant schools up to University level.
8. The Forum Secretariat to organize regular press conferences in order to create good, brotherly, and friendly relations with the press. At these press conferences all issues will be addressed by Forum officials either from the Secretariat or as the Forum will see fit.
9. To advocate for the unity of all the people of Uganda and African in general.

While all participants were given a chance to contribute ideas, the key note speech was given by the chairman of the Forum, His Majesty Rukirabasaija the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara.

Omukama Iguru said, in part,

“We must, as kings, traditional rulers, and cultural leaders convey our collective gratitude to the Government of Uganda for creating an enabling climate for the kingdoms and cultural institutions, and chiefdoms to thrive and serve the people of Uganda with commitment to the sovereign state of Uganda.

“We resolved to speak with one voice but over the last year the kings, traditional rulers and cultural leaders have not been audible enough advocating  for critical, social and cultural development needs for their mutual benefits and the befits of our subjects.

“We decided to  open and facilitate a secretariat for the Forum of Kings, Traditional rulers and cultural leaders in Uganda to handle the day to day activities including transformation of the Forum into a legal entity.  This has not yet been done.

“There is need to urge the Government of Uganda to implement the Regional Tier that parliament has already enacted into law.  The delay has not been explained to our satisfaction. Our collective voice must be heard loud and clear.

There is need to call upon all stakeholders to know the value of land, to protect their rights on it, to correct all historical errors related to land and to secure appropriate legal rights.

There is need for collective mobilization for development of all our subjects that willingly pay allegiance to kings and traditional rulers and cultural leaders. Our subjects must see opur functional value.

After our last meeting came the Lira Declaration that we all signed and have a duty to implement through collective development programmes for cooperating kingdoms and chiefdoms of Uganda and together seeking development partners to fund them and in particular the European Union and other  willing partners. We cannot afford to lose this opportunity.

It is a felt need  in all our institutions that we must ask the Government of Uganda to resume payment of royalties to kingdoms and chiefdoms on forests, game reserves, plantation agriculture and minerals/oil and gas and other natural resources in the various kingdoms and chiefdoms and to lobby members of Parliament in the various kingdoms and chiefdoms to support related changes in the constitution and laws of Uganda.

It is now obvious that we must work together to promote the unity  of Uganda, Eastern Africa, and the entire continent of Africa.

We must call upon development partners to identify themselves with the Forum of Kings, Traditional Rulers, and Cultural Leaders and to support their collective programmes and activities.

There is need for cultivate productive partnership between the press and Kings, Traditional Rulers nd /cultural leaders in Uganda for mutual benefit to replace current malicious publication and sensational reporting by a section of the press.

We need to workd together to promote peace, reconsilitation and ethic co-existence and reverse the historical distortions and errors that have led to ethnic strife emanting from colonial rule.

We need to pool resources to promote and support research, documentation and preservation of culture, arts, languages, customs and our entire cultural heritage and encourage cultural exchange and sharing of experience through inter-kingdom exchanges and meetings.

Finally, it is with great pleasure that I invite you to Hoima to participate in the Europe-Uganda Cultural Village scheduled to be mounted at Hoima in May 2009.

Ends the key note address by Omukama Soloomon Gafabusa Iguru.

Report by;

Henry Ford Miirima
Press Secretary of the OMukama of Bunyoro-Kitara