Sources in Chicago and Los Angeles have told this writer that Owek. Sendaula decided to cancel his plans to attend UNAA 2009 in Chicago. The reasons for the decision are still unclear but analysts believe that it may be to avoid getting caught up in the political fights which are expected over the election of the organization’s new president.

On August 18, I wrote that the Deputy Katikkiro, Owek. Emmanuel Sendaula was scheduled to attend the UNAA conference in Chicago over the American Labor Day weekend (first weekend in September) this year (see”Owek. Sendaula And Uganda Style Politics Expected At Chicago UNAA“). He was expected to lead a delegation, which would include Kabaka’s minister for tourism, Owek. Nakiwala Kiyingi. It is still unclear who will be in the Mmengo delegation and who will lead it.

These developments come right after of a clear and strong statement by Kabaka Mutebi last weekend that Buganda was moving ahead on its match to self-determination even if some people are not bright enough to understand what Baganda mean by Federo. Kabaka Mutebi’s guidance last weekend, has left some Baganda in North America concerned that Mmengo’s attendance and active involvement in UNAA’s decisive and unfamiliar politics could sabotage the Kabaka’s message among American Baganda.

Mr. Moses Bukenya, the current Vice Chair of Gwangamujje Boston has made a posting on Buganda Post where he says that his character was slandered when, according to him, it was suggested that he supports the NRM. Bukenya specifically requested that a correction be made to reverse the impression that he is an NRM supporter and the implied accusation that he had committed the “heinous crime” of plotting against the kingdom. Mr. Bukenya’s posting does not however deny his involvement in the changing of the Ttabamiruka ’09 date from Labor Day weekend to May or July. For many Baganda all over the world, changing the Ttabamiruka date to make it less convenient to attendees is viewed as sabotage.

When contacted about Mr. Bukenya’s posting, our Boston source argued that Bukenya was trying to deflect the most important questions, “Did he, Kalemba and others (not yet to be mentioned) meet on October 26th and change Ttabamiruka ’09 to July 4, which, by coincidence, agrees with what the NRM needs?  Or is it still September 4th? And, is he a key UNAA organizer (New York and Florida), which UNAA has accepted money from Mr. Museveni’s NRM government through one Byaruhanga?”

In light of the response from our original source for the story n Boston, this reporter makes the correction requested by Mr. Bukenya. For the record, Mr. Bukenya, the Vice Chair of Ggwangamujje Boston, is not a supporter of the NRM. And he is not knowingly “working with any individual or government while transacting Gwangamujje business and/or other affairs.” We regret anyinconvenience caused.

However, we stand by our story that on October 26, 2008 Mr. Bukenya joined Mr. Kalemba and others, yet to be named, at a meeting in the greater Boston area and agreed to change the Ttabamiruka ’09 date from the first weekend in September to July 4th, 2009. And that they did it fully aware that it would advantage the UNAA convention at the expense of Ttabamiruka ’09. Additionally, Mr. Bukenya has been actively involved in the organization of UNAA conventions; and UNAA officials have received large cash contributions from Uganda’s NRM government in connection with their organizing and their conventions.

Mr. Bukenya’s unedit posting is reproduced below:

My name is Moses Bukenya, current vice chair of Gwanga Mujje Boston Chapter and I’d like to express my utter shock at the article you authored that implicated me being an nrm supporter and the insinuations that myself together with others are planning to sabotage the planned ttabamiruka convention here in Boston.

For the record, i am not an NRM supporter, am not working for any individual or government while transacting Gwanga Mujje business and/or other affairs. I AM A PROUD MUGANDA AND MY FAMILY ARE PROUD BAGANDA WHO HAVE SERVED THE KINGDOM WITH DISTINCTION. I feel betrayed that a publication like yours that claims to lobby for and advance Buganda’s interests can publish such a story without seeking out comment from the main people i.e myself you wrote about and hearing their side so as to present balanced reporting and let the readers decide who is telling the truth. If you had contacted me prior to your publishing your article, i could have said on the record that i am not a supporter of NRM and do not work for them or any other apart from doing my best to serve Buganda’s interests. And most importantly, I’d have challenged anyone to produce evidence and/or proof that i work for the NRM and that i am sabotaging Buganda’s interests here in the diaspora and in Uganda.

I will not stand for having my character slandered, defamed and dragged through the mud. Now it is true that there are differences in opinion in the way we percieve issues in the running of Gwanga Mujje in Boston and in my opinion that’s understandable among cilivised folk. But to label all those one disagrees with as NRM insiders without backing up those claims really defeats the purpose of all those fighting for Buganda’s cause and i count myself among them.

The main purpose of writing this letter is to request you and/or your editorial staff to correct this anomaly. I have been wrongly accused of what i consider to be a heinous crime i.e plotting against the kingdom and i strongly demand that the record be set straight. My email address is momobukenya@gmail.com and my cell is (617)913-5793. I am doing this because i believe in due process and due diligence. There is nonthing here that in my opinion can not and/or could not have been resolved with a simple phone call. I expect to hear from you ASAP. I believe we can clear the air promptly. I however reserve the right to seek redress, legal of otherwise if the record is not set straight.

sincrerely,
Moses Bukenya
Vice chair
Gwanga Mujje Boston