We have learnt from highly reliable sources in  President Museveni state house apparatus that the Ugandan strongman may soon disown the brutal actions of Uganda police against Baganda youths in Kayunga.  According to an email message sent through an intermediary, the source says: “Ugandans are going to be surprised when Mr. Museveni will claim that he only learnt about the problems in Kayunga  on Tuesday or Wednesday. He also intends to attack people who claim that he has anything to do with the threatening letter that his minister Kirunda Kivejinja wrote, warning Kabaka not to go to Kayunga, in Bugerere county.”

Our source could not confirm when Mr. Museveni will make the public statements but speculated that he (Museveni) might do it when he meets MPs who come from Buganda on Thursday or Friday.  As for why Museveni plans to do this the source said: “Museveni has no choice this time. He fully understands that  he underestimated the Kabaka and Baganda on this issue of Bugerere. He also knows that he overestimated the influence that Katikkiro Walusimbi and his supporters still have on Kabaka Mutebi’s decisions. The only option he has, as a military man, is a tactical withdraw. And, based on his past behavior he may blame everything on  Kirunda and [Rwandese police commander]  Kale Kayihura.” The MPs are expected to ask Museveni to explain which his government is blocking Kabaka Mutebi from freely moving in Buganda simply because 22 people demonstrated with sigs that they don’t want him to visit without first consulting their leader, who happens to be an active member of the Uganda army.

In May 2009, the Aga Khan’s The Monitor newspaper printed a Uganda government sponsored story claiming that  Kabaka Mutebi postponed his planned  tour of Kayunga, in Bugerere county, due to fear that Banyala residents might demonstrate against him (see “Kabaka Will Visit Bugerere When Youths Are Home “).  This writer established at the time that the true reason was because Kabaka was traveling to Europe on official duties.  Due to conflict with another tour of Buvuma in July/August, the Bugerere trip was finally rescheduled to start on September 12, 2009.

Since Monday, the Uganda police, under the command of Rwandese refugee Kale Kayihura, has obstructed Baganda youth trying to prepare the site for Kabaka’s main ceremonies at Kayunga. They even fired teargas canisters into the car of  Mengo officials who had gone to Kayunga to oversee  the preparations. The Police also kidnapped Baganda youths who were erecting stalls and held them incommunicado for a day. Earlier, a Musoga minister in Museveni’s government, Kirunda Kivejinja wrote to Mmengo, warning that the Kabaka should not go to Bugerere without the agreement of one Baker Kimeze, the Museveni appointed first king “Bunyala”. Museveni created the pseudo kingdoms of Buruli and Bunyala within Buganda, in direct contradiction of his own Uganda constitution, which does not recognize ‘subkingdoms’ within Buganda.

Despite Museveni’s threats and brutal police actions, Kabaka Mutebi instructed his trusted officials like, David Mpanga, Lubega Ssegona, Betty Nabooze, Kabuuza Mukasa and several others, especially in Nkoba za Mbogo, to spearhead “Operation See You in  Kayunga”.   Through these ‘warriors” Kabaka Mutebi informed his subjects that he was determined to go to Kayunga and not allow a repeat of what happened in Buruli.  According to information from the operational command post, headed by Betty Nambooze,  tens of thousands of Baganda are expected to descend on Kayunga on Saturday, based on contacts with Gombolola and Miruka chiefs across Buganda. President Museveni’s internal security organization has informed their boss of these facts. The main reason why Museveni is backing down is because he has no confidence that his police can handle the situation if they try to stop the Baganda.

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London, UK: Stop genocide in Buganda

Dear Buganda Post,

I could not believe it when I read about how Museveni is using Tamale Mirundi to spread violence in my home county Bugerere. That man Museveni may think that we who grew up on bibanja and don’t own land are going to support his genocide programme. I want to assure our Kabaka and the people of Buganda that the people doing these things are not the true people of Buganda, whether Baganda or Banyala. These are foreigners from Bugisu, Teso, Ankole and Sudan and many of them have come during Museveni’s rule. Some like the Sudanese he even brought on lorries.  Mind you, many of the youth of these people now use Baganda or Banyala names to make sure that their own communities are not blamed for anything.

But time will come when all these people have to answer in an international court for the war crimes and the genocide type things they have done in Buganda, Northern Uganda, Congo and southern Sudan. Please Kabaka Mutebi you just continue to be strong and lead us bravely out of this Uganda mess.

Wangala nnyo Kabaka waffe.

Sarah Musisi
Muganda of Banyala origins

No city, USA: Saluting Kabaka on Tamale’s Genocide Campaign

Dear Editor,

I salute Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda for his courage for being able to say something against the campaign M7 is doing through Tamale Mirundi to promote the burning of land owners in Buganda.  Even shocking is the fact that the TOP radio where Museveni and Tamale Mirundi are spreading their genocidal messages is owned by so called Pastor Jackson Senyonga of Christian Life Centre. This is the same Senyonga who was arrested for fondling a 13 year-old girl during a flight in the USA. It seems that he got out of it but the deal was never publicized.

My question is what is Katikkiro Walusimbi doing, because he listens to Tamale Mirundi saying these things too? How can he just keep quiet about these crimes against humanity in Buganda to the point that Magulu Nnyondo himself has to speak? Abaganda babookya Katikkiro ali mu kugaba nsigo za bijanjaalo?

The way M7 and his people are behaving is typical of desperate people. Like a person who is drowning and dosen’t care who he goes under with him. Every Muganda should on the alert because these are dangerous people. Let us all follow behind our Kabaka and we shall overcome. Ekikute obudde kiributa.

Wangaala Ai Ssabasajja!

David Kasozi Nsamba
USA

Undisclosed Location: UNAA President vs. Janet Museveni and Ambassador Kamunanirwe

The current UNAA leadership has met stiff resistance from within most UNAA executive board members who have joined effort with the Uganda government officials to bring the current leadership down.  They can’t stand our current President, Lt. Musisi who is determined to revive UNAA to its past glory without the interference of the foreign Ugandan government. These are the facts.

What the Ugandans in North American are asking the Ugandan government is to concentrate on the affairs at home. It should stop imposing and directing itself on Ugandan North American Association, UNAA.  For your information the Ugandan Government official was informed officially by the UNAA Leadership that won’t be able at short notice of two weeks to change the program to accommodate the First Lady, Jennet Museveni to address the UNAA convention.  It is rather humiliating that this same government official through acquaintance got Ben Abe who is NOT part of the Organizing Committee to extend an invitation to the first Lady to address the Forum at UNAA convention. This is the worst that a foreign government can do to a non-profit organization like UNAA, equivalent to coercion and manipulation. See the attached document from the Ambassador giving orders!  I think it may be time for Ugandans in the U.S. to wake and stand up against this foreign government Intervention into the affairs of UNAA!  These are the facts.

Thanks for taking action

Peace Mujimba

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Pennsylvania, USA: Promotion of Impunity, Dictatorship and Genocide in Uganda

Dear Editor,

Permit me to express my disgust regarding the increasingly deteriorating political situation currently prevailing in Uganda, more particularly in my native country and nation Buganda. For more than 23 years now, we have been closely following the political development of events back home. While we initially anticipated that the ouster of dictators Idi Amin, Milton Obote and the Okellos; subsequently with coming to power of Yoweri Museveni would be the anti-dote of the terrible dictatorships and their attendant buffoonery that had afflicted Uganda since around 1965, we are sadly coming to the realization that Ugandans just got rid of one form of dictatorship only to replace it with another fascist dictatorship.

All Ugandans will remember that Yoweri Museveni gave the “rigging of elections” as one of the reasons for his taking to the Luwero jungles where many Baganda perished. Few will disagree, however, that on the contrary, Museveni went to the bushes for only self-aggrandizement. Three elections in Uganda have been widely reported as having been massively rigged by Mr. Museveni using the Electoral Commissions, the military and Police. Two of these elections (2001 & 2006) have been publically brought to the attention of the courts of Uganda by Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe where it was conclusively adjudicated that these elections were massively rigged. We all remember how with the aid of Mr. Edaward Ssekandi, Yoweri Museveni manipulated and bribed the 7th Parliament with $ 2500 so term limits could be lifted for him to become the life president he is today.

In the heat of 2006 elections, an aide to Yoweri Museveni, a one Lt. Ramadan Magara, shot eight Baganda at the royal gates of Bulange. Inspite of the people’s outcry to have this murderer be brought to justice, this soldier walked scot free for close to two years, all still in the service of the Ugandan strongman. While it is reported that Lt. Magara is now in Luzira, it is more than apparent that he will soon be out on the Kampala streets gunning down again innocent Ugandans. We must remember that he was almost acquitted with a ridiculous verdict of “manslaughter” rather homicide!

Quite recently before the murders of landlords by assumed peasants began in Buganda, the Ugandan strongman was reported to have been going around with a one Tamale Mirundi and a one Lt. Bamwine in Buganda encouraging peasants to form what have been referred to as Bibanja associations. It is through these associations that Baganda prominent men and women are now reportedly been murdered.
Like it happened in the neighboring Rwanda, Joseph Tamale Mirundi is being hosted by not so-respectable but religious-based FM radio stations. Three prominent ones have been names as being TOP Radio, Radio Star and Radio Bukedde. It is through these radios that genocidal messages are being spread out by Tamale Mirundi, Lt. Bamwine and a one Luutu.

The recent brutal murders and burning to ashes of eight Baganda landlords in Buganda at the instigation of Yoweri Museveni together with his aides such as Tamale Mirundi, Lt. Bamwine, Luutu, among others, must not go unpunished. I am calling upon the international human rights organizations to seriously begin investigations into this criminality and impunity. I am also calling upon all Ugandans in the Diaspora and back at home to increase their resistance against the prevailing fascism in Uganda. The world must not just look on as yet another dictator commits genocide in Buganda/Uganda. We cannot wait to see a million Baganda butchered Intarehamwe-style for us to wake up to the terrible pogrom that is beginning to manifest itself in Buganda.

Mrs. Tara Nankindu – Musoke
Pennsylvania – U.S.A

No City, USA: Response To Dr. Abe’s Invitation Of The First Lady

Bugandapost Editor:

Currently, there is a lot of politics being introduced in UNAA, a non-profit organization. It is critical that we expose what’s happening in UNAA. Please post my article regarding what’s happening in UNAA today.

Ugandans Beware

Initially, official delegations from Uganda Government were invited to attend UNAA conventions in an effort to drum-up investment opportunities for Uganda. Today, the attendance and participation of official delegations from Uganda Government at UNAA Conventions has become almost an established rule, thereby becoming a violation of the principles under which UNAA is supposed to be run.

Case in point is Dr. Abe’s decision to sidestep the organization’s leadership and extend an invitation to the First Lady, who is also a high level NRM politician. It is not only wrong, it is regrettable. UNAA membership includes hundreds of refugees from Uganda. These refugees were forced into exile by the same people you are now asking them to applaud and embrace.  This is not only hypocritical, but also contradicts the basis for their applications for political asylum in the US.

The government of Uganda’s insistence on inserting the First Lady (a high level NRM politician in Uganda), into the UNAA Convention, is a direct violation of the principles governing UNAA, a no-profit organization.

It is therefore imperative for UNAA membership to make a stand against such actions that violate the very core of our organization. Fellow Ugandans and well wishers, the harsh realities that our brothers and sisters in Northern Uganda have endured for the last twenty years have remained buried under layers of a campaign of deception and disinformation, orchestrated by the same hypocrites who are now claiming to be the saviors of Northern Uganda (or is it the newly found oil in Northern Uganda).

In their efforts to control Ugandans in the Diaspora, they have infiltrated UNAA organization in order to introduce their politics of division and deception. These acts have far reaching consequences, with the potential of causing irreparable damage to the organization.

It is time for UNAA membership to stand up and deny Uganda politicians on open door to UNAA platform. Brothers and sisters, we must join hands in our effort to reclaim UNAA’s integrity. We cannot afford to be bystanders, but rather active participants. Together in our diverse political, ethnic, religious, professional, and other background, must unite to demand for conditions that will guarantee our freedom without any manipulation or intimidation both in Uganda and the Diaspora.

By John Mayanja          

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!

There are signs that a still unknown group could be getting training and carrying out terror operations in Buddu county, reportedly in demand for Buganda Federo.  Since January 2009, the group has harassed or killed over 50 people around Kyanamukaaka, Kyesiiga, Kiziba, Mutondo, Bisanje and surrounding areas in Kabaka’s Buddu county.  According to local residents, the group previously dropped leaflets in the area warning area MP and Museveni confidant, Edward Sekandi, to resign as MP and speaker of parliament if he cannot support Federo for Buganda. According to reports, the victims tend to be either Banyankore or Banyarwanda, even though some use Kiganda names.

The affected areas are generally along the Masaka to Mutukula road.  Since 2006, these areas have reportedly seen an influx of money, believed to be from either Uganda government or Rwandese sources, to enable Banyarwanda to buy huge pieces of local land. In mid 2008, violence broke out when a Rwandese national bought 1.5 square miles of settled land from a Muganda and started evicting Baganda bibanja (plot) holders, making them homeless. There is a high level of frustration and anger among Baganda, especially unemployed youths, about what they see as neglect and victimization by Mr. Museveni’s government in favor of foreigners.

Both the commander of Uganda police, Kale Kayihura, himself a Munyarwanda, and Edward Sekandi, the area MP, told the government New Vision newspaper on July 10, 2009 that the night killings are the work of criminal thugs. However, neither of them could explain why in many cases the killers, who mostly use machetes (pangas) leave behind easy to carry expensive property.

According to a source close to Mr. Museveni’s state house, the president first received intelligence reports over 1 year ago that Baganda might start an insurgency against government.  The source claimed: “Except if he is pretending and it is his own terror operation, president Museveni seems to be confused about how to face Baganda armed groups on Buganda territory. Given the extreme levels of corruption in the security organizations the intelligence reaching the President, especially about the loyalty of Baganda NRMs is often faulty and misleading. For example, it appears that many local Baganda in Masaka have a lot of information, which they are not sharing with the local DISO or police because they strongly disagree with Museveni on land and Kabaka issues. Some of these NRM officials are the ones who call Mambo Baado on CBS Radio and say, ‘Tukooye abasajja!’ (‘We are fed up with these people!’). Others also feel that Museveni is going and they now want to keep their distance”.

A  New York based Muganda analyst and thought leader thinks that Baganda need more information before getting excited about this so called Baganda insurgency for Federo. He explained: “First, the tactic of terrorizing civilians in the area which is supposed to benefits from a new war has Museveni’s fingerprints all over. Many Luwero veterans have publicly admitted that the NRA used staged ‘Obote murders’ in Bulemeezi and north Kyadondo to recruit unsuspecting relatives to fight for Museveni. Therefore, I would not be shocked if this is an NRM group created to terrorize Baganda in Buddu and to trap potential volunteers. But even if it is not Museveni, one still has to ask if this could not be Acholis, Rwandese or anti-Museveni Balaalo trying to once again ‘use’ Baganda as stepping stones.”

The analyst added: “Remember that in 1995 Museveni started a policy of cutting down all forests in Buganda, even Mabira. The job to carry out the policy was assigned to Bakiga to be supervised by Kahinda Otafiire and Salim Saleh. Most Ugandans mistakenly believed that the objective was just to make money from timber. Yes, Kahinda Otafiire, Saleh and even Mrs. Janet Museveni made millions of dollars from timber but to Yoweri Museveni, the key thing was to wipe out all possible training grounds for anti-NRM forces in Buganda. Why did Museveni leave the forests in southern Buddu untouched? If he did it intentionally for future covert operations or as a possible escape route, then there is a 75% chance that the Buddu insurgency is a Museveni ‘kiwaani’ (fake) to terrorize Baganda and trap his potential enemies. If it is not, we will find out soon enough.”

On June 27, 2009, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi appeared visibly confused and angry when the London Baganda he was trying to address confidently heckled him. The place was East London University, thousands of miles away from his more familiar Kampala. The Katikkiro, together with his two predecessors, Mulwaanyamuli Ssemwogerere and Emmanuel Ssendaula were the guests of honors at a function organized by a Baganda group called Saagala Agalamidde – led by Enock Kiyaga and Nkata Masembe. The current and former Katikkiros were accompanied by Mmengo deputy minister for youth, Mathias Mpuuga who, until a few months ago, was a key player in the Nkoba za Mbogo movement.  Only two weeks ago, however, the Uganda government Bukedde newspaper reported that Mr. Mpuuga publically appealed to President Museveni to start funding Nkoba za Mbogo.

Also present in the audience was ISO operative Aisha Kabanda who, according to our sources in Mr. Museveni’s state house, travelled on assignment to monitor and (if necessary) assist the Mmengo officials. Indeed, she is supposed to have filed the reports that the New Vision and Bukedde used to compose propaganda stories that left out the negative elements of the Katikkiro’s visit.

Despite frequent heckles from a few members of the audience, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi and his team made presentations on their development plans for Buganda. Owek. Walusimbi spoke glowingly about his Omumuli project, through which he intends to return Baganda homes to the “good times” when he was a young boy – with each homestead having a few chicken, 2 or 3 cows for milk, a bicycle and a “katandaalo”. He also lashed out at those who criticized him for accepting money gifts from president Museveni, claiming that the funds would develop Buganda but also boasting that he is a self-made man, not impressed by any money.

Owek. Ssendaula used a substantial amount of his allotted time to talk about his extensive international experience as a diplomat, in Australia and France and other assignments. Some members of the audience were visibly bored and uneasy that their former Katikkiro, the highest office in Buganda below Kabaka, apparently put exceptional importance on serving the anti-Buganda and corrupt regimes of Amin, Obote and Museveni.

When his turn came, former Katikkiro and architect of the aborted regional tier arrangement for Buganda, Owek. Mulwaanyamuli Ssemwogerere spoke about his successes as Katikkiro and his new responsibilities to run a Buganda unit trust investment fund in cooperation with what we have reliably learnt to be a Kenyan bank.  Curiously, the Uganda arm of that Kenya bank is ran Basaamya who happen to be former UPC wingers.  Mr. Mulwaanyamuli also declared his ambition to run the Katwe tower arcade “once its construction is completed” but it appeared that hardly anyone in the audience knew what he was proudly talking about. The three Katikkiro’s, all of whom have worked for or with president Museveni in different capacities, brushed off the efforts by some members of the audience to engage them on controversial subjects like Federo, land grabbing, selling Buruli county  for Shs 350 million (US$155,000), Katikkiro worshiping Museveni and corruption in Mmengo.

The three Katikkiros and their hosts seem to have underestimated the anger and energy of those Baganda who are tired of Mmengo’s failure to modernize and become transparent during their respective administrations. The angry Baganda kept murmuring and heckling the Buganda officials, at one time forcing Enock Mayanja Kiyaga, the master of ceremonies, to interrupt one of the speakers and promise that all questions and complaints would be fully addressed during a Questions and Answers period at the end.  The organizers and Kabaka’s representative in UK, Mr. Nsambu, were also not ready for the demonstrators, both inside and outside, who moved around with posters denouncing the current state of affairs at Mmengo and the dismal performance of the three Katikkiros. The organizers brought in police to chase those with posters away but they (the organizers) were disappointed when the police agreed with the protesters, who included a lawyer, that under the law no one could expelled.

When it came to the promised Questions and Answers time, it was most obvious that Enock Mayanja Kiyaga, the master of ceremonies, avoided picking on those thought to be unfriendly to the Mmengo team. This tactic did not work for long as complaints started to grow loud and Mayanja Kiyaga was forced to some people from the other side to say something. Soon enough the emotions were exploding and even the Kabaka’s representative was calling the protesters obscene names. The lightly attended meeting (compared to some previous Dan Muliika meetings) ended on an unpleasant note when the Katikkiro and his team were escorted out of the venue through a back door, without the customary final handshakes and mingling.

In a related story, we have reliably learnt that next day, on Sunday, the Mmengo team attended the Holloway Catholic Church, where the prayers were dedicated to the Baganda martyrs. According to our source who attended the meeting: “But the talk among the crowd was about what transpired the day before at East London University and no doubt this dictated the play ground of the Katikkiro’s activity on the day. When the Katikkiro was introduced people hardly clapped and his reception was so cold.”

When asked for comment, our New York based Buganda expert expressed concern that the three Katikkiros seem to be sincerely out of touch with the reality of today’s Buganda. He explained: “Messrs. Walusimbi, Ssemwogerere and Ssendaula mostly talk to old people, like themselves, whose livelihoods and health depends or has previously depended on Museveni. The problem is that very few Baganda alive today are over the age of 35 years and a huge majority of these youthful Baganda does not depend on Museveni. In fact they are suffering from Museveni and other foreigners. And none of these young Baganda understand or want to go own 3 cows and one “katanadaalo” in the village as in Owek. Walusimbi’s Omumuli plan. They are also too poor to buy trust units from the Basaamya former UPC youth wingers. Isn’t this what ‘being out of touch’ means? As Baganda say, ‘Akanaafa tekawulira ngombe’.”

On May 21, 2009 former Los Angeles, California, resident and now owner of Radio Star, NRM candidate Peter Sematimba was declared the new LCIII chairman for Rubaga after a bitter election fight marred by massive irregularities. Even the Uganda government mouthpiece, the New Vision, on May 22, 2009 reported the results under the heading “Rubaga LC3 polls marred by rigging”.  Sematimba, who moonlights as a church pastor, won with 15,799 votes. The votes which Sematimba received represent 47% of the 33,314 cast in the elections, but only  9.3% of the 170,557 voters on the Uganda Electoral Commission roll of registered voters in Rubaga. According to NRM sources, more than 900 party activists were paid to irregularly vote in Rubaga. Also, over 2,000 pre-marked ballots were successfully stuffed into boxes across the 250 polling stations. Still, the total votes, including the irregular ones, represented a voter turn-out of only 19%.

While Peter Sematimba and most of his NRM supporters are celebrating his official victory, some political analysts think that this election is evidence that President Museveni and his NRM dominated brand of democracy could be rapidly collapsing. One New York based Muganda analyst, who requested that we withold his name, told us in a phone conversation: “Museveni, Nsibambi, Amama Mbabazi, Nakabirwa, Mrs. Museveni and so many other NRM heavyweights supported Sematimba. Then Peter blanketed Rubaga with constant campaign messages on his own radio station. Add on the fact that NRM people paid voters, ferried in illegal voters and stuffed the ballot boxes with thousands of votes. After all that, failing to get a turn-out over 30% in Rubaga is a clear message that the people of are fed up with Musevenism and are thirsting for something else.

“My contacts in FDC admit that many of those who kept away are former FDC Baganda who were convinced by Kamya that Ssebugwaawo was being used by Bakiga who were as anti-Buganda as Museveni’s regime.  FDC is dead in Buganda! Others were turned off by the leadership vacuum in DP and fairly good evidence that Mr. Museveni was funding the DP candidate (Makumbi) through ex-convict and Kampala mayor Haj. Nasser Sebagala. The bottom line is that Museveni and his people should now know that only about 5% of the people in Rubaga were genuinely convinced by Sematimba, Museveni, Nsibambi, Amama Mbabazi and other NRM big wigs to go vote for Sematimba. And at least 70% of the registered voters in Rubaga are opposed to or fed up with the Museveni circus. But that situation is much worse for NRM when it comes to Baganda, especially the militant youths below 25 years. So, if Sematimba or Museveni think that NRM won big in Rubaga, Baganda nationalists should be happy because it is better to have a stupid enemy than a smart one.”

The runner-up to Sematimba was Moses Makumbi of the Democratic Party (DP) who got 9,807 votes (29 percent), followed by Joyce Ssebugwaawo of FDC (15%) and four lesser candidates receiving less than 10% each. Makumbi conceded defeat and congratulated Sematimba quickly after the results were announced, leading to speculation in some DP circles that he was paid something to legitimize Sematimba as soon as possible. On the other hand, according to FDC sources, Joyce Sebugwaawo intends to challenge the elections results in court citing massive fraud by NRM activists with the Uganda Electoral Commission looking the other way.

This reporter has reliably learnt that contrary to the propaganda in the Aga Khan’s Monitor Newspaper, Kabaka Mutebi’s tour of Kayunga, in Bugerere county, was only moved back to ensure that it would take place in June when his school age subjects are home for the holidays.

A Buganda government official who spoke on condition that her name not be revealed, because she is not the official spokesperson, told us: “Abo aba Monitor babadde bamanyi since the weekend nti kyasalibwaawo Kabaka alabike e Bugerere mu June, abaana b’amasomero bafune omukisa okumulaba obulungi. Era bamanyi bulungi nti Ssabasajja akyaali mu Bulaaya ku mirimu emitongole. Naye engeri ba namawanga gye batujoogamu ennaku zino basazeezo bayunge section ku Kabaka waffe. (“Those Monitor people have known since the weekend that it had been decided that Kabaka would appear in Bugerere in June, so school children would get a chance to see him. And they also know that Ssabasajja is in Europe on official duties. However, given the tendency for foreigners to abuse us these days, the Monitor span the story to embarrass our Kabaka”).

On May 9, 2009, the public relations secretary for the committee organizing Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere, Mr. Sseruboga, announced that the tour had been moved from May 16, 2009 to June 27, 2009, after the school holidays start. Earlier, 50 people who claimed to be Banyala elders has staged a demonstration against the visit. The Uganda government mouthpiece, the New Vision, and the pro-Museveni Monitor Newspaper have all given prominent coverage to the 50 man demonstration. On May 12, 2009, the Daily Monitor went as far as writing a story with the headline, “Kabaka postpones Kayunga visit after threats by Banyala”, suggesting that Kabaka’s visit had been blocked by the 50 man demonstration.

Our contact s in Boston and New York tell us that some Baganda in the two cities are very angry about the huge leadership gap at Mmengo. The general feeling appears to be that those in charge at Mmengo seem to be obsessed with quick money given the excitement they showed over the recent Shs 350 Million grant from President Museveni. Yet Buganda’s current challenges require leadership that is not shy to protect Buganda’s national interests and integrity and listening to Baganda from all walks of life.

Reports from various corners of Buganda indicate that the overwhelming majority of  Kabaka’s subjects are upset with Katikkiro Walusimbi’s decision to accept a Shs 2 Billion (US$ 930,232) offer from President Museveni.  And within the Baganda youth movement there is talk of giving him the traditional punishment for treason. Katikkiro Walusimbi announced his unilateral decision to take Shs 350 Million (US$162,790), as the first payment of what he claimed to be an unconditional Uganda Government grant,  during an April 20, 2009 meeting of the Buganda Lukiiko (equivalent of a parliament). However, Owek. JB  Walusimbi promptly contradicted himself by adding that the funds came from Mr. Museveni’s NAADS program, which is funded by donors and is widely known to have many strings attached.

Reaction from nationalist members of the Lukiiko was swift. One member told Mr. Walusimbi that Mmengo must not take the  Shs 2 Billion because it was an attempt by Mr. Museveni’s government to introduce their corruption into Mmengo and have an excuse to bring Uganda Government into Bulange under the guise of checking accountability. Another pointed out that Mr. Museveni should pay the over Shs 8 Billion he owes to Buganda before Mmengo accepts a gift of Shs 350 Million. Owek Walusimbi only hit back. He literally quarreled with the opposing voices, telling them: “You need to understand who Walusimbi is. I have handled huge sums of money for many years and I cannot be bought by Shs 1 Billion. I don’t need it and I would not look at it even if you put it in front of me.” And in what appeared to be a veiled attack on the increasingly influential nationalistic Baganda in the Diaspora, Walusimbi said: “In 2009 Baganda should focus on hard work and not politics like the people who criticize me. Those who criticize me are people who can afford to eat sausages at breakfast time and go on to have lunch, evening tea and dinner with red wine.” And, in a move which  Baganda youths in the gallery called a “Museveni style bribe”, the Katikkiro gave each of the Lukiiko members present a “transport refund” of Shs 20,000.

By Tuesday evening, the resistance to the Walusimbi/Museveni Shs 350 Million transaction had spread beyond the Lukiiko. A leaflet titled “JB Walusimbi Atunze Obuganda” was circulating around Kampala. It pointed out that Walusimbi had sold each native of Buganda for Shs 430. It includes his image with the caption “Kayungirizi”, a term reserved for local land agents (see picture). Our investigations have revealed that the document was circulated by members of the Buganda youth movement, who enjoy full support from about 50% of Buganda cabinet and a huge majority of ordinary Baganda. A Buganda minister, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told this reporter that after seeing the leaflet, a combative Walusimbi threatened members of his cabinet that he knew who among them was fighting him and he would defeat them. Only a day later another message from still unknown Baganda was delivered to Walusimbi, warning him that if he continues on his current path, his head might get put on stakes at Bulange. Sources close to Walusimbi tell us that the Katikkiro has told President Museveni that his life is at risk. And he is now receiving protection from President Museveni’s Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB).

On March 9, 2009 Buganda Post exclusively reported that Katikkiro Walusimbi had Mr. Museveni to pay that  to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Museveni’s vice president Gilbert Bukenya. (See “Katikkiro Walusimbi Dodges Talks, Leaves Museveni Holding A Bag Of Stones“). According to our State House sources, the Shs 350 Million that Mr. Walusimbi accepted is art of this agreement. And the lunch allowances he gave to Lukiiko members appears to be the first step towards getting Mr. Museveni’s money into the Buganda Lukiiko.

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

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

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

1. Museveni had convinced JB Walusimbi that if Kabaka Mutebi continued to accumulate so much power over Baganda it could lead to a show down where Baganda like him (Walusimbi) were going to lose lives and their businesses. And the way to control the Kabaka’s escalating influence was to remove Nambooze, Mpanga and Ssegona from CBS Radio and give the Katikkiro more control over Mmengo.
2. Walusimbi had convinced Museveni to pay off government rent arrears owed to Mmengo and authorize another 8 billion shillings to: (1) complete Bulange Plaza, (2) complete Twekobe, (3) pay some salary arrears for Bulange employees, (4) to facilitate (bribe) key Buganda officials and certain key Bataka (clan heads) for support, (5) to settle the debt that state house owed the Katikkiro’s Associated Consulting Engineers company, and (6) to buy support from Baganda peasants by giving them money through an NRM style program called Omumuli which Walusimbi designed with Gilbert Bukenya’s support.
3. The two sides had agreed that to soften Kabaka Mutebi it was important to isolate him more from the Baganda youths who are getting more dangerous, starting with the removal of Betty Nambooze from CBS. Curiously, the two sides had also agreed that the removal of Nambooze could be made simpler if it was accompanied with the firing of highly unpopular Baganda like Tamale Mirundi or Minister Kinobe or even Nsibambi.

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

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

In a move that could be the first indication that President Museveni of Uganda might be prepared to use physical force against the Kabaka of Buganda, on October 8, 2008, Uganda’s heavily armed anti-riot police ready with teargas stopped Kabaka Mutebi from visiting the Buluuli Ssaza (county) Headquarters in Nakasongola.  Kabaka Mutebi was scheduled to preside over the 46th Buganda Independence anniversary celebrations which this year had been planned for Buluuli County. Buluuli is one of Buganda’s 18 counties. And it is in Buluuli that, a few years ago, President Museveni created  an anti-Kabaka “new” kingdom headed by a “Sabaruli”. Museveni’s current Sabaruli is called Mwogezi Butamanya.

It is not clear when president Museveni gave the final order to stop Mutebi.  However, according to a Uganda  police source who spoke on condition that her name not be revealed, Mutebi  had to be blocked because President Museveni and his people were shocked by the huge crowds of Baganda and Baluuli which greeted Kabaka Mutebi in Kakooge and Migyera towns. And because of the unexpectedly strong extremely well received speeches which Mutebi made at Migyera. There, Mutebi warned his subjects, in a very tough tone, to keep a sharp eye on and reject those who want to create confusion and divide the people of Buganda. Telling them, “It is terrible that certain individuals are working hard to divide my people, after the impressive progress we have made towards unity.”

This reporter’s police source revealed that the possibility of stopping Kabaka Mutebi from celebrating Buganda’s independence in Buluuli has been discussed by Museveni and his men for a long time.  According to him, every passing year Mr. Museveni has been getting more frustrated that the crowds at Buganda’s October 8th independence celebrations  keep swelling and his own Uganda independence event on October 9th keeps shrinking.  That is why they agreed to help Butamanya and Mukasa Muruli, former Museveni’s minister, coach Baluuli youths to organize a fake demonstration against Mutebi’s presence in Buluuli. “Mukasa Muruli and the youths were supposed to make a lot of noise, even threaten Kabaka, to give the police a pretext to stop the ceremonies if it became necessary.“ The source identifies the key plotters to include Ruhakana Rugunda, Kale Kayihura , David Tinyefuza, Buganda, Alfred Bitwire, Magara of Rapid Response Unit and minister Freddie Ruhindi plus district chairman Wandira and  RDC Masekera.  Museveni and his state house staff have been frequent briefed consulted on strategy and key decisions.

In a statement, Mr. Museveni’s minister for security Dr Rugunda blames it all on Kabaka Mutebi. He claims that it is Katikkiro JB Walusimbi who first expressed fears about the safety of Kabaka Mutebi in Buluuli to government. Then he (Rugunda) had confirmed that the threat was real and serious and communicated it to Walusimbi. By press time, this reporter had not confirmed if Rugunda is, this time, telling the truth. The situation has been more confused by reports in a foreign owned, Uganda government censored local paper that JB Walusimbi along with Buganda Attorney General Apollo Mabuya met with Ruhakana Rugunda, Freddie Ruhindi and Kale Kayihura on Monday, where the Mmengo officials were ordered to call off Kabaka Mutebi’s trip to Buluuli.

If Walusimbi and Makubuya met Ruhakana and Kayihura as reported, it is clear that their meeting was made irrelevant by Mutebi when he bravery decided to drive to Buluuli, in a convey of 40 motor vehicles, some carrying mattresses and other presents for his impoverished subjects. Most Baganda are strongly opposed to the frequent and often secret meetings that Katikkiro JB Walusimbi holds with President Museveni and his point people.