On Thursday February 26, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi stood up president Museveni of Uganda when he did not turn up for the much publicized land negotiations between Mmengo and Museveni.  According to our sources, Walusimbi could not go because key members of his cabinet overruled him. They insisted that Mmengo must not negotiate with Museveni about giving up anything to him on his proposed Land (Amendment) Bill, 2008. They argued that it would be disobedience to Kabaka Mutebi who had publicly called it a bad bill and told all Baganda to oppose it. Equally important, they insisted that while talking to Museveni was alright, it must be about full restoration of all Buganda’s property and political rights – not begging.

The problem for Walusimbi is that he had already assured Museveni that he could bring Mmengo to the table to negotiate the contentious Land (Amendment) Bill, 2008. So when the loyal Baganda ministers put their feet down he was left in a fix. And he opted to simply hide from Museveni. One source close to Museveni’s state house told us that: “Museveni is very annoyed that Walusimbi failed to turn up.  The president was made to look like a man who was promised some gold by Congolese con men and left holding a bag full of stones. He has been asking people near him, ‘What is wrong with Baganda?’ ”

It has been widely reported by the local Buganda press that Museveni and JB Walusimbi have been engaged in secret negotiations over Buganda issues since July 2008. What we can exclusively report from a highly reliable source very close to the Katikkiro is that the negotiations primarily focused on how to soften what Museveni, Walusimbi and other NRM big wigs think is Kabaka Mutebi’s excessive power today. Mr. Museveni and the Katikkiro had reportedly reached agreements the following key areas by January 28, 2009:

1. Museveni had convinced JB Walusimbi that if Kabaka Mutebi continued to accumulate so much power over Baganda it could lead to a show down where Baganda like him (Walusimbi) were going to lose lives and their businesses. And the way to control the Kabaka’s escalating influence was to remove Nambooze, Mpanga and Ssegona from CBS Radio and give the Katikkiro more control over Mmengo.
2. Walusimbi had convinced Museveni 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 Gilbert Bukenya’s support.
3. The two sides had agreed that to soften Kabaka Mutebi it was important to isolate him more from the Baganda youths who are getting more dangerous, starting with the removal of Betty Nambooze from CBS. Curiously, the two sides had also agreed that the removal of Nambooze could be made simpler if it was accompanied with the firing of highly unpopular Baganda like Tamale Mirundi or Minister Kinobe or even Nsibambi.

What Museveni and Katikkiro Walusimbi could not control are the leaks about their so called secret talks over the months. For example, rumors of Museveni’s willingness to fire Tamale Mirundi or even Nsibambi to appease Baganda first surfaced in early January 2009. Apparently the many leaks helped the intended victims to plan and execute necessary counter moves.

A New York based Muganda thought leader told this reporter that it is the leakages which probably led Museveni to panic and hold that bizarre press conference on February 10, 2009. He said:  “I think that the leaks reached the intended victims at Mmengo Bulange and they fought back with rapid fire on CBS FM radio. Indeed, my contacts tell me that after getting an ISO briefing on the public response to the February 7th Mambo Baado presentation by Mpanga and Nambooze, Museveni decided to temporarily withdraw his Land (Amendment) Bill, 2008.  In effect, ISO people told him that Nambooze and Mpanga had mobilized Baganda youth to a point where public violence was inevitable if the land bill was read in parliament. In fact, in a slip of the toungue, Museveni admitted the role Nambooze and Mpanga in his panicky decision when he told the press conference:  ‘Don’t allow anyone to mislead you that we are withdrawing the bill because of the lies told by Nambooze and Mpanga on CBS radio’.”

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)

Betty Bakireke Nambooze has promised her listeners that the fight by her Civil Education Committee for Buganda’s land and human rights will soon be stepped up. She explained that the relative quiet that followed the illegal kidnap and captivity of herself, Lubega Sseggona and Peter Mayiga was only a tactical withdraw. The Civic Education Committee was appointed by Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi, with Nambooze as its chairman.

Nambooze made the remarks last Tuesday on the weekly CBS Radio FM talk show program Kiriza oba Gaana (Agree or Disagree). Earlier this week Buganda Post carried an exclusive report about the financial challenges the Nambooze and her committee were facing in continuing their work. During Kiriza oba Gaana, Nambooze said that they had made the tactical withdraw to give the Government campaign to sell the Land Act amendments fail by itself. She said (our translation), “We have given the other side a chance to sell their story but most people can see, no one is buying. So we are coming back soon to bring the truth to you again, and teach you what it really going on.”

Nambooze’s statements came only days after similar declarations by another Buganda official who was kidnapped and kept in captivity in August, 2008, Medard Lubega Sseggona (Lubega Sseggona Vows To Keep Fighting for Buganda). It is still not clear if there is any connection between the statements by the two popular Buganda rights advocates and the evidence that CBS Radio management is taking its orders from President Museveni’s government.

About a month earlier CBS Radio management and Katikkiro Walusimbi tried to discontinue Betty Nambooze’s programs, only to be stopped by Ssabasajja Kabaka himself. More recently, CBS management caved to the demands of Museveni’s minister, Amama Mbabazi, and refused to air live a program where his political opponents Jim Muhweezi and Kahinda Otafiire were to appear on September 28, 2008. Katikkiro Walusimbi has even appointed a special “internal censor” of CBS programs, Cambridge University trained Haj. Mustafa Mutyaba, to make sure that Mr. Museveni’s expectations are generally met by what is broadcast.

On August 6, 2008 Mr. Museveni’s government kidnapped Nambooze, together with Peter Mayiga, Buganda Minister of Information and Lubega Sseggona, Buganda Deputy Minister of Information. The three were illegally held for nearly a week until a judge ruled the detention to be illegal captivity. Originally the government claimed that the trio, together with others, had plotted to prosecute war against Uganda but when take to court, they were only charged with sedition.

On Sunday September 9, 2008, Kabaka’s Deputy Minister for Information, Medard Lubega Sseggona, vowed to remain loyal to Kabaka Mutebi and keep on fighting for Buganda’s native land that were stolen by the Uganda Government in 1996, as well as political and human rights. Lubega was speaking at the launching of Mpuuga Cup in Masaka, Buddu, which is sponsored by Kabaka’s Deputy Minister of Youth, Mathias Mpuuga.

The tough-talking Lubega told the excited crowd that when President Museveni’s government kidnapped him and held him hostage for about 10 days in August this year, the experience only increased his resolve and strength to continue fighting for Buganda’s rights. He explained the only reason for his arrest and that of Betty Nambooze and Charles Mayiga was because they were publically fighting for Baganda’s land rights.

Driscilla, Ndibalekera, Kisakye and Ssuubi are among the many names which have been given to the new daughter to Kabaka’s Minister and recent Uganda government kidnap victim Medard Lubega Sseggona and his wife Diana Namuli Lubega. Driscilla was born on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 in Namirembe hospital. Both mother and daughter are in good health and have been receiving a stream of well wishers from all walks of life. Mrs. Namuli Lubega, who is a medical doctor by training, was reported to be excited and relieved that the delivery was free of complications despite the stress that the abduction of her husband had put on her.

An excited Medard Lubega praised both his wife and new daughter for their bravery and determination during their trials only days before the delivery. He humorously declared that his daughter was “a special person and very brave and we praise God that she is healthy because there was something like a conspiracy to turn her into an orphan on day one.”

Medard Lubega is one of the Mmengo three who were kidnapped by the Uganda government on July 20, 2008 and accused of, among other things sedition and promoting war. For nearly a week they were driven around Western Uganda for unclear reasons before being released on bail and police bond on July 25, 2008. During Medard Lubega’s captivity his wife, who was 8 months pregnant, mounted a search for him which took her to places like Kyenjojo and Bundibujo clocking over 400 miles of Uganda’s poorly maintained roads.

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