On August 26. 2010, Mr James Kabonge sent us a statement  giving  his side of the story about the abusive emails that were written about the Nnabagereka of Buganda. Mr. Kabonge was responding to claims by Michael Kimbugwe-Musoke of Washington DC that he (Kimbugwe) was helped by United States intelligence people to prove that Kabonge was responsible for the nasty letters.

Mr. Kabonge’s email is reproduced below without editing.

Tuesday, August 25, 2010

 Dear Ugandans and Uganda’s friends in and outside of United States:

 RE: MY RESPONSE TO THE GROSS ACCUSATIONS BY MR MICHAEL STEPHEN KIMBUGWE, THE SON OF KABAKA’S REPRESENTATIVE MR. FRED KALEMA MUSOKE.

BY: JAMES KABONGE.

 I am taking my turn to respond to Mr. Michael Kimbugwe’s venomous and vicious attack on my character and what I stand for. I am also hurt by going public with this kind of mudslinging which would normally be confined within the local area and resolved amicably. However, I am forced to respond using the same public media that Mr. Kimbugwe chose in order for me to reach the same readership.

Rather than rushing and reacting to each and every one of his personal accounts, I chose to step back and find the real reason why he was compelled to unleash the kind of bitterness displayed and directed at one man, namely, James Kabonge. I have done a lot of soul searching and talked to many people in our local community here in Metro Washington DC, friends and non-friends alike. A handful of people like Mr. John Mayanja of Ggwanga Mujje, Boston, MA  were instantly excited and rushed to congratulate Mr. Kimbugwe for a job well done (see his email posted by Buganda Post on 15 August, 2010 which was also distributed to many Ugandans everywhere). It is regrettable that there was no effort made by Buganda Post to publish such explosive information in its raw form without further journalistic research. Another supporter of Mr. Kimbugwe’s article was Mr. Caroli Mpoza, Chairman of UNAA Washington DC Convention 2010 who mass emailed a lot of people on August 9, 2010 with the following message:

“Mr. Kimbugwe, I would first like to commend you for the guts to investigate the despicable acts that you have unveiled….”

Otherwise, the majority of independent thinkers in and out of Uganda have wrestled with such questions as, “What propelled Mr. Kimbugwe to lash out publicly with such blatant personal false accusations against Mr. Kabonge?  What did James Kabonge do to him to trigger such attack? And what facts does Mr. Kimbugwe have to support his personal statements? If this is all about HRN Nnabagereka, why does Mr. Kimbugwe inject the First Lady of Uganda Janet Museveni in what seems to be a personal revenge against James Kabonge? Is the timing of Kimbugwe’s fiction related to various Uganda conventions taking place in the USA in September one of which is led by James Kabonge? How will James defend or respond to all this? Did Mr. Kimbugwe act alone or was he simply used as a front?” The list goes on because Mr. Kimbugwe’s story is disjointed, full of holes and it raises more questions than answers. It is composed of fragments of conversational pieces based on random memory and questionable quotes.

On Saturday August 7, 2010 after reading Mr. Kimbugwe’s story in the media, one veteran  Ugandan community leader who was at the forefront of UNAA Chicago Convention and a current active participant in the reconstruction of Buganda wrote:

“Mr. Kimbugwe….I have been forced to dismiss your entire document. Your statement about the Electoral process in Chicago is a fuss and total innuendos designed to divert attention from your own Washington DC local issues. It is based on rumors and only you can dismiss the facts”

As for Mr. Kimbugwe’s so called good friend from college and an expert in cyber counter terrorism working in the United States of Defense who helped Kimbugwe in his investigations, the same Ugandan added the following comment:

“Mr. Kimbugwe, the above cannot be true because no Department of Defense expert/employee in counter terrorism can risk his/her security accreditation to utilize government resources to help a “friend” in a private sector !!. This is illegal for your information. This cannot be true and as a matter of fact if anyone took issue with you to the Department of Defense … this could not be a pretty outcome for your friend”

Please note that this so called Kimbugwe’s friend (if there is such a friend) is the main accomplice in Kimbugwe’s IT investigative exercise. Working with this so called counter terrorism expert, Mr. Kimbugwe claims that he was able to determine that I was “Procovia Musoke” who sent a derogatory email about HRN Nnabagereka using my computer identified by the IP No 64.25.92.98 Ladies and gentlemen, bear in mind that this finding is the central accusation of Mr. Kimbugwe’s attack. I want to inform everyone of you that this is where Mr. Kimbugwe rubber stamped his own title of MR.LIAR. This is why:

The IP # he provided for my computer is incorrect. Anyone of you or anybody with basic IT knowledge can do the same thing using the original email header received (not a forwarded copy). My real American Online IP No is 64.12.206.41 I have had this same account for years and my IP number has remained the same.  Here is proof of my own IP number:

 

Return-Path: <jkabonge@aol.com <mailto:jkabonge@aol.com> >

Delivery-Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:11:37 -0400

Received-SPF: pass (mxus1: domain of aol.com designates 64.12.206.41 as permitted sender) client-ip=64.12.206.41; envelope-from=jkabonge@aol.com <mailto:jkabonge@aol.com> ; helo=imr-ma03.mx.aol.com;

Received: from imr-ma03.mx.aol.com (imr-ma03.mx.aol.com [64.12.206.41])

by mx.perfora.net (node=mxus1) with ESMTP (Nemesis)

 The abusive email about NRN Nnabagereka sent by Proscovia Musoke shows that the computer IP number of the sender was NO 172.29.96.204) using Yahoo IPO server 98.138.85.208 and the email originated from Los Angeles, CA  area, approx 3000 miles from Rockville, MD where my computer is located. Here is proof copy of my finding:

 

X-AOL-UID: 3681.55505122

X-AOL-DATE: Fri, 18 Jun 2010  5:46:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Return-Path: <prossmusoke@yahoo.com>

Received: from mtain-mg04.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtain-mg04.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.96.204]) by air-mb03.mail.aol.com (v129.4) with ESMTP id MAILINMB033-a21e4c1be93b73; Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:46:35 -0400

Received: from web120401.mail.ne1.yahoo.com (web120401.mail.ne1.yahoo.com [98.138.85.208])

            by mtain-mg04.r1000.mx.aol.com (Internet Inbound) with SMTP id 0455438000094

X-AOL-IP: 98.138.85.208

–0-1230334872-1276897593=:47834

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

If Baganda don’t control Nnaabageraka, the bitch will begin to imagine tha=

t she can control Buganda.

 None of these two IPs, mine or Proscovia’s matche what Kimbugwe and his IT expert want us to believe !!!!!!!!

Therefore, I can solemnly swear that I AM NOT PROSCOVIA MUSOKE AND I DID NOT SEND THAT EMAIL ABOUT NNABAGEREKA BECAUSE I DON’T LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND MY COMPUTER IP NUMBER IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE PROVIDED BY INVESTIGATOR KIMBUGWE AND HIS COUNTER TERRORIST EXPERT.

We may need to direct the attention to California to find out who the real culprit is. Can Mr.  Kimbugwe’s glamorized IT expert help?

In another one of his expertise claims, Mr. Kimbugwe boasts that he drove past my house, took pictures, then he and his “friend” used “thermal imaging” technology to pinpoint the location of my computer in the house and what I was doing. Ladies and gentlemen, we might not be as sophisticated in these technological advances as Mr. Kimbugwe since he seems to be a cut above the rest of us.  However, we know enough to understand that thermal imaging is currently limited for use by the United States government.   Kimbugwe better be prepared to produce this friend who seems to be massively abusing his position in government although commonsense tells us that his IT friend must be IMAGINARY.

That’s why On Tuesday August 17, 2010, the same informed Ugandan added on a further comment by saying:

“I am shocked to see such level of fabrication labeled against James Kabonge. It was the most ridiculous allegation I have ever seen about a senior member of our community….”

Again on Tuesday August 17, 2010 another equally well known Ugandan wrote:

“1st precondition: The accuser, Michael should use his very same medium to apologize, retract accusations / aspersions and explain his motivation / evidence pertaining to original email…”

 Many have understandably been cautious not to credit Mr. Kimbugwe or discredit me by rushing to judgment. The community has been both mute and tense pending my response because Mr. Kimbugwe didn’t realize the domino effect of his act.  After this response, I hope all of you who read Mr. Kimbugwe’s ruthless story on the internet and the version in Buganda Post which was posted on August 11, 2010 will benefit from the sobering facts behind Mr. Kimbugwe’s risky and dangerous outburst.

Since the release of Mr. Michael Kimbugwe’s compilation of lies, I have steadily taken 6 steps within the community to set the record straight by gathering facts, corresponding directly and indirectly with Mr. Kimbugwe and responding to a suggested meeting between me and Mr. Kimbugwe. Rather than summarizing what I did, I will share with you excerpts of my correspondence which I sent out to some select community members at different days. This in essence, will provide all readers with the scope of my reaction  and steps I have taken as well as pending actions I plan in the coming weeks.  I apologize for its length, but it is critically important that the world understands the danger I faced as a result of man’s unprovoked attack.

MY STEP NO 1:

On August 11, 2010, I sent the following email to Mr. Michael Kimbugwe and copied it to a number of others in the community:

Dear Mr. Michael Kimbugwe:

Looking at your exhaustive public document about me for the first time, I asked myself the following questions:

 1.    What was the motive behind this attack?

2.    If justified, what credentials does Mr. Kimbugwe have as an investigator?

3.    What was the incentive for Mr. Kimbugwe’s friend, an expert in cyber counter terrorism in risking his position in the United States Department of Defense and getting involved in this “hearsay” story? If so, will Mr. Kimbugwe be able to produce this friend when ordered to defend the gross violations of his actions?

 It is utterly inconceivable that Michael Kimbugwe, Mr. Kalema Musoke‘s son, Vice President of Ggwanga Mujje Washington DC, Vice Chairman of UNAA Conference Organizing Committee in Washington DC for 2010, can publicly issue a fabricated, slanderous and personal story of this magnitude about me. Coincidentally, Mr. Kimbugwe is the same man who worked for me for over two years. It has not only shocked me but also horrified those who know me as well as he does. I strongly feel that you did not act alone in issuing this story. However, you will eventually find out that you were wrongly used and ill advised.

 I agonized over  whether I should respond to you  or not but then, if I didn’t it would leave the door wide open for others to cast doubt about my character based on Mr. Kimbugwe’s purely personal accounts. Since your story was public, I have no choice but to briefly respond to it publicly as well. Right now, I can only think of the recent three events between you and me that might have prompted you to attack me in such vicious manner:

 1.    I fired you after working for me for two years.

2.    You recently forwarded me your updated resume to see if I can hire you back, or help you to find a job, and I haven’t done either. A copy of your resume is attached here in case you forgot (I attached  a copy of his resume as a reminder)

3.    You illegally got married in California, and I advised you that I got a call from people inquiring your whereabouts. The woman you married is in hiding, and people who helped you are in jail. I was in position to provide all the information the callers needed but I spared you the agony. But as of now, it seems that you might be a fugitive.

 Needless to say is that we have not only been friends but I have contributed significantly to your professional life and personal protection here in Metro DC. That is the foundation upon which you have based most of your accounts contained in your regrettable public story. I can guarantee you that I will seek advice from my sources and decide further steps I need to take in order to protect myself, my family and prevent you from hurting others who may be connected to you the way I have been. You will find yourself being asked to provide facts for everything you wrote as well as bringing forward those who assisted you in your so called “investigations”

In the meantime, I would like to issue the following in response to set the public record straight:

1.          My name is James Kabonge; I have never used any other name or an alias for all the years I have been in the United States.  In other words, I have never tried to conceal my identity and I never wrote the email using the name Pross Musoke as you allege.

2.          Yes, I have talked to you countless times, I have talked to HRN Nnabagereka and I talk to a lot of people and groups in our community. Like anyone else in life, I have harmless private conversations and I make comments when I know the microphone is turned off.  You should respect that. However,

3.          I never had any conversation with you about the first Lady of Uganda Janet Museveni. I didn’t go to Chicago, and I don’t know what happened to Uganda’s First Lady over there apart from what we all read from different media. I hold you and your advisers responsible for any possible consequences resulting from this serious and baseless accusation connecting me to Uganda’s national figure Mrs. Janet Museveni. I am going to consult my attorney, and law enforcement for advice on this matter. Michael, you have put my life and your life in danger because of this statement. It can be proven that you are a liar.

4.          Yes, I was a Vice-Chairman for UNAA Orlando 2008, I agree with you. I quit six (6) months before the convention, because, I found out that the people I was working with had different agenda than I expected. Their agenda continued to Chicago.  (See attachment) (I attached the information for Michael as stated here). This why I cut my self off and didn’t go to Orlando or Chicago for the UNAA Conventions. It is the same reason why I will not attend the upcoming UNAA Convention in DC next month.

Mr. Michael Kimbugwe, I am sure that your public pronouncements will be firmly condemned by all those who think independently. Alternatively, I encourage those who support your story to go ahead with their threats of lawsuits against me because I would love to face them in court.

 James Kabonge

RESULT: (To this day, I have not received any direct or indirect response from Mr. Michael Kimbugwe)

I continued with my fact finding efforts along with other helpers before taking the next action.

MY STEP NO 2:

On August 14, I sent another email below to Mr. Michael Kimbugwe)

Dear Mr. Michael Kimbugwe.

I received your criminal records to share with the public since this is the way your mode of communication (see attachments). (I attached two records of two copies of criminal records about Mr. Kimbugwe which are available from Montgomery and Prince George Counties Public Records). I have also shared it with others who have expressed interest in attending your court hearing set for October 21st, 2010.

Mr. Kimbugwe, I wish I searched your record before I hired you in 2004. Regrettably, I mistook you as being an honest and trustworthy young man, a son of my so called friend Kalema-Musoke Kabaka’s representative in Washington DC. If I did, I would have never put myself in a position where you took advantage of your position as my office manager and manipulated my company’s loan transactions to your advantage. Your crookedness did not come to light until 2007 when I fired you. Of course that action came too late to save my company from major financial losses. My blunder in all this is that I let my culture take over to a point where I took you in as my son and trusted friend.  I helped you to get out of the Ghetto, in SE Washington DC, and moved you to the more desirable neighborhoods of Montgomery County, Maryland where you have resided ever since.

Your tricks involved using my office facility and conspiring with others to close real estate transactions without my knowledge and pocketing the commissions denying my company the income.  My company became insolvent mainly as a result of your conduct as the mastermind behind such scam. I was left with a lot of liability and borrowed heavily to stay afloat but I was not able to save the company or repay my debts.

You caused me and my family financial harm which persists to this day as I struggle to financially uplift myself once more.

As if that was not enough,  you have now proceeded to destroy me,  my family and all those who may be associated with me by fabricating your well circulated personal story which has also just been released, unedited,  in The Buganda Post issue of August 11th, 2010. Surprisingly, there was no effort made by the publisher to cross examine your personal accounts before publication which greatly serves your motives.

It will probably come as a shock to you that HRN Nnabagereka knows me very well and I happen to be a member of her extended family.  I am married to her cousin, and I am the president of HRN Nnabagereka’s organization here in USA. At this moment, I know HRN Nnabagereka believes your story but the truth will come out one day.

As the facts stand now, it defies logic to think that you have appointed yourself to the position of Chief Investigator while at the same time you are being investigated and sought by the US Law enforcement agency.  This alone gives greater meaning to the saying that “You don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house”  Your adornments as The son of Kabaka’s representative in Washington DC, Vice President of Ggwanga Mujje Washington DC, Vice President of UNAA  DC Planning Committee provide you with great cover for anyone who might question your  integrity. However, when the dust settles, they will realize that it is all a façade.

You really wanted to substantiate and provide more validity and substance in your story by injecting in the story about my involvement with anything that transpired when Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni came to the US during the UNAA Chicago Convention.  That is pretty serious and risky stuff Mr. Kimbugwe.  You took your greatest chance here and I am not sure what it will lead to. You really short for the sky.

 My opinion at this moment is that you are a very ambitious and young man seeking to use every tool at your disposal to make a name for yourself. There is nothing wrong with that. However, when you resort to destroying others in order to move up, it might work in the short run but may not be a sustainable approach.  Therefore, as the famous song goes, you have to take a look at the man in the mirror and try to change your ways before it all backfires. You can get to the positions you seek or dine with the rich and famous without resorting to dirty and dangerous tricks.  Do you know how you can place my life and that of my family in danger by what you have written if it were true? Do you know how many threats I have received after your story?

I will not threaten you with anything here or try to scare you. All I know is that I will do whatever is legally possible to protect myself and my name as well as provide facts as I am doing here in order to clear my name. I am still seeking advice from others. You forced me to go that route and I will move steadily and relentlessly against all odds. The ball is in your court.

James Kabonge

RESULT: (To this day, I have not received any response to this email directly or indirectly from Mr. Kimbugwe)

On August 16, 2010, after those two above unanswered emails, one concerned community member contacted me and offered to volunteer as a mediator. Below is the content of his email:

Sent: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 7:32 pm

Subject: REF: AN APPEAL FOR CEASEFIRE

Banange James ne Michael,

 I am writing this email only to the two of you and copied to only (two names deleted) You have the option to consider it or ignore it but it should not be for public discussion.

The community and I have been following the recent events with much sadness naye kaakati ndaba ebintu webituuse sibirungi nakatono era bituweebula ffenna. For that reason, as a leader, a parent and a friend I am humbly appealing to both of you to CEASE FIRE and try to get together privately to cool the situation for the good of our community, yourselves and your families.

 While in Northcote, at Makerere University, we had a motto which goes ” WE EITHER WIN OR THEY LOOSE”. My appeal is that neither side should adopt this motto as it appears to be the goal at this moment. At the end of the day we are all one and we need each other.

 Mbasaba mubuntu mukakane naye tuswaala. We are at your disposal if there is way we can help to amicably water to this burning bush.

 Nze owamwe,

I returned a gesture by calling the writer above who showed great concern in what was going on. It seemed that Mr. Kimbugwe called him too although I didn’t know the details of their conversation. After this voluntary mediator talked to both of us, he followed up with the email below:

Sent: Tue, Aug 17, 2010 12:39 pm

Subject: REF: CEASE FIRE APPEAL

Banange James ne Michael,

 I want to thank both of you for considering my email to you and taking the time to call me last evening and I believe that was a good start. I appreciate that it has taken some of us this long to weigh in on this but as you realize the originators of the emails had been sending the messages to my old account of (email deleted) which I dont use any more. If it was not for (name omitted) to ask me, I was in the dark.

 That said, your calls gave me the chance to hear first hand from each of you. I am going to consult with (two names deleted) and I will get back to both of you soonest. In the meantime, I am requesting you to reconsider agreeing to a meeting with us without pre-conditions.

 Owamwe (name deleted)

 MY STEP NO: 3

My email response was as follows:

Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Subject Re: REF: CEASE FIRE APPEAL

Thank you for the two emails and phone calls regarding Investigator Kimbugwe’s unwarranted and vicious publicized personal attack. I am sure that you and Kimbugwe’s click finally realize the gravity of this act. Although it was intended to destroy me and what I stand for, it is bound to backfire and also affect our Ugandan community in ways that Investigator Kimbugwe and his advisors never envisioned.

 I can firmly and irrevocably respond to your seemingly reconciliatory tone by saying that I cannot attend your hosted private meeting with Kimbugwe without conditions or independent witnesses. I know that some of those who may be posing as his invited mediators may be the very architects of his senseless document.

In other words, I will only consider the meeting ONLY IF MY CONDITIONS ARE MET.

Let me briefly elaborate and I will state my conditions thereafter:

1.      Almost six days after investigator Kimbugwe released the inflammatory document inside and outside of the USA, you and others did not come out to question or protest his act. Why? While my friends and I reacted with shock, Kimbugwe actually received a few supportive responses especially when The Buganda Post released the information in its entirety without cross examining what was written about me.

2.      In his writings, Investigator Kimbugwe escalated an already explosive personal attack by attaching the First Lady of Uganda Janet Museveni to this nonsense. Not only did he seek to isolate me from Buganda but also he sought to place me at odds with Uganda’s leadership for the wrong reasons. Again, I had nothing to do with Janet Museveni’s issues during the UNAA convention.

3.      Investigator Kimbugwe worked for me for two years as I stated before. I know what his writing abilities are.  This document is certainly not his sole production; it was a team effort and a blessing of those who exploited his narrow view. However, he made his bed, now he has to lie in it.

I currently live under threats from those who believed his personal unsubstantiated tale. They think that I am an evil who seeks to humiliate HRN Nnabagereka and Buganda as well as insult the First Lady Janet Museveni.  Therefore, I intend to continue defending myself legally and put all the facts forward publicly. One of my friends who read Investigator Kimbugwe’s story had this to write:

“It was the most ridiculous allegation I have ever seen about a senior member of our community”

Another one wrote the following:

“The accuser, Michael should use his very same medium to apologize, retract accusations/aspersions and explain his motivation/evidence pertaining to original email”

 If his story is proven to be infested with lies and he cannot stand by it, others have called for his resignation from the community leadership positions he currently holds in Ggwangamujje and UNAA. He is destined to be a liability despite his claimed royal upbringing. And if we are all trying to restore the dignity of Buganda Kingdom with people like Investigator Kimbugwe, then we have a problem.

Therefore, my conditions for the meeting are:

 1.    Kimbugwe should come out and retract his accusations publicly in writing and provide such retraction copy to Buganda Post. However, before issuing such statement, I must have the draft which meets with my satisfaction. Only if this happens will I be able to “Cease Fire”

2.    As a member of Ggwangamujje, I move the motion that Investigator Kimbugwe resigns his position of Vice President until he is cleared of his outgoing criminal records. The bylaws of Ggwangamujje stipulate this condition.

3.    I will continue taking legal steps including filing a police report in view of the threats I continue to receive and other dangers I may face. I am also in the process of preparing a rebuttal for Buganda Post and other media.

4.    I will attend your suggested meeting with my own three witnesses/observers who may include a legal advisor.

 Once again, thanks XXXXXX. It would be foolish of me to throw a stone at someone who attacks me with a bazooka. My firm stand is justified.  I am not seeking to destroy Investigator Kimbugwe like he did with me. I just want him to be accountable for his actions and face the consequences. However, he and his advisers have the power to reverse all this in time.

James Kabonge.

RESULT: No response from Mr. Kimbugwe to the voluntary mediator or directly to me.

MY STEP NO: 4

I became impatient and sent a follow up below:

date Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 11:26 PM

subject: REF: CEASE FIRE APPEAL

mailed-byaol.com

hide details Aug 18

Mr. XXXX,

 I would like to know if you and Mr. Michael Kimbugwe are willing to meet my conditions as per my email to you this morning, also that email is listed below. I and my group want to have answer by 12.00 Noon EST tomorrow August 19,2010 so that we can plan accordingly. If I don’t get answer from you by that time, I will assume that you and Mr. Michael Kimbugwe are not willing to start a cease fire process. We will have no choice but to move ahead with our plans.

James Kabonge

The voluntary mediator was kind enough to desperately reach out to Mr. Kimbugwe as seen below:

Sent: Thu, Aug 19, 2010 10:46 am

Subject: Re: Re: REF: CEASE FIRE APPEAL

Hope you have all seen Mr Kabonge’s conditions. If we are to move any further on this friendly reconciliation we need to here from the other party. Mr Kimbugwe, you stated your openness to a meeting, however, do you have anything say in response to Mr. Kabonge’s conditions.

 XXXX

MY STEP NO 5

In the meantime I sent another short email below where I moved a motion that Mr. Kimbugwe steps down as Vice President of Ggwanga Mujje, DC according to the bylaws of the organization:

Date Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 11:08 AM

subject Re: REF: Ggwanga Mujje Executive-CEASE FIRE APPEAL (Kimbugwe should step)

mailed-byaol.com

hide details Aug 20 (4 days ago)

Mr. XXX

 Please read Ggwanga Mujje by-laws, Article 6 under Directors, Section 1, titled Number and Qualification. It states in the middle of the paragraph that” These will be persons (directors) who are registered as members of the Organization during the preceding twelve months, are of good standing within the Organization and the Uganda Community in general”. You and some members of Ggwanga Mujje know very well what Mr. Kimbugwe did by fabricating false stories-reports about me and my family, and probably some of the members were part of it. Based on that, Mr. Kimbugwe is not in good standing. Finally, I sent you two criminal cases involving Mr. Kimbugwe in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Maryland. These two cases are in public records, and anyone of you can access them. Mr. Kimbugwe has a court hearing October 21, 2010 (this hearing is open to anyone who may want to attend).

 I am going to keep on fighting one level at a time until justice is served, because my life and my family’s are in danger.

 James Kabonge

MY STEP NO 6

I sent the letter below as a last resort in trying to bring Mr. Kimbugwe to the table:

dateThu, Aug 19, 2010 at 12:27 PM

subjectRe: REF: Ggwanga Mujje Executive-CEASE FIRE APPEAL (Kimbugwe should step)

mailed-byaol.com

hide details Aug 19 (5 days ago)

Mr. XXX

 The first email you sent to me on Monday 8/16/10 indicated that you stepped forward to mediate between me and Mr. Kimbugwe. In that email, you gave me the option of considering your suggestion or ignore it. I chose not to ignore it and I provided you with my prompt responses which are on record.

 Last night, Wednesday 8/18/10 at 11:26 pm (EST) I sent you an email in which I requested that Mr. Kimbugwe should indicate through you whether he is willing to proceed with fulfilling my conditions or not. He had until today at 12:00 Noon EST to respond. You will agree that a “Yes” or “No” response from Mr. Kimbugwe should take seconds. I generously allowed him over 13 hours to do so. IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT HE WILL SINCE I HAVEN’T HEARD FROM YOU.

 I would like you to re-affirm that your role as voluntary mediator still stands as I move forward with my next steps against Mr. Kimbugwe for fabricating false reports on which is destroying my life and my family in the whole world. I do not have the luxury of time like he does since I am the one who was placed in this dangerous predicament.  I have to act fast while the accusations are still fresh in people’s minds.

 As a member of Ggwanga Mujje Washington DC in good standing and a co founder of Gwanga Mujje Washington DC, I move a motion that Mr. Kimbugwe steps down as Vice President of Ggwanga Mujje immediately in line with the governing bylaws pertaining to office holders of the organization. Mr. Kimbugwe should step down by COB tomorrow and hand over all Ggwanga Mujje properties the Ggwanga Mujje executive, he cannot hold the office when he and others have made false statements and also while he is under criminal investigation. Mr. Kimbugwe should have discussed his report with the parties concerned, but he decided to go on air waives which violated my privacy. I am going to continue to seek advice from people who believe in me, and work on Mr. Kimbugwe accordingly.

James Kabonge.

Unfortunately the very same day, and as we can all understand, the mediators threw in the towel and sent the following email:

Sent: Thu, Aug 19, 2010 2:56 pm

Subject: Re: CEASE FIRE APPEAL WITHDRAW

Banaffe, 

We have appreciated your responses to our offer to mediate. Unfortunately,

looking at your responses and conditions it does not seem that there any good 

prospects in our mediation effort at this level and for this reason we are

backing out.

We hope you will consider the need to keep our community undivided as you

continue in your different directions on how to handle these issues.

XXX

IN CONCLUSION

Ladies and gentlemen, first I want to thank those who unsuccessfully tried to mediate. I am also grateful for those of you who have held your judgements before reading this  unusual format of my response. This event has identified who my real friends, thanks to Mr. Kimbugwe. If it wasn’t for my security concerns both in the USA and Uganda related to Mr. Kimbugwe’s globalized story, I would have handled this issue outside of public view with the assistance of our ever resourceful community. However, this was too shocking and extremely too dangerous to be handled with kid gloves. Mr. Kimbugwe sought to demonize me in Buganda Kingdom and basically make me a persona non grata in Uganda. Only Kimbugwe knows why he did this and who sent him on that mission. Therefore, those who hastily applauded Kimbugwe’s story like Mr. John Mayanja and Mr. Caroli Mpoza, may consider re-evaluating their comments and possibly issue new ones.

I am proud that our community especially here in Metro DC is both diverse and vibrant although we will continue to harbor some bad apples in our barrel. We are not forced to belong to any one organization or attend any one church. We can overcome many seemingly insurmountable problems if we don’t let our personal philosophies or preferences turn us into adversaries  We have to be wary of those who wave one flag during daylight and pick up another in the midnight hour.  They scream great support in the microphone and whisper different words in private.  My accuser may not be very far from that description.

Brandishing verbal machetes at each other humiliates us and degrades our community.  The only beneficiaries in all this are those who seek to destroy and silence our voices using hypocritical double dippers like Michael Kimbugwe and his manipulators.

Only Mr. Kimbugwe will decide how far he wants to go with this.  He risks losing credibility (if any) and the credibility of the organizations he represents. Is he man enough to admit or retract his fabrications? Or rather, will his users allow  him?

I know that the bylaws of Ggwanga Mujje DC where he officiates as Vice President are not very different from those of UNAA. In UNAA Mr. Kimbugwe doubles as VP UNAA Convention Organizing Committee 2010 and also a Board Member.  Those are all important positions governed by the bylaws that stipulate that officers can only be individuals in good standing and without criminal records. I am pleased to announce that on Thursday 19, 2010, I received an email from the Secretary of Ggwanga Mujje DC informing me of their decision to call an urgent meeting and review Mr. Kimbugwe’s position in light of what they have learned and in compliance with the bylaws. I welcome that as a step in the right direction.

My message to Investigator Mr. Michael Kimbugwe is that I will not be ignored. I have resolved to continue my self defense and take further steps until I am satisfied with the ultimate results. The speed at which I pursue Mr. Kimbugwe will be dictated by the resources and time available to me.

I have all the hard, original copies of letters, emails including Mr. Kimbugwe’s work resume along with printed copies of the criminal acts he is accused of in Maryland. I have held peoples names and their email addresses from being published in order to respect privacy.

For the record, I am proud to say that while I am not perfect or that I work harder than everyone else, I have always contributed to the Ugandan community efforts in general as well as Buganda Kingdom. I will continue to do so at every opportunity.

 

James Kabonge

 *     President of Nnabagereka Development Outreach, Washington DC

*     Director of Luganda Academy, Washington DC

*     Board Member of Kabaka Foundation, Washington DC

*     Co- Founder and Former President of Ggwanga Mujje Washington DC ( 2005-2009)

*     Co-Founder UNAA ( November 1987 Atlanta, Georgia)

*     Coordinator of UDII Convetion, Washington DC ( September 3-5, 2010)

Last Saturday Omulangira Michael Kimbugwe-Kalema posted a strong email on the web where he presents what he claims to be proof that two Washington DC Baganda, Mr. Kabonge and Mr. Kambugu wrote the two emails which viciously attacked the Nnabagereka about one month ago (see “We Know Those Abusing Nnabagereka, Ekiba Kibe Program”). Mr. Kimbugwe is a UNAA official and the son of Mr. Fred Kalema Musoke who is the official UNAA advisor on Buganda issues and the is credited with booking the Nnabagereka for the key note speech.

In what appears to be another contravesy involving Kabaka’s representatives, Mr. Kimbugwe gives details about how they used “the help of an expert in cyber counter terrorism working in one of the law enforcement branches in the United States Department of Defense” to get the evidence that Mr. Kabonge and Mr. Kambugu are guilty. Our sources in Boston have told us that some Baganda, especially the ones with immigration problems are scared by the news that a Kabaka’s representative could be somehow involved in spying on fellow Baganda.

Mr. Kimbugwe’s very long email is reproduced below, although the we have removed the sections that use the worst language against the Nnabagereka, from the indicated areas.

From: mkimbugwe@msn.com
To: joemagandazi@hotmail.com; mbrumusoke@aol.com; jmayanja@townisp.com; james_ssemakula@yahoo.com; makenke@gmail.com; jkabonge@aol.com; maleuganda@yahoo.com; kssemoge@yahoo.com; pkibuule@yahoo.com; mungwana2@yahoo.com; musanap@yahoo.com; lam5jc@aol.com; drekintu@gmail.com; tlwebuga@yahoo.com; mulongo2003@yahoo.com.au; awola19@yahoo.com; fkalema-musoke@msn.com; kiggwesam@yahoo.com; skiggwe@atlantaga.gov; lugemwafn@yahoo.com; kibuka@federo.org; lssebweze@yahoo.co.uk; lugira@bc.edu; wiltec10@aol.com; rehemass@googlemail.com; mulindwa@look.ca; najjuma@hotmail.com; rkiwaks@yahoo.com; yyakobo@rocketmail.com; dramatovu@yahoo.com; ronnie.mayanja@gmail.com; mpangae@googlemail.com; musoke_75@yahoo.com; achamesta@yahoo.com; fbkambugu@yahoo.com
CC: mutasiga@comcast.net; dkawundem@yahoo.com; kalule04@yahoo.com; rkabenge@msn.com; charitynakabuye@hotmail.com; kkasule2002@yahoo.com; stellamukasa@ncguganda.co.ug; makubuya@mmaks.co.ug
Subject: RE: Response to Nnbagerakera a Traitor & BIO Emails
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 07:51:11 -0400

Banaffe mbalamusiza nyo.

I am writing in response to what was written about HRH Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, Maama wa Buganda. As most of you on this list are aware what was written about her was shameful, derogatory, inflammatory and was not with the best choice of words to say the least. As a muganda and omulangira by clan, who has grown up in the USA and who is very proud of and very much in tune with my culture, I felt compelled to (1) find out who actually wrote these shameful and vicious emails about HRH Nnabagereka and (2) what was their motives in sending out these messages with such vicious and personal attacks to Nnabagereka and the institutions we adore.

With the help of a good friend from college, an expert in cyber counter terrorism working in one of the law enforcement branches in the United States Department of Defense, the following facts were revealed to me. The original email that was sent on Friday 18^th, 2010 at 5.47pm EST which had inflammatory and derogatory remarks about HRH (a copy in RED is included below for ease of reference)

Was not from Proscovia Musoke. As a matter of fact, this email was written by James Kabonge from the Washington DC Community. With IT intelligence as well as human intelligence, the computer used to write the above information was ID as IP address (64.25.92.98) internet provider Comcast.  This IP address is registered to James Kabonge currently at 304 Prettyman Drive, Unit 1***5, Rockville, MD 20850.

For security reasons and to protect his privacy, I have excluded some of numbers.

Through the grapevine, James Kabonge was informed that I was investigating him for writing the above referenced email. James and I had a very good discussion on June 26^th 2010 at 9.10 that lasted over 30 min. I explained to Mr. Kabonge, that my intent was to find out who wrote the email about Nnabagereka and not him in particular.  At this point, Mr. Kabonge continued to explain to me of how he had a 4hour meeting with HRH in hopes to convince her to withdraw herself from attending the UNAA convention in DC. Why does Wilson Moses (unAA president),  a person who likes lots of limelight– and stole the election in Chicago—keeps on communicating with Nabageraka?   Kalema-Musoke, who tells people that he is Omulangira, {BP Editors: Removed language that is abusive to Nnabagereka} “ we had a good discussion, we agreed to disagree. What Nnabagereka doesn’t understand is that UNAA is NRM, and they are setting her up to embarrass her for what happened to Janet Museveni at last year’s convention.” Mr. Kabonge stated. This comment was striking to me because I knew from day one that Mr. Kabonge was opposed to the UNAA convention taking place in DC apparently based on his ‘informants’ who reported that UNAA elections had been rigged ‘NRM-style’ because of the ‘army’ of NRM-O operatives/cadres flown in to vote for the NRM candidate; who by the way, lost and conceded. Anyway, I will go on record and say that, having been in Chicago not only as part of the Chicago organizing team, but also as a delegate and a candidate for UNAA Board member at-large, the elections were never stolen from anyone.

Kalema-Musoke is an NRM agent who is deceiving the naive Nnaabagereka and putting her in a UNAA trap.  Emmanuel Kintu is a traitor, who allowed Gaburungyi to become UNAA EC chair, essentially legitimizing the stealing of elections in ChicAGO. Ssennkayi is another very weak, no good yes- man with no backbone to speak of.   So who will advise Nnabagereka?  Lwebuga, Lule, Nabukera, Wasswa what is going on?

The bitterness expressed by Mr. Kabonge (aka Pross Musoke) has nothing to do with UNAA or NRM. It’s rather that some people he supported could not come to terms that they lost the elections. These were the same folks that were in-charge of the elections, they single-handedly chose who should serve on the electoral commission, and if one was of a differing view from theirs, they were quickly removed from the commission. An example was Dr. Emmanuel Kintu. His resignation from the EC chairmanship was to escape the pressure that these particular individuals were putting on him to tip the elections in their favor. Fortunately, Dr. Kintu is a man of integrity who refused to give in and decided to resign. Now, I ask: if you set up your own electoral commission, and you still lose the elections, then who do you have to blame? Not only did this individual lose the elections, but the margin of defeat was not close. With convention delegates of about 870 who were eligible to vote, the difference between 1^st place and 2^nd place was well over 120 votes in a field of three candidates. Well even if there was an error in counting, it still would not change much in terms of results. Unlike the previous elections of 2007 when this particular individual won by only 10 votes!

Mr. Kabonge ( aka Pross Musoke) I would like to challenge you and tell us the difference between the UNAA convention you were part of as the Vice-Chairman in Orlando and the UNAA convention that will be held in DC this September? When you talk of UNAA and NRM, what has changed within the past two years that makes you believe that now UNAA is NRM but it wasn’t in 2008 when you were the convention Vice-Chairman? Are you the famous agent paid by NRM to disorganize Baganda in the Diaspora, I ask? Do you write all this to justify your paycheck from NRM? There has to be some type of compensation for writing such things. Think hard before responding!

Through various discussions with those involved, it’s my understanding that HRH was in DC the week of June 12 for an international women’s conference. I know she met with some UCRF officials and promoters as did some Nnabagereka Development Foundation business. I also know that while in town, she spoke with Mr. Kalema-Musoke, Kabaka’s Representative in the Washington DC area. During the same week, she also had a 20 minute telephone call with Moses Wilson, President of UNAA, to discuss her role as the keynote speaker at the convention and to also find out how preparations were going.  Moses Wilson never flew to DC to meet with her nor did she ever meet with Mr. Wilson face to face anywhere else within the 50 states. To say otherwise, is to fabricate naked lies!

{BP Editors: Removed language abusive Nnabagereka}

Looking at the paragraph above, Mr. Kabonge, (aka Pross Musoke); please enlighten us on what is so wrong about Nnabagereka or any Mengo official who is visiting the USA (for private or official business) to meet any Kabaka’s Representatives! And I would also ask what is it that you have against Mr. Kalema-Musoke since he is the Kabaka’s Representative for this region? As far as I can tell, HRH did nothing wrong; she was visiting this region and  she spoke with Mr. Kalema-Musoke. Please tell us what she should have done differently in your view.

Speaking to Mr. Kabonge on June 26^th he narrated how, on June 18^th, after the email came out, he had called HRH to inform her of what is being written about her and ask her if she had seen it. He was inclined to forward her the email, to prove to her that what he had told her in their 4hr conversation  was coming to light and Buganda did not deserve to suffer anymore than it already has. And if she at any particular time ever cared for Buganda, she should not attend the UNAA convention.

After several conversations with Mr. Kabonge (aka Pross Musoke) and other community members, I am convinced that Mr. Kabonge wrote the email after he had his four hour conversation with HRH. It’s my humble opinion, that once his plan to convince HRH not to come to UNAA failed, Mr. Kabonge resorted to what is known as the Karl Rove tactics of (fear and smear) campaign. The tactics were in hopes that HRH would get scared or if other officials in the Mengo government saw it, they would restrain her from attending the convention. I would, honestly, want to ask Mr. Kabonge: What do you have against UNAA? Do you know why HRH is attending UNAA? I believe you know because you have had various conversations with the UCRF members about why HRH should never be involved in UNAA. I ask you, do you know of or have anyone in your family/friends who has ever been affected by breast cancer? Now if you know that HRH is promoting awareness and doing advocacy work while mobilizing resources for this terrible and killer disease in Uganda why are you so opposed to her coming to UNAA on behalf of UCRF? Otherwise it’s beyond my comprehension that you wake up every day and claim to be a proud muganda nga muzukkulu wa Gabunga, but you write such despicable propaganda on HRH. I would also ask you where is your loyalty to Ssabasajja? How could you publically show such disrespect to the Nnabagereka (Ssabasajja Kabaka’s wife) and still claim that you are Ssabasajja’s loyal subject and working for him and Buganda’s interests?

The next email that I asked my friend to investigate was written on June 30^th at 2.16pm with the subject: Nnabagereka’s bios. This one was written by Fredrick Kambugu (James Kabonge’s brother) using a computer with IP address 64.26.98.90 which happens to be registered off Falcon Crest, Germantown, MD. zip code 20874. I will not give the street address to protect his family’s privacy and security. The email originated from the ‘Operation Source of the Nile’, which is an email address that was registered in 2008 under Fredrick Kambugu Jr. ( 10yr old son of Fred Kambugu) (please see copy in BLUE below)

Once I received confirmation that the email originated off Falcon Crest in Germantown, my search was narrowed because to the best of my knowledge (I live in Germantown, MD), there is only one Ugandan family who lives on this street, Fredrick Kambugu (I don’t believe a non-Ugandan can write this garbage about Nnabagereka)! Anyway, I drove by the house took pictures and forwarded them to my law enforcement friend who confirmed that it was the address and was even able to invite me to his residence and show me a link to a google thermal imaging which detects when, where and what an individual is doing inside a building. I can even tell you which computer/ (room) in the house was used to write/send this email and how many people were in the room and if it was a male or female on the computer, As well as height, and rough estimate of weight of the person on the computer. Once I had all this intelligence information, I called Mr. Kambugu to get his side of the story as the evidence was leaning towards him. I informed Mr. Kambugu, that preliminary evidence was pointing towards him, but I would give him the benefit of doubt to tell me what he knows before the final report comes back. At first he denied having any knowledge of the email, and that he was not even aware of what I am talking about. However, he went on to say that if such report turned up, he will have to take legal action to clear his name from people spreading rumors about him and his family.  I, politely, explained to him that no one is going after him or his family, but many of us just want to know who wrote the “Source-of-the-Nile” email and since the report is indicating that it came from his house, unless he has an intruder who is using his home computer to write these things, it would be difficult to explain otherwise. We all know that when ones hand is caught in the cookie jar, it’s impossible to convince anyone that you were trying to make sure there are cookies in there! After about a 40 minutes conversation, Mr. Kambugu charged me to finish my investigation as he realized that I was not going to back off. The very next morning, he called me and said that it was OK for me to go public with my report, as he had realized that this entire thing was political since he was being tied to Mr. Remigius Kintu. [BTW, the ‘Source of the Nile’ e-mail generated a few responses all of which my law enforcement friend was able to trace but my focus was on the original e-mail]. I don’t know how Mr. Kintu is connected with Kambugu, but Kambugu tried to explain what’s happening. I am still at a loss how an e-mail from Fredrick Kambugu (aka Source of the Nile) originating from Falcon Crest in Germantown talking about Nnabagereka’s bios ties Mr. Kambugu and Mr. Kintu or what politics is involved!. Mr. Kambugu, please feel free to explain that connection.

Mr. Kambugu claims that someone went into his email and used his information to write this email.  Talking to IT experts, this is impossible, unless someone gives you access to his/her computer and e-mail account, there is no way one could use your computer to write an e-mail from your account. Hackers can gain access to your address book, but even then, they just use your address book to channel people to their site, but not to write email messages using your e-mail account/address. I was told by my friend that unless Mr. Kambugu did authorize someone to log into his source.of.the.nile@gmail.com or it is shared by other members/associates, that argument is not plausible and does not hold water.

What I don’t understand is how this is politically motivated or connected and what I would request Mr. Kambugu to help us understand is: (1) How is the operation source of the nile writing about Nnabagereka’s bio political? (2) What facts are there to link Nnabagereka’s bio to politics, (3) What agenda do you and  your accomplices have in using Buganda as your shield against your ‘political’ enemies? (4) What are your objectives and how do you expect to achieve them?

It’s unfortunate that anyone who claims to promote Buganda’s interests would resort to such desperate tactics and cowardly behavior that undermines Buganda’s interests and her institutions; probably with the hopes that they would never be, identified but once the smoke clears they claim its political. Look at it from a personal stand point, if I were your friend, and I insult your wife in a such vicious manner, can you really say I am your friend? Truth be told, this was not only insulting the Nnabagereka, it  was also insulting the Kabaka and Buganda’s institutions as a whole!

My hope is that now that the truth is out, Mr. Kabonge and Mr. Kambugu, will come out and claim responsibility for their actions and hopefully find it within their conscious to do the right thing.

Personally, I have been accused of being an NRM agent and being paid to investigate those involved or implicated in these nasty and shameful e-mails and/or postings. I assure you and all those who care for the truth that I have never received a dime from NRM or anyone to investigate anybody. And it’s unlikely that I would ever accept money from a political organization, let alone from NRM-O. However, let me try to reiterate what we all know: which is, while one may choose to belong to a political party, he or she does not choose to be a Muganda. We don’t choose our tribes neither do we choose what clan to be born into! It’s a birth right!.. If you are a Muganda, then it’s a fact that you were born into one of the 54 clans and more importantly, you were a muganda first before you became a member of NRM-O, DP, CP, UPC, FDC, or any political affiliation. Let’s answer Kabaka’s appeal and unify our energies with passion and all our resources to be constructive in building Buganda and its institutions so that she is economically able to stand on her feet rather that undermine those who may be trying to do good.  Doing otherwise only helps our enemies and detractors to hinder our progress.

Finally, as a muganda back home and in the diaspora, ask yourself: What have I done today to advance Buganda’s interests or help the Kabaka with his repeated calls for unity and development of his Kingdom? For example, how many of us purchase Buganda certificates annually/(paid our taxes) to the Kingdom, etc? I would urge all Baganda and friends of Buganda on this email and elsewhere to set politics aside and focus on Buganda’s development issues and how best to get our Kingdom economically liberated and empowered.

{BP Edotors: Removed the two letters that abuse the Nnabagerreka and which Mr. Kibugwe claims were written by the two  gentlemen he spied on.}

Ssabasajja Kabaka Awangaale ne Nnabagereka Agerekere Obuganda!

For God and My Country

Michael Kimbugwe-Kalema
202-359-1199 Cell

A 4 day investigation by Buganda Post reveals that Uganda dirty politics has spilled over into the USA as both NRM and opposition political operatives joined to send out a fake email message attacking Nnabagereka Sylvia Nnagginda. The fake and obscene letter, which Buganda Post cannot publish out of respect for Nnabagereka and Kabaka, was allegedly sent by a woman called Pross Musoke and has the following header.

From: Proscovia Musoke [mailto:prossmusoke@yahoo.com]

Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 5:47 PM

To: joemagandazi@hotmail.com; mbrumusoke@aol.com; jmayanja@townisp.com; James_ssemakula@yahoo.com; Makenke@gmail.com; jkabonge@aol.com; maleuganda@yahoo.com; kssemoge@yahoo.com; pkibuule@yahoo.com; mungwana2@yahoo.com; musanap@yahoo.com; lam5jc@aol.com; drekintu@gmail.com; tlwebuga@yahoo.com; mulongo2003@yahoo.com.au; awola19@yahoo.com; fkalema-musoke@msn.com; kiggwesam@yahoo.com; skiggwe@atlantaga.gov; lugemwafn@yahoo.com; kibuka@federo.org; Lssebweze@yahoo.co.uk; lugira@bc.edu; WILTEC10@aol.com; rehemass@googlemail.com; mulindwa@look.ca; najjuma@HOTMAIL.COM; rkiwaks@yahoo.com; yyakobo@rocketmail.com; dramatovu@yahoo.com; ronnie.mayanja@gmail.com; mpangae@googlemail.com; musoke_75@yahoo.com; acham ester

Subject: Nnaabagereka’s a traitor

The email accuses Nnabagereka Nagginda of, among other things, disrespecting Baganda by planning to attend the NRM sponsored UNAA convention in September 2010 and attempting to become the “Nnabagereka of Uganda”. The UNAA convention is funded by the Ugandan NRM government and it happens on the same day as the Baganda International conference, Ttabamiruka ’10. Kabaka Mutebi is expected to grace Ttabamiruka ’10 but the UNAA website also states that the Nnabagereka intends go and attend the UNAA convention in Washington DC. Many Baganda loyalists are very angry and have spoken very strongly against the Nnabagereka’s plans but not to the extent of calling her obscene names.

After the investigation by Buganda Post technical volunteers, we can report that the email was created by a team that includes supporters of NRM, FDC, DP and UNAA wishing to discredit nationalist Baganda opposed to Nnabagereka going to UNAA. A source involved in Ugandan opposition politics in the USA informed us that the letter to attack Nnabagereka was discussed and agreed on as a way to stop Kabaka from coming to the USA in September and strengthening Baganda loyalists.

Our source said: “Many Baganda opportunists want to say ‘Woligwa wendigwa’ but see Kabaka and Mengo as an obstacle in the way of their goal to get big posts in an FDC, UPC, DP or NRM government. The email attacking Nnabagereka is an old NRM trick to make pro-Buganda voices like Ekiba Kibe Radio, Buganda Post, Ababaka Radio and others look like they did it. By the way, it is the same trick Museveni used in Luweero, impersonating Obote’s army to kill Baganda. Even here, these people don’t care what happens to the Nnabagereka’s image so long as they can stop Kabaka from coming to New Jersey.”

It is unusual among Baganda,even in the diaspora, to celebrate and have a cake in memory of death and suffering such as at the May Buganda Day of occupation.  The leaders of Ggwanga Mujje Washington DC and the Kabaka’s representative in the area went ahead and did it anyway tighter with a big fashion show and disco (see”Kabaka’s Representative Turns Buganda Day Into NRM Party, Ekiba Kibe”). This upset quite a few people, including one long-term NRM woman, who wrote to Buganda Post to alert us about NRM operation in the diaspora.

Our source told us she was especially upset that Kabaka’s representative approved the removal of the Kabaka title and lion from the Buganda cake, not to upset Museveni. She said: “These people intentionally removed the lion, which is the symbol of the Kabaka, off the cake. Even worse, they changed the writing on the cake to be ‘Awangaale Nnyaffe Buganda’. This is not by accident. The Omulangira approved replacing ‘Kabaka’ with ‘Buganda’ even though it reads funny because Buganda is not a person. It is all part of a plan that the NRM’s diaspora team is playing out to make the Kabaka a non-issue. I don’t know what to do but as a Muganda I am having a lot of conflict.”

We can report that a diaspora based team of NRMs are working in a lose think-tank that brainstorms about how to help president Museveni weaken all Baganda organizations overseas. A highly reliable source inside NRM USA has told us that: “In 2008 president Museveni realized that the cadres in New York, Washington DC, London and Toronto are much better equipped than Kampala NRMs to plan and execute anti-Buganda actions in the diaspora. With advice from the likes of Abdul Kimbugwe and others (names omitted to protect our sources), the NRM started investing cash in Boston, Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles to buy Baganda youths in the NRM. They bribe the leaders with cash or government contracts, give them general guides, and allow them to operate independently.”

“One important target is to make Baganda youth lose interest in the Kabaka institution and see Kabaka Mutebi as politically ambitious. For example, one propaganda story that is supposed to be planted in Washington DC and Los Angeles claims that Kabaka Mutebi wants to replace Museveni and become president as his late father was. The Washington DC chapter of Ggwanga Mujje is now considered key to the NRM plans because the leadership are willing to work closely with the ambassador and other NRMs.”

A source close to the nine Kabaka’s representatives has sent to us a copy of the letter where Katikkiro JB Walusimbi appointed United States Army soldier, Capt. Frank Musisi to the post of “Special Mobiliser/Coordinator in USA for the Restoration of Kasubi Royal Tombs”. Until September 3-6, 2010, Capt. Musisi was the President of UNAA, which was supposed to be an organization of Ugandans in North America. Capt. Musisi was president of UNAA until this last year. For several years, including during Musisi’s administration, UNAA has been funded by the NRM government. It is through this dubious connection between NRM and UNAA that the Uganda government reportedly manipulated the vote and caused Capt. Musisi to lose the last presidential elections.

The source who provided Cpt. Musisi’s appointment letter to us claimed that some of Kabaka’s representatives were disappointed that Musisi, who discovered Buganda causes after losing the UNAA elections was appointed such an important position. The source’s email says: “It seems that Mmengo makes decisions as if every Muganda thinks at the Kampala level. They were impressed by Musisi because he is a friendly guy but did they care how Kabaka’s representatives and the ordinary Baganda will feel? Did they even question the seriousness of his claims that he can collect a million dollars in months? From who?”

The Katikkiro’s addressed his letter the Kabaka’s representatives in North America, probably thinking that they will share it with the Baganda in their areas. However, it appears that the representatives decided to treat it as a “top secret” and have not told the Baganda in their areas.

The Katikkiro’s appointment letter kills the fake stories that have been planted by unknown people in the Monitor newspaper (on April 10, 2010) and on Internet radio stations claiming that Ssabasajja Kabaka, Muwenda Mutebi II appointed Capt. Musisi to lead the Kasubi fund raising in North America. One can assume however that, since Kabaka Mutebi was copied on the appointment letter, he is may be aware of what happened.

 The Katikkiro’s appointment letter, which was signed by Deputy Katikkiro Sendaula, is reproduced below for our readers:

 6^th April 2010

Eri Ababaka ba Ssaabasajja Kabaka
Mu Masaza g’America

Abakungu,

OKULONDEBWA KWA LT. FRANK MUSISI

Ebbaluwa yammwe eya March 30, 2010 nagifuna era ensonga ezirimu zonna ne nzanjulira Katikkiro.

Katikkiro antumye okutuusa okulamusa kwe awamu n’okubeebaza ennyo emirimu emirungi gye mukola ku lwammwe ne ku lw’Eggwanga lyammwe Buganda.  

Ebbaluwa yammwe yatunuuliddwa era neyekkaanyizibwa ku magezi ge mwatuwadde ku nsonga zino:

1. Kaweefube w’okusonda sente z’okuzzaawo Amasiro mu muwagira era mu mukutte bulungi.
2. Mwasembye nti mu kukola omulimu gw’okusonda sente tukozese ebibiina n’abantu abamanyifu era abalina obwesigwa mu bantu era abalabiddwa ebbanga.
3. Mwawadde amagezi nti olw’obwaguuga bwa ssemazinga wa America kiyinzika okubeera ekizibu okubeera ne “Coordination Centre” emu
4. Mwalaze nti ku “East Coast” ya America waliyo ebibiina bya Ggwanga Mujje.
5. Mwasembye nti Lt. Musisi ayinza okugenda mu maaso n’omulimu gweyatandikako ku “West Coast” ya America

N’olwensonga ezo, Katikkiro asazeewo nti olw’okuba nti Ggwanga mujje asangibwa mu New York/New, Washington DC ne Boston wokka, wakyaliwo ettundutundu ddene nnyo eryetaaga okukolamu omulimu.  Bwekityo, olwensonga nti Lt. Musisi alina obusobozi okutambula America olw’emirimu gye ate nga abadde mukulembeze wa UNAA, tulowozeza nti alina obumanyifu mu bantu bangi okwetoloola America.  Mu ngeri y’emu olw’okuba nti mumusembye okukola omulimu guno mu West Coast kiraze nti mumulinamu obwesigwa.

Bwekityo, Katikkiro alonze Lt. Frank Musisi okubeera “Special Mobiliser/Coordinator in USA for the Restoration of Kasubi Royal Tombs” mu bitundu etali Ggwanga Mujje.  Lt. Musisi ajja kubeera ng’akolagana n’ababaka ba Ssaabasajja mu bitundu ebyo byonna era mulina obuvunanyizibwa okulondoola obuvunanyizibwa obumuwereddwa.

Ssaabasajja Kabaka Awangaale!

 

Amb. Emmanuel L. Ssendaula
1^st DEPUTY KATIKKIRO ERA MINISITA W”ENSONGA ZA BUGANDA EBWERU.

 C.c.    Ssaabasajja Kabaka
C.c.    Katikkiro
C.c.    Omuwanika
C.c.    LT. Frank Musisi

 

USA Baganda have joined the many forces who are telling Katikkiro JB Walusimbi and other Mmengo officials to be extremely careful about the restoration of the recently burnt Kasubi Tombs. Within 36 hours after the tombs were burnt, the Katikkiro announced that a technical committee had been formed to start planning the restoration of the 130 year Kasubi Tombs. The committee members who names were released later were mostly former Mmengo officials, with no signs of new blood. Kasubi Tombs is the official cemetery for Buganda royal family members (Abalangira n’Abambejja) who descend from Ssekabaka Muteesa I. However,  the Katikkiro made his announcement without consulting this key group. As a result, Abalangira n’Abambejja were forces to release a statement expressing their concern as owners of the tombs (see “Members of Buganda Royal Family Issue Statement on Kasubi – English”).

Various Buganda clan heads and cultural leaders (Abataka) also expressed strong opposition to Mmengo’s plans focus on working with UNESCO and the NRM occupation government to restore the sacred Baganda tombs. They  point out the original tombs were constructed by ordinary Baganda through their clans and each clan has a special task in the process. Yet Katikkiro Walusimbi and many other Mmengo officials are temporary administrators with no technical background in constructing cultural site like the Kasubi Tombs.

Abazzukulu ba Buganda also strongly question Mmengo’s qualifications to restore and ancient cultural structure like Kasubi Tombs. They point out that the Mmengo official who were selected on the restoration committee are the same individuals who have not succeeded on even smaller projects such as completing Twekobe or Bulange Plaza. They also rejected the idea of UNESCO being a key player ( see “Don’t Put Yourself At Risk When Buganda Is Angry, Katikkiro Advised“).

The Great Buganda Lukiiko that sat on March 22, 2010, did not approve Katikkiro Walusimbi’s plans either. Members only agree that the Kasubi Tombs must be repaired as soon as possible.

On Free Buganda Radio, the Ekiba Kibe program of March 25, 2010 Mr. Robert Kabuye and his guest, Mr. Mayanja, also advised Mmengo to leave the repair of Kasubi Tombs to those who are traditionally responsible for the job. They also warn the Katikkiro and his cabinet to take leadership from the clan leaders (Abataka) and others who have an official role in Buganda culture.

Click on Ekiba_Kibe25Mar10A to listen to the Ekiba Kibe prpgram of March 25, 2010.

For nearly 20 years, the World Bank and western countries that finance the NRM government have ignored the excesses of president Museveni and his cabal and funnelled billions of dollars into Uganda.  Baganda analysts tend to cite corruption and racism within the donor community as the primary reasons why president Museveni and his NRM have had such a successful run. Since 1992 Uganda’s NRM government has depended on foreign aid for 50-60% of its budget (donors usually understate it to avoid embarrassment).  During the same period, Uganda’s rulers and their families have taken advantage of the donor support to invade Congo, steal billions of dollars from the national treasury and murder citizens using illegal militia like Black Mambas.  Using traditional “Mbulira gwoyita naye” logic, many Baganda opinion leaders argue that the corruption in the NRM government is undisputable evidence that their benefactors, the donors, are also corrupt.

Many  Baganda intellectuals also believe that, Uganda’s western foreign donors  think that black Africans do not deserve the same human rights as others. For example, most  European countries do not tolerate use of selective laws to steal property and deny self-determination rights from a distinct European nation like Bosnians or Slovaks or Danes or Latvians.  However, in Uganda, countries like Norway and Denmark aggressively  fund projects like Decentralization and the 1998 Land Act, which are specifically designed to deny Baganda their human rights. This irrationality is leading many Baganda intellectuals to conclude that racism is a major factor in the Uganda donor community’s approach to Museveni.  The theory is also supported by the radically different reaction seen from the western countries when Robert Mugabe applies similarly inhuman policies to whites in Zimbabwe.

In what some Banda observers believe might be a USA led shift in tolerance towards Mr. Museveni in 2010, however, the Western countries appear to be taking some steps to distance themselves from Museveni’s policies.  President Obama sent a strong signal when he refused to grant Mr. Museveni private meeting at the UN Annual Meeting late last year. Last month, the US Congress passed a resolution instructing the State Department to monitor and report  on Uganda 2011 election campaign. Recently, the USA Ambassador to Uganda officially recognized the Kingdom of Buganda when he trekked to Kabaka Mutebi’s Banda palace for an official visit (see “United States Ambassador Listens To Kabaka Mutebi”).

In the latest move by Museveni’s benefactors, a western diplomatic official has leaked a World Bank  statement that threatens the withdraw of funding. It was presented to the NRM government  in a closed door national budget workshop late last month.  The periodic national budget workshops are popularly known as the Uganda’s begging conferences in local circle.

The full text of the leaked World Bank statement is reproduced in full below:

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS REMARKS
NATIONAL BUDGET WORKSHOP
25-26 February 2010
(As prepared for delivery)
Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda,
Right Honorable Prime Minister,
Honorable Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development,
Honorable Ministers,
Honorable Members of Parliament,
Representatives of civil society organizations and the private sector,
Members of the diplomatic community,
Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the development partners, I wish to thank the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for organizing this budget workshop.

We recognize that the 2010/11 budget is being developed in tandem with the National Development Plan. This provides an opportunity to focus the budget on Uganda’s development priorities.

Let me take this opportunity to commend the Government of Uganda on its continued macroeconomic achievements.

Sustained economic growth has translated into a significant decline in poverty levels. Moreover, the economy is weathering the impact of the global financial crisis better than anticipated and headline inflation has returned to single digits.

We also welcome the introduction, by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, of performance based budgeting, quarterly release of funds to spending agencies, and allocation of more resources to monitoring of results.

The Office of the Prime Minister has improved reporting on government performance. This will help to improve accountability. And we congratulate the Government for its efforts to bring peace to Northern Uganda and championing reconstruction of that region.

Your Excellency, past accomplishments by the government of Uganda have been remarkable. However, the real test of prudent and effective government lies in how you will address the challenges of the future.

The vision for Uganda laid out by your Excellency is inspiring and clear: Uganda has to become a middle income country over the next 15 years. Consequently, this statement by development partners has only one theme: what will it take for Uganda to achieve this goal?

There are three challenges that Uganda needs to tackle.
The first challenge: Uganda needs higher economic growth and lower population growth. For Uganda to attain middle income status over the next 15 years, per capita income growth needs to be 6% per year, meaning the economy has to grow at close to 10% per year.

Is this possible? Yes, it is: Thailand had the same GDP per capita as Uganda in 1963; it became a middle income country 18 years later. Indonesia had the same GDP per capita as Uganda in 1978; it became a middle income country 17 years later.

And, Malaysia grew 135% in per capita terms over 20 years from 1960.
These three countries have one common factor: during the period of dramatically rising per capita incomes, fertility rates fell between 40 to 50%.

This is no coincidence. These countries were basically “harvesting the demographic dividend” – the period where falling fertility rates leads to a falling dependency ratio: that means a larger proportion of the population is in their working age, compared to children and the elderly.

At 3.2% growth per year, Uganda has one of the fastest rates of population growth in the world. Uganda’s population is projected to reach 38 million by 2015 and close to 100 million by 2050. This has serious implications for livelihoods, food security, maternal and child mortality, and the environment.

Providing social services such as education and healthcare to a rapidly growing population will put enormous strains on both households and the public purse.

Despite economic growth over the last 20 years, profound inequality in incomes, living standards and life expectancy persist within and across regions. Making economic growth more inclusive should therefore be a priority.

The second challenge: Uganda can only attain middle income status with a healthy and educated labor force.

Uganda needs to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals for health and education. The NDP states unequivocally that the health and education MDG indicators will only “marginally improve”.

Only slightly more than half of the children that enter primary one, reach primary five. This is well short of the goal that all children, boys and girls alike, should complete a full course of primary education.

In addition, the targets for child and infant mortality and maternal health are also unlikely to be reached and Uganda still has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world.

Building an effective and accountable state is the third crucial challenge Uganda is faced with. The fast growing countries of Asia mentioned earlier are not free of corruption.

But corruption in these countries has not affected the effectiveness of the state to the extent that it affects the Ugandan state. Development partners are particularly concerned about Government failure to take effective action against high level corruption.

A recent example is CHOGM, where there has been minimal follow-up on recommendations in the audit reports, which have been known since 2008.

The PAC hearings have publicized the issues surrounding the leakage and abuse of CHOGM funds. Yet, government administrative action to sanction offenders or recover funds has so far been inadequate.

Your Excellency, corruption in Uganda is endemic and we have seen no signs of improvement. The costs of corruption, stealing and leakages are staggering: $1.6 million lost in the global fund to fight aids, tuberculosis and malaria; $4.6 million lost in the GAVI immunization scam; at least $27 million lost in connection with CHOGM; billions of Shillings lost in the NAADS scam and the NSSF Temangalo scandal; and the loss in procurement corruption is estimated by the PPDA to be more than $100m per year.

However, government effectiveness is not only undermined by corruption. There remain fundamental gaps in public financial and public sector management. Basic rules are not adhered to. Lines of accountability are confused, mandates of central and local governments are not clear.

This has created a fundamental lack of accountability in Government. How else to explain high levels of absenteeism of teachers and health workers estimated at causing losses of up to $70 million per year?

Last but surely not least, only effective and accountable states are able to turn oil into a blessing for a country. Without an effective and accountable government, Uganda could easily become the next African country where oil has become a curse.

Your Excellency, let me now address the concrete steps that can be taken to ensure Uganda becomes a middle income country.

First: government needs to remove the binding constraints to growth and curb population growth. The dual challenge of increased economic growth and rapid job creation requires that the binding constraints on growth, such as poor transport infrastructure and insufficient supply of electricity are tackled.

The increased investments in the transport sector are therefore commendable. However, increased investments should be matched by an equal effort to improve governance and capacity of the sector to ensure that money is well spent.

We would like to urge the government to stick to the time-tested policy of trusting the private sector for implementing major works.

Only a vibrant private sector construction industry will provide Uganda with the roads that are so badly needed. The re-introduction of district force account operations was and still is a bad idea.

The current low level of absorption capacity in the private sector is a result of lack of investments in the past. The private sector will meet the challenges of road construction and maintenance only if investments by the Government are predictable.

Despite the huge increase in spending on road construction and maintenance, the government has yet to put in place a system for monitoring road conditions.

This leaves the sector open to fraud and undermines efforts to achieve value for money in the road sector. A big proportion of future oil revenues will surely be spent on the transport sector.

This makes it even more urgent to improve the governance framework for road construction and maintenance.
The NDP has identified a reduction in fertility as a major strategy.

According to surveys, Ugandan women would like to have fewer children than they currently have. However, 41% of demands for family planning services are currently unmet.

Without a rapid expansion of family planning programs, Uganda will not be able to replicate the impressive growth rates in the Asian countries mentioned earlier.

What is needed, therefore, is a commitment on the part of government to increase its share in procurement of contraceptives, which is currently less than 10% of national requirements.

Equally important is increased focus on girls’ education and improvement in reproductive health, to address the shortfalls against the MDG indicators mentioned earlier.

Lastly, Mr. President, as demonstrated over the last 23 years, a stable political environment is the single most important factor for a good business climate.

Political upheaval is very bad for investment and doing business, as we have recently witnessed in Kenya. In turn, respect for the rule of law and human rights is essential to guarantee political stability.

Second: government needs to prioritize public spending while ensuring that Uganda’s labor force is healthy and educated.

Addressing the challenge of providing quality services to the growing Ugandan population necessitates prudent and efficient use of Uganda’s limited financial resources. Achieving value for money is therefore essential.

In addition to curbing waste and inefficiencies the government should prioritize public spending. Development partners share the concern of Uganda’s civil society and media about the high and increasing levels of spending on government’s administrative structures.

These are resources that could otherwise be invested in infrastructure and on providing basic education, health care and clean drinking water to the poor.

The sharp increase in the number of districts in recent years (and continued plans for new ones), diverts both human and financial resources from existing districts and undermines the capacity of local governments to effectively deliver services.

Starting at 36 districts, 80 districts last year, and now 91 districts: who can make a serious case that this expansion of the number of districts is good for service delivery?

I now turn to concrete suggestions to strengthen the capacity of the Ugandan state.

An effective and accountable state is needed to guarantee value for money in service delivery by tackling corruption, waste and inefficiencies. Oil will provide much of the resources needed to increase public and private investment in future years.

However, if these investments are to yield lasting results, the management of public finances has to improve.

While we recognize the Government of Uganda’s commitment to the value for money agenda, much more needs to be done. The NDP identifies public sector management and administration as the number one binding constraint to achieving Uganda’s development objectives.

The remaining gaps in some of the fundamental aspects of public financial management need urgent attention in order to improve spending capacity and efficiency.

For example, zero tolerance towards non-adherence to the Commitment Control Systems, or the circumvention of IFMIS, is required to address the long standing abuse of Public Financial Management (PFM) systems.

Making sure basic PFM systems work requires in the first place fundamental behavioral change. This change can only be brought about by the Government and each one of you sitting here.

Weak public sector management and administration is one of the main causes of absenteeism of teachers and health workers. This waste of public resources should not be allowed to continue.

Action should be taken to address absenteeism. This should include not only positive incentives, but also strong disciplinary measures.
Lastly, Mr. President, the Government of Uganda has to start fighting corruption seriously.

The undeniable lack of government action to follow up on cases of grand corruption is a key area of development partner concern. Policies, laws and institutions are in place, but enforcement is limited, creating a culture of impunity.

Offenders should be sanctioned, money should be recovered and criminal investigations taken forward on key cases. We commend MoFPED on the recent initiative to develop an Action Plan for follow-up on CHOGM, which we hope will lead to concrete action being taken in the near future.

The Government’s failure to act on high level corruption will have implications, and donors under the Joint Budget Support Framework are currently considering a range of actions.

This may include withholding disbursements, reductions in aid, or re-programming away from direct budget support etc. These were all options discussed and agreed to with the Government in the 2007/08 budget appraisal.

In conclusion, Your Excellency, we would like to assure the government of Uganda that Development Cooperation will increasingly be a results-oriented partnership, where development partners can demonstrate to their own taxpayers that money is well spent.

We are committed to improving the predictability of aid and to working with Government to address the serious challenges Uganda faces to consolidate past gains and achieve lasting results for the people of Uganda.

Thank you for your attention.

Kundhavi Kadiresan
World Bank Country Manager
Chair, Local Development Partners’ Group
Co-Chair, Joint Budget Support Framework Policy Committee

American National Public Radio (NPR) has produced a special program on the current state of affairs in Uganda. In the program His Majesty, Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II, Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda and Owek. David Mpanga articulately speak about Buganda hopes and aspirations. Mr. Tamale Mirundi, one of Mr. Museveni’s closest advisors and confidants, responds to Kabaka Mutebi and Buganda on behalf of the NRM government.

Clearly unaware of the concept of the fundamental human right to self-determination,  Tamale Mirundi says in Luganda English: “Federalism means Buganda, all of the kingdoms, were sitting down and they create a central government. This is arrogance. Where do they get to mandate, dictate or not? Where do they get the mandate?”

Click here to listen to the NPR special program.

You can also read the text of the broadcast here.

In a short essay distributed on the Internet, long-term Boston, USA, resident Tendo Kaluma, says that Buganda should consider secession from Uganda as an option.  He uses the example of the much smaller and poorer Rwanda to show that Buganda has the capacity to succeed as an independent country. He also mentions Eretria’s relatively recent separation from Ethiopia as an example of “a successful exercise of secession.”

Mr. Kaluma’s essay, dated December, 10, 2009, is reproduced below:

The nation of Buganda, needs to have an internally motivating monologue, to gather up strength and to show it’s resolve, now more than ever. How long can they sit idly, while hemorrhaging and enduring such fatal blows economically, politically and socially, blows that have caused serious damage to their own development agenda and above all their collective psyche. 

There comes a time when the need to cut ones losses becomes paramount, like a young man leaving the comforts of his home, when he turns of age; it might just be that time!  How different from Rwanda will Buganda be? Yet Rwanda has managed to meet all expectations without much hiccupping, unfettered in their affairs and free from molestation.

Secession ought to be among the options considered by Buganda to up the ante -with an increasingly hostile central government. Eritrea lives and it is vibrant more than ever after a successful exercise of secession.

If this is the only way we could achieve federation, so be it; but they have to prop up the polity and prepare them for a bumpy ride-I have all confidence in the prowess of a non-oppressed Buganda, their star has shined before and it shall continue to shine whether in a swimming pool or an ocean.  You will see them climbing higher than ever while enviably realizing their full potential.

Tendo Kaluma

Ugandan in Boston