Members of Ugandan In Diaspora International, Inc. (UDII not UIDI) have responded to our story on the January 26, 2010 Buganda liberation demonstrations at the UN (see “Anti-Museveni Diaspora Organization Faces Accusations of Deception“).
Mr. James Semakula did not participate in the UDII response. US Army Lt. Frank Musis responded on February 1, 2010 (see “Lt. Musisi Responds To Images Story, Does Not Disown UIDI Or Its Tactics“).
Below we reproduce the UDII response, which was sent by Mr. James Kabonge, without any editing.
In response to Buganda Post dated January 28, 2010.
http://www.bugandapost.com/main/archives/1307
We; James Kabonge, Michael Muganga, Kawunde Miti, Fred Kambugu and Dennis Nnyondo , categorically deny the wild, baseless allegations levied against us in the above meritless article.
1. First, UDII has always organized its own events and has never purported or claimed to organize events other than its own. Examples of UDII events:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2wgrSNxVeU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LUrtwiaCSM
2. However, we have been invited to and participated in events organized by others in our individual capacities and in some cases as a group. In the same spirit of solidarity with other Ugandan pro-democracy activists and groups, we have accorded their (activists and groups) announcements and events the wider audience we enjoy, via email and other media, still without us claiming or implying authorship and duly recognizing the specific organizers when not ourselves.
NOTE: JESUS CHRIST SAID, “FOR WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST US IS ON OUR SIDE”- MARK 9:40
3. In our efforts to secure democracy and human rights in Uganda, we welcome and encourage others individuals and groups to struggle for the same goal, without fighting each other. Still, we have neither worked with Olara Otunnu nor sought/gotten any financial or political gain from his group or any other entity. As dedicated patriots, we’re not in this struggle for personal gain whatsoever and therefore, we have not been and will not be compromised in any form or way by any person or entity.
4. Any photographs or videos taken at such public events are the sole property of the person or organization that takes them. That individual or organization can distributes such material in any legal way. The inscriptions on the photographs help those seeking to use them to promote our cause where to get them. The inscription does not suggest in any way or form that the photographer or organization he represents organized the event. For instance, VOA and not UDII own the videos in item 1 above even though these videos were taken at a UDII organized event.
5. We also want to let everyone know that the “master and his agents” are at work to divide and rule Ugandans both within Uganda and in the Diaspora with a major focus on the Bagandas by creating unfounded stories and conflicts. Despite the attempts by the “master and his agents” to antagonize our efforts to liberate Uganda from the NRM regime, we are going to stay focused and strong.
6. We want all the peace-loving Ugandans not to lose sight of our enemy and to ignore this attempted assault on the solidarity of Ugandan opposition groups. The sooner we stop fighting each other and re-direct our energies to defeating Museveni and NRM, the better for our country!
7. Finally, we want to express our disappointment in Robert Kabuye of Boston for falling prey to the master’s tricks, for broadcasting information and thus defaming us without any basis. Despite the fact that our contact information is widely available, neither Buganda Post nor Robert Kabuye cared to seek our comments before publicizing those malicious allegations.
8. Outside the law, this is the first and last statement that we will make jointly on this issue.
Awangaale Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda.
