In a statement likely to anger many Baganda who are loyal to Kabaka Mutebi, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi yesterday praised the meeting between Kabaka Mutebi and Uganda warlord, Yoweri Museveni. A source in Buganda Government, who requested anonymity, sent as a message to alert us to the statement, which Katikkiro Walusimbi posted on the Buganda official website www.buganda.or.ug. The same source also told us: “Buganda’s cabinet is much divided. Some who have a strange history with Museveni, like Owek. Mayiga and Owek. Walusimbi appear to be unwilling to make Museveni angry at any cost. Then there are principled and brave people like Nsubuga Nsambu, Mpanga, Ssegona, Mpuuga and even Kabuuza Mukasa who seem to reason that cowardice is not acceptable when Buganda and Kabaka are at stake. Some are of ‘wamma wandiba omutuufu’ type, either chasing personal interests in Mmengo or good people who are simply unable to cope with the problems Buganda is facing today. An even bigger problem is that our people are part-time when Museveni’s agents work around the clock.”

The statement issued by Katikkiro Walusimbi  paints the picture that all previous tensions between Buganda and her occupiers have disappeared with this one meeting. In one section of his statement, the Katikkiro specifically claims that:  “The meeting marks an end to the rift that had grown between the Kingdom and the central government and has been appreciated by both leaders.”  The Katikkiro’s statement does not reveal whether he consulted the Kabaka or the Buganda cabinet its issue.

Immediately after getting the Internet address for the statement, we shared it with our New York based analyst and asked for his opinion. In his email reply to this writer, the analyst said: “I refuse to accept that this statement was written by a whole Katikkiro of the Kingdom of Buganda because it is totally unrelated to reality. Before the meeting, Museveni had murdered over 30 Baganda, wounded hundreds and imprisoned over 700, threatened to abolish the Buganda kingdom, was arresting Lubega Sseggona and hunting for Betty Namboozi. Yet Engineer Walusimbi tells us with a straight face that, in a one-hour meeting,  Kabaka Mutebi abandoned his principles and his loyal subjects preferring to close any rift with a foreigner who is occupying his Kingdom by force of arms. Every serious Muganda knows that Kabaka went to the meeting at gun point. If the Engineer is telling the truth then I am Michael Jackson – the guy who died was an impostor.”

The statement issued by Katikkiro JB Walusimbi is reproduced in full below:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM KATIKKIRO’S OFFICE

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Eng J.B.Walusimbi informs the people of Buganda that the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has met the president, H.E Yoweri Katguta Museveni on an official visit at State House in Entebbe.

On arrival at State House, His majesty was warmly welcomed by the president and they both discussed various issues.

The meeting marks an end to the rift that had grown between the Kingdom and the central government and has been appreciated by both leaders.

On his visit, the Kabaka was accompanied by the Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi, Prince David Wasajja, Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilson Mutebi of Mityana, minister for Nkuluze Amb. William Matovu, Chairperson Bataka council Nakirembeka Eng Alan Waliggo, A.D. Lubowa, Mahabub Ssemakalu and Peter Mpanga.

J.B. WALUSIMBI

KATIKKIRO.

30-09-2009

Sources in the Uganda Foreign Affairs ministry have informed us that president Museveni changed his mind about leaving the USA early after reconciling with Libya’s Moammar Gadaffi, getting some badly needed sleep and overcoming much of the panic he had about Kabaka Mutebi back in Kampala. Apparently the lowered stress also led to a reduction in Museveni’s foot pain, which kept him seated in the UN even when everyone was standing or walking around (see “Kabaka, Obama, Foot Pain, and Baganda Demos Force Museveni To Leave USA“. Museveni reportedly arrived in Boston on Friday and, if his feet remain stable, he will be the chief guest at the 2009 NRM Forum.

Our reporter in Boston has learnt that the Kabaka’s anti-Museveni subjects made no changes in the demo plans, even after word came that the Ugandan warlord might not show. They were willing to demonstrate even if Ruhakana Rugunda was the chief guest. An estimated 500-1,000 are expected to demonstrate against Museveni and his anti-Buganda NRM government.

In the meantime, last week Baganda from the whole North East USA announce plans to protest at the NRM Gala, which will be hosted at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel, downtown Boston (see “USA Baganda Demonstrations Set for Boston NRM Gala“. The Baganda demonstration will take place at We will be holding a rally tomorrow, on Saturday September 26, 2009 at the Boston Common on the same also at 110 Huntington Avenue in Boston. Museveni is expected to start speaking at 10:00 AM and the Baganda intend to start their demonstration one hour earlier and continue after he finishes. Major news media organizations are expected to be present.

On September 23, 2009, Museveni decided to leave the USA early and skip the NRM Forum after being snubbed by President Obama and getting embarrassed by a large pro-Kabaka demonstration at the UN by about 100 Baganda. Museveni fortunes changed when Libyan military dictator, Moammar Gadaffi, agreed to meet with him in New York City. According to our sources, the two African warlords reconciled and agreed to work together on the  Buganda  issue.  Museveni was reportedly cheered up by the Gadaffi, reconciliation because believed reports by his dysfunctional  intelligence that Mmengo was getting assistance from Libya.  The Libyan side has down played the reconciliation however, a sign that Museveni needed it much more than they did.

In an indirectly related story, we have received unconfirmed reports that although Museveni’s feet became much better on Thursday after he got some sleep, he still needs to keep then in a basin of cold water to relieve pain. And he is still anxious to return to occupied Buganda and continue his efforts to  force Kabaka Mutebi to talk to him.

A reliable source in the Uganda Foreign ministry has discreetly informed us that Uganda’s military strongman, president Yoweri Museveni will probably leave the USA prematurely on Thursday or Friday this week. Previously, Museveni had planned to stay until Sunday so that he could attend the annual NRM Gala in Boston. According to the source, Museveni had planned to go to New York after humiliating Baganda by succeeding to force Kabaka Mutebi to meet him. Certain influential Baganda who expect to personally benefit if Buganda accepts the Regional Tier government and CBS Radio is reopened, had promised to deliver Kabaka Mutebi by last Saturday. However, by the time Museveni left for the USA the Kabaka had said “No” to what seems to be a trick to make him (the Kabaka) appear like he is prostituting himself in exchange for re-opening CBS Radio.

Our source said: “The frustration that the president feels about the Kabaka’s tough stance has made it so difficult for him to get sleep and aggravated his feet problem, to where he cannot stand for 10 minutes.”  The source gave this as the reason why president Museveni greeted several important personalities at the UN while sitting, even when everyone around him was standing.

Our source also reveals that Museveni had gone to the USA with the expectation that he might have a one-on-one meeting with President Obama. However, Mr. Obama preferred to meet all African leaders together and give them a lecture about the need to stop dictatorships and create jobs – the things where Museveni is doing worst. The source adds that: “The bipolar president was not amused to then hear that about 100 Baganda were going to hold a major demonstration during his UN speech and accuse him of genocide in front cameras from major USA news organizations.  With the increasing worry about the Kabaka situation, the Obama snub, the burning pain in his feet and hostile American Baganda, Mrs. Museveni convinced her husband that staying in the USA longer is too risky.”

Museveni and his wife plan to depart from the USA sometime on Thursday or, latest, on Friday. At the time of posting this story, it was not clear if Museveni’s state house had even informed all concerned ambassadors or the NRM Gala organizers in Boston.

A source in the Namirembe Diocese of the Church of Uganda (Church of Buganda) has confirmed to this writer that the new bishop of the diocese received a letter warning him of a conspiracy by foreigners to steal church property. The new bishop is Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who was consecrated on May 31, 2009. Our source, who spoke on condition anonymity for fear of reprisals, also confirmed that the letter is supposed to have come from one Asumani Balwaana Kaama of the Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje. However, the source could not verify if the letter received is identical to the one which Buganda Post had received around the same time.

The version which was sent to Buganda Post congratulates Luwalira on his advancement to become the head of the Anglican Church of Buganda. Then begs him resist all expected attempts by President Museveni to compromise him, starting with a personal car gift. Then it warns him of coming pressure from Archibishop Orombi of Uganda to use Buganda church land for “projects” and to place Banyankore and other foreigners into key positions within the Church of Buganda. Finally, the Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje pleads with the bishop to immediately stop allowing political speeches in Buganda Anglican churches, which demeans the institution and serves to divide and divert Baganda from their common national interests.

The Luganda letter which Buganda Post received is reporoduced below without translation.

 
Namirembe Diocese
P.O.Box 14297
Kampala, Uganda
 
June 11, 2009

Ssebo Omulabirizi Kityo Luwalira,

N’obuwombeefu tukwaniriza era tukukulisa okutuuka ku bukulembeze bwe Kanisa mu bwakabaka bwa Buganda. Obwesigwa e Kanisa, Ssaabasajja, n’Endiga za Katonda bwebakutaddemu kintu kikulu nnyo ekye’kitiibwa nga ate kya buvunanyizibwa.

Ebiro bino abalabe ba Lutikko beyongedde obungi. Era ssebo gy’otabadde e Kanisa yaffe kata bagitwaale, abantu bano ab’obulabe ekigendererwa kyabwe tebanakivaako. Twagadde okukozesa omukisa guno nga wakatandika obuvunanyizibwa bwo nga Omulabirizi we Namirembe tukusibire entanda:

1. Omukulembeze wa Yuganda Yoweri Museveni oba abaleebesibe bajja kugezaako okukugulirira – ekintu kino Museveni yakitandika na kusuubiza nga bwajja okukugulira emotoka. Ssebo gakuwebwa munno! Emotoka eyo togikkiriza nga ggwe omuntu – Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira. Olukukwasanga emotoka eyo, kaada yayo nga etekebwa mu mannya g’obulabirizi bwe Namirembe. Era tusaba nawe okirangirire lwattu mu Kanisa Lutikko nti Gavumenti ya Yuganda yatonedde obulabirizi bwe Namirembe emotoka; obanyonnyole nti emotoka si yiyo.
 
2. Ssaabalabirizi w’eKanisa mu Yuganda Henry Luke Orombi oba abatume be bajja kujja bakusabe ettaka ly’eKanisa eryagiweebwa Ssabasajja; katugambe nga bagamba nti baagala bateekeko “projects” ate bave awo ettaka eryo baliteeke mu manya ga “project” – oba ebintu ebifananako bwebityo ebinaabasobozesa okubba ettaka lye Kanisa ya Buganda. Ssebo tukusaba ettaka ly’ekanisa mu Buganda olikuume butiribiri.
 
3. Tukimanyi nti Yoweri Museveni n’abatume be bajja kutuukilira nga baagala osooke okulonda oba okussa Abanyankole oba abantu abalala aba NRM mu bifo eby’obuvunanyizibwa munda mu Kanisa ye Namirembe. Tukusaba oleme kwesembereza nkola g’eno. Buli omu akimanyi nti tewali muganda ayinza kuweebwa mulimu mu makanisa g’eMbarara, Toro, Busoga, e.t.c. N’olwekyo olina okulaba nga Namirembe tasenserwa bannabyabufuzi oba abagwiira abagenda okugisekeeterera nga basinzidde munda mwayo. Bajjajjafe balwaana nyo okukuma Namirembe okuviira ddala mu 1890, nawe ky’ovude osobodde okugisangawo. Tukusaba ojjukirenga nti Namirembe Kanisa ya Buganda era n’ebyobugagga byonna (ttaka, bizimbe, masomero, mayumba, malwarilo, e.t.c) bya Namirembe so ssi Church of Uganda.
 
4. Tuli benyamivu lwa nsonga nti tutandise okulaba omuze gw’okufuula Lutikko akadaala k’ebyobufuzi. Namirembe atandise omuze gw’okuddira ba naby’obufuzi nemubakkiriza okwogerera ku kituuti mu Kanisa nga bwebagala. N’obuwombeefu, tukusaba gwe nga Omulabirizi omuze guno gukome. Teguweesa Kanisa kitiibwa, okujjako okwawulayawula mu ndiga za mukama. Tewali nsonga yonna lwaki ab’ebyobufuzi basinziira mu Kanisa yaffe okukuba pokopoko wabwe, aleeta enjawukana mu bantu ba Ssaabasajja. Tukusaba olabe nti omuze guno gukoma.

Ssebo omulabirizi tukwebaza emirimu gy’okoledde e Kanisa n’Obuganda. Naye wootaali, olutalo luno twalulwaana okulaba nti tebatusiba balabirizi betutamanyi nsibuko zaabwe. Ebbaluwa yaffe gyetwawandiikira Ssaabalabirizi Orombi ku saawa yakazzigizzigi nga n’omukulembeze Yoweri Museveni yafunako, yiiyo wansi gyesomere.

Tuli bamalirivu era twewaddeyo okutunula omuntu yenna mu munnye anagezaako okukyusa obwanannyini bw’ebintu bya Namirembe ne Buganda nga Ssaabasajja awamu n’Obuganda nga tebasiimye. Okwo kuba kulya lukwe mu Bwakabaka bwa Buganda. Ekibonerezo kyomusango ng’ogwo kimanyiddwa buli Muganda.

Awangaale Ssaabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda.
Asumani Balwaana Kaama
Union of Councils for Ggwanga Mujje

On September 11, 2008 this columnist credited president Museveni inspired Baganda bashing for the emergency of a new breed of Muganda. Kabaka Mutebi, the most important of all Baganda, had gotten fade up and sent the signal to Baganda to relentlessly fight for their land and political rights. And sensing this new tone from their Kabaka, many Baganda, led by the youth and those in the diaspora crystallized into  this new Muganda who will not be cowed. It now appears that the new Muganda is starting to tell the Baganda bashers, “Payback time is coming!”

September and October 2008 have witnessed exponential growth in Buganda bashing and overt discrimination against Baganda in jobs and government. Emails forwarded to this columnist from Internet discussion groups such as UgandansAtHeart and UNAANET spew increasingly hostile verbal attacks against Baganda.  The worst abuse comes from Banyankore, Bakiga and Banyarwanda. And some comes from Museveni’s Baganda agents. Some political analysts attribute the anti-Baganda surge to the massive spending by President Museveni. He spent millions to kill the Buganda Independence celebrations and to muzzle the so called Mmengo radicals. He has also allocated a few hundred thousand dollars to keep control over the UNAA Convention in Chicago and to kill Ttabamiruka ’09 in Boston.

The story told by one Semakula (other names omitted on request) in an email to this columnist illustrates the extent of the hatred against Baganda. Semakula went for a job interview earlier in October. When it was the turn of one Munyankore member of the interview panel, he skipped the questions and simply told off Semakula. In Semakula’s words, “He abused me and asked me why I don’t go to Kabaka to employ me; and he assured me that there was no job for me. I got paralyzed but prayed to God that may be some day we shall liberate ourselves.”

Baganda have been pushed against the wall by experiences such that of Semakula above; that is why they now are openly telling their tormentors and their collaborators that payback time may be around the corner. When the organizers of Ttabamiruka ‘07 disowned occupation collaborators Kintu Musoke, Tamale Mirundi and Aisha Kabanda, they were saying, “It’s payback time collaborators.” When Dick Kasolo and Baganda youth’s pulled the microphone away from Kahinda (The Ugly) Otafiire at the funeral of late MP Winnie Makumbi, the new Muganda was saying, “It’s payback time tormentors.” When Apollo (Bampaane) Nsibambi was stopped from addressing mourners at the funeral services for late Haji Sulaiman Kiggundu, the same new Muganda was warning, “It’s payback time, showoff guy.”

The new Muganda is not letting up. During the October 11, 2008 edition of the CBS FM Radio program Mambo Baado, Baganda youths in the audience chased away Museveni’s RDC for Mpigi, Katenda Luutu, because “he is part of the government that stopped Kabaka Mutebi from going to Nakasongola.” This act shocked Museveni so much that he instructed Kale Kaihura, the inspector of Uganda police, to interrogate Ssozi Kaddu Mukasa and establish what really happened. And Katenda Luutu’s security has been beefed up.

The latest dramatic “payback time” message from the new Muganda was delivered on October 17, 2008 in Kiwatule, near Ntinda. That is where Muluuli Mukasa, Museveni’s former security minister and front man on Buluuli lives. Earlier in the week, Baganda residents of the area, led by Kabaka’s village chief (not the same as Museveni’s LC 1), had delivered a letter to Mukasa Muluuli’s home. The letter summoned him to attend an October 17, 2008 meeting and defend himself against “rumors” that he was involved in stopping Kabaka Mutebi from visiting Nakasongola. Mukasa Muluuli did not come but sent a message that he was out of town but would meet them as soon as he returned. In the meantime though, this columnist has learnt from a reliable Uganda government source that Mukasa Muluuli is scared and has requested Museveni  for more security, starting with getting him a car. He cites newspaper reports that quoted the villagers as saying, “We don’t want Muluuli Mukasa to live among us when some of the villagers view him as an enemy, especially considering that he regularly travels at night on foot or by taxi through the village.”

Baganda have a proverb, “Ebibimba bikka” (“Whatever goes up come down”). This columnist argues that  President Museveni started coming down in 1998, the day he started his campaign to grab Buganda land through the Land Act which Baganda heavily protested.  That is when he started genuine loss of support among Baganda. He started the bashing as a defensive move against Baganda resistance but now it has produced this new Muganda. The new Muganda is on his way to become ungovernable by outsiders like Museveni. And the new Muganda is starting to quietly say, “Payback time” to Museveni’s collaborators. The big question is: Will all Baganda bashers be able to ask for protection from Museveni like Muluuli Mukasa? Why not simply stop the senseless Baganda bashing?