A source close to Eng. JB Walusimbi has told us that the 65 year Katikkiro of Buganda has is losing interest in position and could be looking for ways get out of the 4-year contract with the kingdom. The source, who is a member of the Katikkiro’s Magunda sub clan (ssiga) of the Ffumbe (civet cat) clan, said: “Since even before the Kayunga riots, Engineer Walusimbi has been facing pressures to leave the office from all sides, even our clan elders, or show more that he is loyal to the Kabaka. Even we his own brothers and sisters have been pressuring him in our own ways because he is shaming our whole clan. By the way, when he was appointed Katikkiro, many of us who are insiders tried to oppose because we knew his background but we were not properly consulted.”

Our source told us that since the Kayunga riots, it appears that Engineer JB Walusimbi has been rethinking his part time job as Katikkiro. She says: “First,  it looks like JB realized during the riots that Baganda youth might one of these days kill him or some of his 6 children because of the image that he is on Museveni’s side. As a person, he wants to be Katikkiro but it is impossible for him when he is much closer  to Gilbert Bukenya and Museveni than he is to Kabaka Mutebi. And the way that Baganda youths are attacking him, is giving him high blood pressure. That is why he is really losing interest, because no one trusts him. Not even most of us members of his Magunda ssiga.”

Many Baganda were incensed with the statement that Katikkiro Walusimbi issued after the “gun on your head” Kabaka Mutebi was forced to have with Uganda warlord, Yoweri Museveni on September 30, 2009 (see “Katikkiro JB Walusimbi Praises Gunpoint Meeting Between Kabaka and Museveni“).  Since then, Katikkiro Walusimbi, has all but abandoned making pro-Buganda public statements or associating himself with the hundreds of Baganda who were murdered or continue to be arrested and tortured by the NRM government. The Katikkiro is even low key on the arrests and continuing harassment of Kabaka’s officials by Museveni’s security forces. He reportedly avoided assisting Kabaka’s official ,Betty Nambooze, with her medical problems, for fear of annoying Museveni who hates her.  According to local press reports, Kabaka Mutebi was forced to personally get involved in Nambooze’s case, working through other obedient ministers to provide her with much needed medical care.

If it is true that Engineer Walusimbi is losing interest his position as Katikkiro, there is evidence that he could be developing a new interest. Over the last two weeks, Katikkiro Walusimbi’s high profile engagements were closing the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) trade show and presiding over the Rotary Club announcement of free medical operations program for the poor. At the UMA event, Owek. Walusimbi surprised many in the audience when he promised that Buganda would never reclaim the 9,000 square miles from its illegal occupiers but only partner with them to generate income from the land. The subject of how the 9,000 miles would be administered has never been discussed by the Buganda Lukiiko. Many of Engineer Walusimbi’s critics are also upset that this “Kabaka ow’ebweeru” was giving attention to Rotary Club medical operations instead of putting priority on getting Betty Nambooze the urgent surgery she needs.

Samwiri Mukasa
Buganda Nationalist
USA

I was shocked by Charles Onyango Obbo’s decision to ridicule Baganda and, by extension, our Kabaka in his Ear to The Ground column, which will appear in the Monitor newspaper of July 22, 2009. To paraphrase one smart non-Muganda, “A little power is dangerous”. Apparently, Mr. Obbo, a former UPC youth winger, is convinced that his relative popularity and longevity in the Opinion business, empowers him to ridicule a 1,000 year old kingdom. I say, Obbo’s little power is quite dangerous to us Baganda, other residents of Buganda, and even his own family.

In his column entitled, “Here are guerilla tactics for Buganda in its ‘war’” Mr. Obbo first admits that “Uganda will never be able to move forward until the Buganda question is resolved and taken off the table.” Then he proceeds to recommended, mockingly, a list of “clever guerilla tactics Buganda might adopt to win over the majority of Ugandans to its side.” Mr. Obbo tells Kabaka Mutebi and his Baganda to try the following to please and gain the support of other Ugandans: (a) convert the Bika by’Abaganda tournament to a Uganda district level competition, (b) change the Buganda regatta (boating competition) to a Ugandan regatta; (c) similarly, abandon the Buganda wrestling competition (Ekigwo Gombya) in favor of a Uganda version, and (d) start a new game, bull fights where bulls owned by Mr. Museveni would be able to field a team from his ranches.

In Mr. Onyango Obbo’s words, “I suspect most referees will be inclined to blow the whistle in favour of  Kaguta’s bulls. As a man who loves his animals deeply, I suspect this will warm Museveni’s heart to no end and he will look more generously upon Buganda’s representations.” And after condemning Buganda to future to the mercy of Mr. Museveni, Mr. Obbo wields his ‘little power’ to concludes on a serious note that, “Buganda will then discover an old truth; you can never win the game, if you don’t play.”

For years, before I read Charles Onyango Obbo’s latest column, I was a big fan. I learnt to overlook his UPC youth winger past because I believe that people can change. But more, importantly, because I thought that he was a smart person. I think differently now. For, it takes a fool think that this is the time to “kick Buganda in the stomach”, just to get some laughs and dollars. Mr. Obbo, I am no longer a fan and, thanks to you, I have joined those Baganda who would rather be feared, even if not respect me. Please stop attacking my Kabaka and fellow Baganda; keep off Buganda and our Kabaka. We have a saying, “Abaganda busa bwa mbogo!”.

Ssabasajja Kabaka Awangaale!

A scout group in the UK has received a generous contribution from the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM) to help reach its fundraising target of £100,000 – all in aid of helping the scouts’ Ugandan counterparts.

According to a press release by ICM, the Nile 2010 trip to the Jinja, Uganda, is the biggest expedition of any scout group in the English town of Bournemouth so far. It will be made in 2010 by a group of more than 30 youngsters from 38th Bournemouth Scouts & Avon Explorers Group based in Winton and Iford.

The scouts will undertake youth work with Ugandan children, will camp with the Ugandan Scout Association and work on local development projects – including the building of a vocational training centre with the help of a brick-building machine. ICM has donated money to fund the indispensable machine – which accounts for around a quarter of the total money needed for the trip.

Once built, the centre will help Ugandan street children – many of whom have been orphaned by war or HIV/AIDS – who will also be trained on how to use the brick-building machine, and may also be a central point that allows the community access to clean drinking water.

For the expedition to happen, every scout has to raise a total of £2,500 each through sponsored events to help contribute to the total £100,000 that needs to be raised.

Mike Harley, the Group’s scout leader and organiser of the expedition, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the kind offer from ICM to fund the brick-making machine. It is a huge leap forward in our fundraising for which we are all most grateful”.

Dr Alistair Somerville Ford, ICM’s Chairman, said: “I was more than willing to donate to the 38th Bournemouth Scout Group’s trip. It’s such a worthwhile expedition and will contribute so much to the local community within Jinja. And, rather than being a short-term fix, the actions of the scouts will leave a lasting legacy that will enable and empower Ugandans to build a real future for themselves.”

For further information about Nile 2010 visit www.nile2010.co.uk.