A reliable sources close to president Museveni’s state house tells us that, before leaving for the September UN session in New York, the Ugandan warlord got Robert  Sebunya to reactivate a program that would use financially stressed Buganda royals to spy on or undermine Kabaka Mutebi. The source told us: “The president has been using Kabaka Mutebi’s uncle, Prince Simbwa to keep Ssabasajja off balance. However, Tamale Mirundi and Robert Sebunya advised him that other royals, either misguided or desperate for money, should be recruited. Tamale also recommended that recruitment of Balangira and Bambejja in the Diaspora might be the easiest because it is harder for Kabaka to track their activities. In fact, when His Excellency went to the USA in late September, a meeting with princes and princesses in Boston was put on his agenda. He did meet them in Boston as planned only because of the Baganda demonstrations.”  The source speculated that the money intended for the princes and princesses was probably left with Ruhakana Rugunda, “since he is more in tune with how Ugandan things work than Kamunanwire in Washington DC.”

Our source explained that the campaign is getting accelerated with assistance from Robert Kabushenga who is launching a media blitz where negative and contradictory stories on Buganda royals will appear in Bukedde, New Vision and  the Monitor, to demoralize Baganda and Kabaka Mutebi. Some stories will talk positively about Kabaka Mutebi while others will question his legitimacy. And others will show that there are divisions within the Buganda royal family. Yet others will claim that the Kabaka and Museveni now like each other.

The source explained: “The period between now and December, when huge numbers of Baganda come for Christmas, is critical to Mr. Museveni. Expect him to use it to keep Kabaka and Mmengo confused with a barrage of mixed messages, including friendly but fruitless negotiations, public abuses, court cases against Nambooze and Lubega Sseggona, making impossible demands on CBS Radio and maintaining confusion around Kabaka’s personal security. The recruitment of at least 4 or 5 youthful grand children of Ssekabaka Chwa to undermine the Kabaka is attractive to the president because he is starting to believe that the back of Baganda youth has been weakened. The key is to deny the Kabaka and his loyal adviser, who are part-time, in a reactive mode all the time between now and January or February next year.”

In a related development, unconfirmed reports from  Boston tell us that at least 4 or 5 princes and princesses from Texas and North East USA were in Boston on September 26, 2009. And some were eager to meet Museveni. If Museveni left money with Rugunda to buy Buganda royals, as our state house source asserted, then  the campaign may already be in full swing.

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.

Mrs. Jocelyn Rugunda, the spouse of Uganda’s representative to the United Nations, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has launched a The Uganda Women’s Forum. According to an invitation letter that Mrs. Rugunda sent to about 100 women in the New York area, Mrs. Rugunda states that: “The objective of the meeting is to get to know each other, share interesting life experiences, and identify opportunities of making ourselves more productive while living in United States.” Mrs. Rugunda does not indicate what qualifies her to lead Ugandan women towards making themselves more productive in America.

When we checked with a highly reliable source in the Ministry of foreign affairs, she told us that Mrs. Rugunda’s forum is “soft” recruiting for the NRM.  The source explained: “Mr. Museveni believes that Baganda women in America like him and what he is doing; it is only their husbands and boyfriends who confuse them with information about land issues and tribalism. Mr. Museveni thinks that if many of these Baganda women become NRM, the pressure from UNAA and Ggwanga Mujje will be very low. When giving clearance to Mrs. Rugunda to recruit, the permanent secretary, Ambassador James Mugume, specifically instructed Mrs. Rugunda to avoid political discussions in her forum. They are afraid that if politics is discussed in this forum, Baganda and other women may start asking why Museseveni’s is terrorizing their families in Buganda and stealing Buganda land.”

When shown Mrs. Rugunda’s invitation, a Muganda analyst and thought leader based in New York, agreed that this could be a campaign to recruit women, especially Baganda women, away from UNAA and Ggwanga Mujje activities, which the NRM does not control. He also had some tough words about Mrs. Rugunda’s character: “I have reliable information that when that woman and her husband came to New York they decided to rent an apartment in, of all places, Trump Tower. They are spending $16,000 per month on rent only and they represent a Uganda where a government medical doctor is paid $150 per month. But she now wants to help Baganda women make themselves more productive in America? I hope these women first send her an email and ask her to explain if it is not true that she has rented in Trump Towers, with rich Arab sheiks for neighbors. And how her family made the millions of dollars they have in Uganda.”

According to Mrs. Rugunda’s invitation, the Uganda Women’s’ Forum meeting will be at the Uganda House in New York on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

One of Sekanyolya’s most reliable sources in President Museveni’s security apparatus has confided that members of the president’s state house conned the Katikkiro of Buganda, to expose his dismal political skills and accelerate his demise. And the reason is that the M********** president of Uganda now wants to see Walusimbi fired since he has become irrelevant to his (Museveni’s) strategy to crush Buganda and Kabaka Mutebi.

According to the source, Ruhakana Rugunda and state house intentionally decided to “disorganize” Walusimbi when they lied to him that government security agencies had learnt of sinister plans against the Kabaka in connection with his planned trip to Nakasongola. The lie was delivered by someone whose name will not be revealed, to protect Sekanyolya’s sources. The statehouse operatives were pleasantly surprised when Walusimbi panicked. The source says, “He was very one dimensional about it. He only consulted his most trusted cabinet members, most of whom have the same outlook as himself. Then he decided to write to government, expressing fears about the safety of Kabaka Mutebi.”

Walusimbi fell into the trap right away and that is why Ruhakana Rugunda has been confidently telling the news papers that the Katikkiro was the first one to bring up security concerns. The state house boys could not believe their luck. The only problem is that Walusimbi had delivered himself so fast that they did not even have a reason to claim budget. Anyway, they quickly realized that they could make several million under the cover of having to fake the security problem that Walusimbi had bought. So they requisitioned several millions from the state house comptroller’s office to facilitate Mukasa Muruli, Mwogeza Butamanya, and a few Baluuli youth to fake a security risk situation. It is that fake security risk that Ruhakana Rugunda cited after he executed Museveni’s order not to allow Kabaka Mutebi to turn off the Gulu main Road and enter Nakasongola town.

Trapped by Museveni’s men, Walusimbi wasted critical time trying to secretly negotiate with Ruhakana Rugunda and Kale Kayihura while Buganda was anxiously waiting for bold leadership. It is not clear yet how Kabaka Mutebi saw through all the nonsense, decided to forget Walusimbi and took off for Buluuli on Tuesday morning. However, the Kabaka’s decision sent a strong message to Baganda all over the world that Walusimbi has successfully made himself irrelevant in the battle to save Buganda from destruction by Mueseveni and his NRM.

Sekanyolya’s Kampala based legal advisor supports the theory that Museveni is no longer interested in Walusimbi. He rhetorically asked Sekanyola over a couple of beers last Sunday, “What can Walusimbi offer Museveni now? He failed to shut down Nambooze and Lubega Sseggona, Museveni’s biggest annoyances. And he has no control over Bulange and most Baganda outside the NRM, especially the fearless youths, have no respect for him.”
 
The consultant told Sekanyolya that Walusimbi also made a huge blander to ignore the nationalistic Baganda in Europe and USA, where Museveni had hoped to use him to infiltrate and gain control over Ttabamiruka as well as consolidate control over the UNAA convention. He added, “The Kisubi old boy lacks the political skills that Kabaka Mutebi would expect from any Katikkiro and the shrewdness that Museveni had hoped for. So, ironically, Kabaka Mutebi and the M********** president of Uganda appear to agree on one thing, none of them seems to be interested in the services of Engineer JB Walusimbi.”

Moses Mwesigwa
(Mutabanii w’Omulokole)

In a move that could be the first indication that President Museveni of Uganda might be prepared to use physical force against the Kabaka of Buganda, on October 8, 2008, Uganda’s heavily armed anti-riot police ready with teargas stopped Kabaka Mutebi from visiting the Buluuli Ssaza (county) Headquarters in Nakasongola.  Kabaka Mutebi was scheduled to preside over the 46th Buganda Independence anniversary celebrations which this year had been planned for Buluuli County. Buluuli is one of Buganda’s 18 counties. And it is in Buluuli that, a few years ago, President Museveni created  an anti-Kabaka “new” kingdom headed by a “Sabaruli”. Museveni’s current Sabaruli is called Mwogezi Butamanya.

It is not clear when president Museveni gave the final order to stop Mutebi.  However, according to a Uganda  police source who spoke on condition that her name not be revealed, Mutebi  had to be blocked because President Museveni and his people were shocked by the huge crowds of Baganda and Baluuli which greeted Kabaka Mutebi in Kakooge and Migyera towns. And because of the unexpectedly strong extremely well received speeches which Mutebi made at Migyera. There, Mutebi warned his subjects, in a very tough tone, to keep a sharp eye on and reject those who want to create confusion and divide the people of Buganda. Telling them, “It is terrible that certain individuals are working hard to divide my people, after the impressive progress we have made towards unity.”

This reporter’s police source revealed that the possibility of stopping Kabaka Mutebi from celebrating Buganda’s independence in Buluuli has been discussed by Museveni and his men for a long time.  According to him, every passing year Mr. Museveni has been getting more frustrated that the crowds at Buganda’s October 8th independence celebrations  keep swelling and his own Uganda independence event on October 9th keeps shrinking.  That is why they agreed to help Butamanya and Mukasa Muruli, former Museveni’s minister, coach Baluuli youths to organize a fake demonstration against Mutebi’s presence in Buluuli. “Mukasa Muruli and the youths were supposed to make a lot of noise, even threaten Kabaka, to give the police a pretext to stop the ceremonies if it became necessary.“ The source identifies the key plotters to include Ruhakana Rugunda, Kale Kayihura , David Tinyefuza, Buganda, Alfred Bitwire, Magara of Rapid Response Unit and minister Freddie Ruhindi plus district chairman Wandira and  RDC Masekera.  Museveni and his state house staff have been frequent briefed consulted on strategy and key decisions.

In a statement, Mr. Museveni’s minister for security Dr Rugunda blames it all on Kabaka Mutebi. He claims that it is Katikkiro JB Walusimbi who first expressed fears about the safety of Kabaka Mutebi in Buluuli to government. Then he (Rugunda) had confirmed that the threat was real and serious and communicated it to Walusimbi. By press time, this reporter had not confirmed if Rugunda is, this time, telling the truth. The situation has been more confused by reports in a foreign owned, Uganda government censored local paper that JB Walusimbi along with Buganda Attorney General Apollo Mabuya met with Ruhakana Rugunda, Freddie Ruhindi and Kale Kayihura on Monday, where the Mmengo officials were ordered to call off Kabaka Mutebi’s trip to Buluuli.

If Walusimbi and Makubuya met Ruhakana and Kayihura as reported, it is clear that their meeting was made irrelevant by Mutebi when he bravery decided to drive to Buluuli, in a convey of 40 motor vehicles, some carrying mattresses and other presents for his impoverished subjects. Most Baganda are strongly opposed to the frequent and often secret meetings that Katikkiro JB Walusimbi holds with President Museveni and his point people.

On July 29, 2008, Patriotic Baganda members of the Uganda’s Parliament told off President Museveni’s minister of internal affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda, after his presentation of an untruthful statement about the recent kidnap of 3 Buganda officials. Rugunda presented his statement, amid vigorous heckling, to a special session of the parliament, which was called to debate the arrest of Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega Sseggona and Betty Nambooze. Beti Kamya (Lubaga North) rubbished Rugunda’s statement, demanding that Mr. Museveni’s occupation government explain why Betty Nambooze was stripped naked at Jinja Road police station. Hussein Kyanjo (Makindye West) condemned the rampant abuse of human rights, insisting that the Buganda officials were not arrested by Police but by some other dubious armed forces. He revealed that shortly after the kidnapping of the Buganda officials, he (Kyanjo) spoke to the military officer who heads Uganda’s police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, who confirmed that the police were clearly unaware of the abduction. Issa Kikungwe (Kyaddondo South) reserved his attack for the excessive tribalism in government, which he blamed for most of Uganda’s ills. He pointed out that people from certain parts of Uganda routinely practice sectarianism and nothing is done but when others publicly complain about such sectarian behavior trumped up charges are brought against them. Michael Mabikke (Makindye East) warned the NRM that it must abandon its bushmen practices. They must come to grips with the fact that Buganda’s issues cannot and will not be swept under the rug. Even the British colonialists were not able to do it, and it will not go away with the NRM. One MP who most vocally supported the occupation government and Rugunda’s statement is Janet Kataha Museveni (Ruhama) the wife of Uganda’s president. She defended her husband’s government on the decision to violate Uganda’s constitution by holding the Buganda officials for over 48 hours without taking them to court. According to her, the government must not be blamed for violating the constitution because they lost time when they were transporting the captives across western Uganda. As far as she was concerned, what is more important is to deal with what she referred to as the abuse of her husband’s government. Rugunda’s full statement before Parliament is reproduced below:

Rt. Hon. Speaker, Hon. Members of Parliament,

1.On 25th July 2008, I received my copy of a letter, ref SP/8 written to the Clerk to Parliament by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, responding to a petition that Parliament convenes in plenary today, 29” July 2008 to handle business relating to the arrest, detention and subsequent release of the three persons named above. This petition required Parliament to convene and receive the official Government statement by the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs on the arrest of the three individuals, who happen to be officials of the Buganda Kingdom. Inter alia, the statement was to state:
i) The personnel who effected the arrest
ii) The subsequent confinement and treatment of the three
iii) The proper procedure for commencement of criminal proceedings
iv) The duration within which such proceedings ought to commence.

2 Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Members, Police has been closely monitoring actions and statements made from time to time by some individuals and groups. The statements have been both in the print and electronic media. Investigations were carried out in respect of these statements made by the three individuals that were viewed by Police as amounting to offences of:
i. Promoting war,
ii. Sedition,
iii. Incitement to violence,
iv. Threatening violence and
v. Sectarianism.

In addition, investigations revealed that acting jointly and at times individually, the three engaged in what appeared to be unlawful activities in Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kasese, Kibaale, Bundibugyo, Hoima and Kampala Districts. Investigations of the three individuals on Terrorism and other offences are still continuing.

3. At some point during the investigations, it became necessary to arrest the three. On Friday 18 July 2008, Police detectives arrested them, at different times, and from different locations within Kampala. Mr. Speaker Sir, since some of the acts constituting the alleged offences are said to have been committed in and outside Kampala, it was necessary to transfer them to areas outside Kampala in order to assist the Police in investigations. It is for this reason that it became difficult to adhere to the 48 hour rule regarding detention of suspects in police custody.

4. While the investigations were going on in those areas, Buganda Road Court, on Wednesday 23rd July 2008 issued a court order, ordering for their unconditional release from Police custody. Accordingly, the three were on Thursday 24th July 2008 released from Kyenjojo Police Station.

5. Mr. Speaker Sir, on the basis of evidence that had been gathered, and, in accordance with the law, the three were re-arrested.
• Mr. Medard Lubega and Mrs Betty Nambooze were produced before Nakawa Chief Magistrates court on Friday 25th July 2008 charged with sedition, as investigations continue for other charges of sectarianism, threatening violence, incitement to violence, and promoting war. The two accused were granted bail by court.
• Mr. Peter Mayiga was released on Police Bond at Jinja Road Police station pending further investigations.

6. Mr. Speaker Sir, regarding the specific issues put forward in the petition, I wish to state as follows:
a) The arrests were effected by the Police.
b) The three were at all times in Police custody.
c) Criminal proceedings may be instituted in several ways in accordance with section 42 subsection 1 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, inter alia, by a Police officer bringing a person arrested with or without a warrant before a Magistrate upon a charge.

It was under this provision that the proceedings against the three were commenced. d) Investigations start immediately information is received and thereby, criminal proceedings begin.

7. Mr. Speaker Sir, Government in accordance with the Constitution, will continue to carry out its mandate of ensuring security of the people and their property and is unequivocally committed to the rule of law.

8. Mr. Speaker Sir, Rule 60, in the Rules of Procedure of Parliament (The Rule on sub-judice), does not allow a matter that is before Court to be discussed out of Court. On Friday 21 July 2008, Mr. Medard Lubega and Ms. Betty Nambooze were charged in Court. In view of the above, I am wondering whether discussing this matter out of Court is not Sub-judice. I seek your guidance.

I thank you Rt. Hon. Speaker. Dr Ruhakana Rugunda

The kidnapped Buganda Kingdom officials have been released on police bond and court bail respectively. The government reports that Peter Mayiga received his police bond from Jinja Road Police station while Betty Nambooze and Medard Lubega got their court bail from Nakawa Magistrates courts in Kampala.  The release of Buganda officials on police bonds seems to suggest that President Museveni’s government concedes or the judge knows that this was an incompetent attempt to “manufacture a case after the arrest”.  Normally, Uganda police bonds are accepted for cases involving petty thefts, adultery, idleness and similar offenses – not capitol offenses.

The three officials were kidnapped by security operatives commanded by David Tinyefuza over the weekend of July 20 and illegally held in secret “safe houses” for more than 100 hours.  The standard legal practice for this type of arrest is to issue summons to the person, requiring them to report to police or to be immediately arrested and transportation to police.  The police are required to produce the suspect in a court of law within 48 hours according to the Uganda Constitution. In this case the arrests were not handled by police and they were personally ordered by President Museveni. And for over 48 hours even the police did not know why the captives had been detained – technically, it was a President ordered kidnapping. On Wednesday a judge in Kampala declared the continued holding of the trio by President Museveni unconstitutional and ordered their release. They were released on Thursday but re-arrested within 15 minutes, in a style that President Museveni and his Minister Ruhakana Rugunda helped establish in 1960s as UPC youth wingers.

As can be clearly seen, the people came out in droves to see the prisoners released and to show them support. More on this story soon.  

Photos from UG Observer and New Vision

MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS PRESS STATEMENT

1. In compliance with the Court Order issued by the Buganda Road Court on Wednesday 24th July 24, 2008 ordering that, Peter Mayiga, Medard Ssegona Lubega and Betty Nambooze be released from Police unconditionally, the Police has accordingly released them from Kyenjojo Police Station today Thursday 24th July 2008.

2. However, on the basis of the evidence so far gathered, and in accordance with the law, the Police has re-arrested them and they are to appear in Court tomorrow Friday 25th July 2008.

Ruhakana Rugunda (Dr.)MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS