In a statement issued after their meeting of March 20, 2010, members of Abazzukulu ba Buganda warn that leaving Buganda in Uganda is courting disaster for the kingdom. They explain that when Kasubi was burned Buganda  paid  a similar price to that in 1996. However, in the future, Buganda may pay an even much higher price.

Abazukkulu revealed that in the recent past they hard to fight tooth and nail to stop certain Buganda government official in Bulange who wanted to remove the thatching on the recently burnt Kasubi tombs and replace them with iron sheets. According to the statement, the Buganda officials did not stop until they has replaced some of thatching on the small buildings around the tombs with metal sheets. Only Muzi Azaala Mpanga managed to escape without being disturbed.

Abazzukulu are concerned that now that Muzibu Azaala Mpanga has been burnt down those who wanted to destroy the ancient and world admired Buganda architecture with a metal roof. They claim that the Katikkiro intentionally announced that official mounring would start a week after the fire, in order to weaken the patriotism and energy of Baganda.

Members of Abazzukulu argue that it is common sense that the unique thatching techniques used by Baganda at Kasubi give the place a special stature and is the main reason it is internationally known.  They then appeal to all the people of Buganda to fight the following:

1. Using metal roofs on the Kasubi tombs and surrounding cultural buildings
2. Putting foreigners like UNESCO in charge of the repairs and caretaking. Buganda must know that this is part of the conspiracy to detroy all symbols of an independent kingdom of Buganda.
3. Using even one inch of the Kasubi tombs land for any other unrelated purpose. Because that land is only 76 acres and we Baganda believe that out kingdom shall exist until God ends this earth. We are concerned that in future the land might not be enough.

Below is the full Luganda statement which was signed by the chairman of Abazzuklul ba Buganda, M. Jjunju – Kamulali:

OLUKIIKO LW’ABAZZUKULU BA BUGANDA

20. 03.2010

AKABENJE MU KABENJE K’AMASIRO E KASUBI

Tekikyaliko kubuusasbuusa nti Buganda okugireka mu Uganda, tulina okukisasulira omuwendo munene nyo nyo nga bwetwakisasulira mu 1966 na guno bwetukisasulidde mu Masiro ekasubi. Kiyinzika n’okuba nti bwetutaliva mu Uganda lumu tugenda kukisasulira ekisingawo.

Nga tuli mu maziga n’ekyobeero ky’e Kasubi nga tusala entotto ku ky’okuzzaawo Kasubi ng’entunnunsi y’obuwangwa bwaffe, ate wasituseewo olutalo olulala wakati wa Bulange n’Obuganda bwonna. Gyebuvddeko abazzukulu baalwanyisa Bulange effungamyeemu abalembewazi nga baagala amasiro gonna bagagyeko essubi bateekeko ebibaati. Olutalo lwagenda okukkakkana ng’Enyumba ensitaamirizi bazitaddeko ebibaati. Muzibu-azaalampanga n’asigalawo nga yeesumaalise.

Kati ekyagudde ku Muzibu azaala mpanga Bulange kigiwadde omukisa okuttukiza obutaliimu bwayo obw’okugiteekako ebibaati. Owek Katikkiro ky’asookeddeko kw’ekumalamu Obuganda amaanyi n’obujjumbize bwe yalangiridde okukungubaga kutandike kumpi luvanyuma lwa ssabiiti namba.

Era alangiridde ng’ayimiriza Obuganda obuli mu kaweefube w’okuleeta ebizimbisibwa nti bugira buleka mbu enteekteka zimale okukolebwa. Kino kitegeeza nti, ayagala atandike obutaliimubwe obwebibaati n’ebirala ng’Obuganda bubivuddeko era nga tebukyaaliwo.

Omuntu yenna ali mu kutegeerakwe okutuufu akiraba bulabi nti ekitiibwa ky’amasiro e Kasubi kiva ku ssubi eryo lyenyini era lyelisomboola abantu bonna okujja okuliraba. N’olwekyo Obuganda bwonna tubukubira omulanga bulwanyisize ddala:

1. Eky’okuteeka ebibaati ku Muzibu-azaalampanga wamu n’Enyumba ensitaamirizi
2. Eky’okukwaasa abagwiira nga UNESCO amasiro okugaddaabiriza n’okugalabirira ng’obuganda tebunasaanawo. Obuganda basaanidde okumanya nti  luno lwe lukwe olwasalibwa okuzikiriza buli kabonero konna akayinza okulaga nti waali wabaddewo ko Obwakabaka bwa Buganda obwefuga
3. Eky’okukozesa ettaka ly’Amasiro, wadde inch emu ku Kintu ekirala kyonna ekitakwatagana nakyaliteekesaawo. Newankubade ettaka eryo ziri Accres 76 zokka, Abaganda tukimanyi era tukikkiriza nti Obwakabaka bwaffe bwakubeerawo okutuusa Katonda lwalizingako ensi eno. Tuli na beeraliikirivu nti gyebujja terijja kumala Masiro ago.

Wangaala Buganda

Awangaale Ssabasajja Kabaka

M. Jjunju – Kamulali

(Sentebe)

BUGANDA ROYAL FAMILY STATEMENT

On behalf of the children, grandchildren of Sekabaka Sir Daudi Chwa II – ­Princes, Princesses, Saava’s and Naava’s – we would like to express our great shock, horror at the loss of our beloved Masiro (MUZIBU ­AZAALA – MPANGA), constructed over 130 years ago.

We would like to extend our condolences to The Kabaka, other members of the royal family and bakyala at Kasubi, the Bazaana, Namasole who are going through unimaginable loss our gratitude is always with you.

Our prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones, we also extend our condolences to the peoples of Buganda and Uganda as a whole both in Uganda and Diaspora for our collective loss.

We would like to thank those emergency services and members of the public who tried their utmost to save this historic site.

We strongly condemn this act of desecration of our beloved cultural (Royal

burial site) and further we also condemn the random acts of violence.

Although this historical site is recognized internationally, nationally and Buganda it should be noted with great concern that this historical site is a burial ground for the descendants of Sekabaka Mutesa I.

The Sekabakas buried here are;

• Sekabaka Mutesa I
• Sekabaka Mwanga II
• Sekabaka Chwa II
• Sekabaka Mutesa II

For a long time now we the family fee1 Kasubi has not been adequately protected. The families have formed a committee to put in place a permanent mechanism to guard against any future occurrences, acts of this nature.

Financial contributions can be deposited in any Centenary Bank branch on the following

Account number: 301-031-0559

Account name: HIS ROYAL HI HNESS SIRDAUDI CHWA ROYAL FOUNDATION

For further information, contact interim committee members, on the following telephone numbers

• Nnalinya Sarah Kagere - 071-442833
• Chairman Prince Namugala Mawanda Chwa - 0787-010896
• Prince Joseph Kimbugwe Walugembe – 0757- 313980
• Prince Henry Kalemera Kimera – 0701-212098

Dated this 19′” day of March the year 2010.

Signed by: Omulangira David Namugala Mawanda Chwa (Chairman)

Signed by: Nnalinya Sarah Kagere

LONG LIVE SSABASAJJA KABAKA WA BUGANDA

EKIWANDIIKO OKUVA MU LULYO OLULANGIRA

OKUVA MU BASEKABAKA ABAGALAMIZIDWA MU MASIRO e NABULAGALA.

Ku lwenyumba, ya Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II, abaana nabazukulu, Ba Nnalinya, abalangira na bambejja, Abaazana (ba Maama baffe) ba Saava neba Naava tutuusa obwenyamivu bwaffe olwo kwookya a Masiro ge Kasubi ” Muzibu azaala mpaanga” agazimbibwa emyaaka 130 egiyise.

Tusasira Ssabassajja Kabaka wa Buganda, olulyo olulangira, abakyala be Kasubi, Abazaana, neba Namasole olwobulumi obutagerageranyizika.

Tusasira awamu no kusabira abo bbona abafirwa abenganda zaabwe mukavuyo ne ffujjo erya dirira okujja kwa Masiro, era Tutuusa okusasira kwaffe eri abaganda ne bana Uganda okutwaliza awamu, abali mu Uganda ne kumawanga.olwe kikolwa kino ekyetima obukyaayi, nobunyoomi.

Twebaza abo bonna abakola buli kisoboka okutakiriza aMasiro.

Tuvumilila ekikolwa kino ekyetima, obukyaayi no bunyoomi, ekyagobelelwa okusanyaawo a masiro, awamu nebikolwa ebye ffujjo.

Newankubadde embuga eno nkulu ddala munsiyonna, ffe bazukulu ba Ssekabaka Mutesa owolubelyebyelye kyekijja kyaffe, bwebutaka era wetusibuka.

Ba Ssekabaka abagalamizidwa mukiffo kino beba;

• Sekabaka Muteesa I
• Sekabaka Mwanga II
• Sekabaka Chwa II
• Sekabaka Muteesa II

Tumaze ebanga ddene nga tulibelalikirivu nti a Masiro tegalina bukuumi bumala, nolwekyo, tutadewo a kakiiko akanatekawo enteekateeka eyoluberera, okutakiliza ebintu nga bino okuddamu.

Abo bbona abandyagadde okutuwa obuyambi bwe nsimbi obwokusobozesa okuzaawo a masiro, nebigya bya ba Sekabaka awamu ne Buggwe wo Lubiri ku masiro gano.

Akawunta namba: 301-031-0559 mu Centenary Bank mu manya gano wamanga;

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS SIR DAUDI CHWA ROYAL FOUNDATION.

Buli anaawayo obuyambi tereka bulungi a kakonge a ko kwoteredde obuyambi mu Bank.

Obuyambi obulala ngESubi, Emuli, nebintu ebirala ebikozesebwa mu kuzimba nabyo tubyanyiriza.

Omuntu yenna eyandiyagadde okuwaayo akadde, okumanya no kwebuuza tukirira barro wamanga;

1. Nnalinya Sarah Kagere 0718-442833

2. Omulangira Namugala Mawanda Chwa (sentebbe) 0787-010896

3. Omulangira Joseph Kimbugwe Walugembe 0757-7313980

4. Omulangira Henry Kalemera Kimera 0701-212098

Nga 18^th -March – 2010

Kiteredwako emikono :

l) Omulangira David Namugala Mawanda Chwa ( Sentebbe)

2) Nnalinya Sarah Kagere

AWANGAALE SSABASAJJA KABAKA WA BUGANDA

Below is the the Luganda statement that the Katikkiro of Buganda, Eng. JB Walusimbi, issued on the burning of Buganda’s sacred Kasubi Tombs. The main highlights of the statement are as follows;

• Katikkiro sends condolences to Ssaabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, ba Nnaalinnya, Abalangira n’Abambejja, and the whole of Buganda.
• The Ekibira section, the the remains of the former kings (Ssekabaka) are located suffered serious but limited damage.
• The Buganda kingdom will officially mourn for the loss of Kasubi for one week, starting on March 22, 2010.
• A committee of Buganda officials has already been formed to start investigating what materials and budget would be required to rebuild 130 year old highly unique structure.
• A special session of the Buganda Great Lukiiko has been called to discuss the grave situation on March 22, 2010.

The full text in Luganda is shown below;

March, 17, 2009

EKIWANDIIKO KYA KATIKKIRO KU KW’OKEBWA KWA MASIRO GE KASUBI

Owek. Katikkiro wa Buganda ne nnaku nyingi ategeza Obuganda n’abantu bonna aba Uganda nti enyumba enkulu Muzibuazaalampanga, omwagalamizibwa ba Ssekabaka ba Buganda bana, mu Masiro e Kasubi, abantu abettima abatannamanyibwa baagiteekedde omuliro n’ebengeya mu kiro eky’akeesezza olunaku Lwokusatu nga 16, March 2010.

Katikkiro asaasidde nnyo nnyo Ssaabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, ba Nnaalinnya, Abalangira n’abambejja n’Obuganda bwonna. Gutusinze mukama waffe.

Ekibira ba Ssekabaka gyebaagalamizibwa abaddukirize baakoze buli ekisoboka okutaakiriza yo ne watayonooneka nnyo. Olubiri luno olwakubibwa Ssekabaka Muteesa 1 emyaka egisoba mu 130 gwe mutima gwa Buganda.

Obuganda buli mu biwoobe era tutandiise okukungubaga. Okukungubaga okutongole kujja kutandika ku Lwokusooka nga 22 March era kujja kumalira ddala sabbiiti nnamba okutuuka nga 26 March 2010. Emikolo girikomekkerezebwa mu Masiro e Kasubi.

Akakiiko ka baminisita kateekeddwawo okukola enteekateeka y’okukungubaga eye sabbiiti ennamba, era kajja kutegeeza Obuganda enteekateeka nga bwe zinatambula.

Olukiiko lwa Buganda Olukulu luyitiddwa bukubirire ku Lwokusooka nga 22 March, 2010 ku ssaawa 4.00 ez’enkya tusobole okuteesa ku nsonga eno enkulu.

Watekeddwawo akakiiko kabakugu akagenda okwekenneenya ebyetaagisa (materials) n’ensimbi ezeetaagisa okuzzaawo Amasiro.

Obuganda butegeezebwa nti Obwakabaka busazeewo okuzzaawo Amasiro ga ba Ssekabaka gano, ng’akabonero k’omwoyo gwa Buganda ogutafa, ogutatya era ogutaggwawo.

Ssaabasajja Kabaka Awangaale!

Eng. J.B. Walusimbi

KATIKKIRO

Most Baganda in North America have reached one conclusion about the fire that gutted Buganda’s national shrine, Amasiro ge Kasubi, the royal cemetery where 4 late kings (Bassekabaka) and many other royals are buried. They put the blame squarely on president Yoweri Museveni and his NRM government. And their suspicions were strenghtned by reports that on Wednesday, scores of Baganda were shot by NRM military police because they gave a hostile audience to Museveni. Museveni went inspect the ashes in the place where the royal tombs once stood. Based on the emails we have received from all over the world, it appears that a huge majority of Baganda view Museveni’s visit as a case of the criminal returning to the scene of the crime.

According to the March 17, 2010 Ekiba Kibe broadcasts, Baganda held big Ggwangamujje mourning gatherings in Boston, New Jersey and Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mourning is expected to go on for sometime but no end dates have been announced.  On the same program, the Chairman of Ggwangamujje Boston describes the various ways Museveni has impoverished, robbed and even killed Baganda. As examples, Mr. Mayanja mentions the young virgins of Budo Primary School who were sacrificed in a ritual dormitory fire, other school fires, the destruction of Buganda agriculture, the closure of CBS, the theft of Buganda’s native lands and the murder of ordinary Baganda. Mr. Mayanja announced more mourning meetings, indicating that in America Baganda might mourn for the Kasubi tombs for longer than the one week which Mmengo wants for Buganda.

Click on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10C and on Ekiba_Kibe17Mar10D to listen to the Ekiba Kibe programs of March 17, 2010.

Today’s broadcast of Ekiba Kibe program announced that Baganda in Boston, USA, were to have a wake (lumbe) over the burning of the Kasubi tombs (see “Kasubi Tombs Burnt To The Ground, Day Of Mourning”).  The wake was planned for Tuesday night. Also during the program, the presenter Robert Kabuye interviewed a few Boston Baganda. The consensus by the people which Kabuye interviewed was that Museveni is the one who ordered the burning of the tombs.

Click on Ekiba_Kibe16Mar10A to listen to the March 16, 2010 broadcast of Ekiba Kibe on Free Buganda Radio.

March 16, 2010 will be a day to remember for all future generations of Buganda; it will be a day of mourning. The much revered Kasubi tombs were burnt to the ground by unknown arsonists around 8:30 PM. According to eyewitness reports, the grand structure which housed the remains of four Buganda kings (Bassekabaka) and other members of the royal family, was set alight by people who intended to finish it. Interestingly, the two NRM government fire trucks which responded to the fire, turned out not to have any water , making them useless. This, combined with the fact that Uganda government security men tried to disperse the crowd of Baganda who tried to bring water in buckets, has left many of Kabaka’s subjects bitter.

Four Kabakas (Bassekabaka) are buried at Kasubi tombs, namely:

1.  Muteesa I (1835-1884)

2.  Basamula Mwanga II (1867-1903)

3.  Daudi Chwa II (1896-1939)

4.  Fredrick Walugembe Muteesa II (1924-1969)

Although there is no word yet on who set the sacred Baganda royal cemetery to fire a vast majority of Baganda lay the blame squarely on Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni.  Many point out that Mr. Museveni has laid siege on Buganda since 2009, putting travelling restrictions on Kabaka Mutebi,  shooting dead  over 30 Baganda who protested when the Kabaka was stopped from visiting Kayunga (Bugerere), closing Radio Buganda and persecuting many of the Kabaka’s officials.

Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Walugembe Mutebi II  was born at Mmengo  Lubiri on April 12 13, 1955. The Lion of Buganda (Emplogoma ya Buganda) is the  son of  Ssekabaka (past Kabaka)  Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II, who reigned between 1939 and 1969. His mother was Omuzaana Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole, Kabejja, of the Nkima (monkey) clan. He was educated at Budo Junior School, King’s Mead School in Sussex and Bradford College. He then entered Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read Law.

Omulangira (prince) Mutebi became Kabaka on November 21, 1969, upon the death of Ssekabaka Muteesa II.  However,  all Baganda cultural practices for his coronation were not completed until July 24, 1993 at Naggalabi, Buddo, Busiro county of Buganda. He assumed the titles of Ssabasajja, Cucu, Namunswa, Magulunyondo, Musota, Ssabalangira, Ssabataka, Ssabalongo, Baffe, Beene and many others that Baganda traditionally bestow on their Kabaka.  In recent times, young Baganda have added new hip titles for their Kabaka, including Landiloodi, Mutakwaata Ssimu and Mutateesa to show their appreciation for his uniquely brave and dignified stance when his kingdom is under occupation.

NOTES: Many thanks to Abasajja ba Kabaka Mambo and Arthur George Kamya for correcting our mistakes in this story. Awangaale Ssabasajja!