What is good for Buganda federalism is good for other regions

Role of Regions

 

By J. Senyonjo

 

Classic federalism is by its very nature a democratic system due to its detailed checks and balances on power at all levels. Democracy in a country like Uganda, with indelible ethnic regions and biases, can best thrive on a foundation of federalism; powerful federal regions are likely to protect the rights of their citizens against encroachment from the sometimes hostile, or indifferent, central government. Federal systems are designed to ensure that central governments do not arbitrarily interfere in local administration, including law and order responsibilities. These are left to regional and local governments, the two other levels of government in a federal system.

 

Federal constitutions demarcate power and responsibilities among the three tiers of government in order to guard against one tier encroaching on another tier’s jurisdiction. Moreover, since regional governments do not owe their existence and power to the central government but to their electorate, there is no room for directives from the central government that are not in the interest of the regions’ peoples.

 

Now the question of whether the semi-federal situation of 1962-1966 better placed Ugandans to defend individual liberties than the current unitary status quo is an interesting one. It is a great opportunity for me to reiterate the inadequacy of “federo for those who want it”, and why it’s better, in a country like Uganda, to have federalism for all. You will note that Buganda, the only true federal region in the 1962-1966 arrangement, stood up against the autocracy of the central government in the interests of her people and her federal powers, but because most other regions did not have the same privileges and powers, and resented her for them, she was largely a lone voice in the wilderness.

 

Imagine, if a federal system had been shared by all regions in 1966, and that their governors had met to discuss the increasingly arbitrarily behaviour of the central government towards regional autonomous powers and citizens’ civil liberties, contrary to the constitution; imagine too that, as in most, if not all, federal systems, each of the regions had a legally constituted militia, would the central government have easily usurped the constitution?

 

Moreover, in genuine federal systems, regions have a role in amending the constitution since they are integral players whose powers and people are affected by any drastic change, so it would not have been enough for the Prime Minister to intimidate the national parliament into passing his “pigeon hole” constitution. He would have had to do the same with all the independently elected regional legislatures. Imagine the amount of coordination and planning that it would take. Would high-level members of the army allow themselves to be used to abuse their regional legislatures? If they did, couldn’t the regional militias and police forces get in their way? After all, the army’s constitutional role is external defence, and it would be overstepping its mandate.

 

The Prime Minister’s task would also have been much more difficult at the national level because genuine federal systems generally have two chambers, one representing constituencies, and another one representing all the regions equally, regardless of each region size, or population. It would have been an uphill task indeed, for the Prime Minister to bring both chambers along, coercion notwithstanding.

 

So yes, my sense is that, indeed Ugandans’ civil liberties would have been better protected under a federal system understood, and subscribed to by all.

 

Democracy and Federalism are thus so intertwined in the Ugandan context, and in much of Africa, that they should be enshrined in the constitution concurrently. Recent examples of wrangles and strife in Bunyoro, Karamoja, Acholi and Lango clearly show that the collective civil and individual liberties of the people in the regions are often either trampled on, or neglected by the machinery of the central government which is often not competent enough to appreciate the subtleties of local interests and politics.

 

History shows that once the civil liberties of any section of society are trampled on with impunity, it is just a matter of time before the civil liberties of others suffer a similar fate. Federal regions protect against such abuse, and in a complex multi-ethnic country like Uganda, can therefore be considered guardians of democracy.

 

 

Uganda cannot be just a 13 Uganda Federal Union States

Are the people fighting for federo in Uganda aware of a bloody war of independence by Sabiny to break away from Bugisu? Has they ever heard the Rwenzuruuru Movement that fought until it broke away from Tooro? We should be serious.

Rwenzuuruuru, that’s to say Bakonjo and Bamba were attacked and subjugated by Kabaleega of Bunyoro. They were done the same by Batooro with the help of the British. They fought for independence until Amin gave them a  district status. You now want them to be under Tooro again. Please be serious and sensitive to peaple’s issues. Batooro seceeded from Bunyoro.
Kabaleega subdued them again. They sought reinforcement from Buganda and the  British and asserted their independence of Bunyoro. Sabiny fought a war of  idependence until they gained a district status. Have you done any research?Have you looked at Wold Committtee, Lord Muster Report, the two Lancaster conferences, Odoki and Sepebwa reports, and C.A. Hansards? Please wake up.
You can have three traditional regional governments of Buganda, Eastern,
Western and Northern as demanded by Henry Kajura in C.A. BUT THAT CAN
THREATEN THE NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. IT CAN WORK  UNDER AN east Africa federation.
You can have 15 traditional kingdoms and districts as it was the case under
1962 constitution but with modifications that Kaseese and Bundibugyo will be independent of Tooro. You can have 10 provinces under Idi Amin, but with modifications that Central , South Buganda and North Buganda shall be one province. You can have sub regions as entrenched in the 1995 constitution as ammended in 2005. This is the most acceptable.

Ahmed Katerega

UAH forumist/Journalist

Prince Junju is the main contender to succeed Kabaka Mutebi

Dear Baganda,

The media especially Bukedde, has been writing about Kabaka’s son, Prince Junju. But they should do more. In case Nnabagereka produces a son, that will be a potential candidate. But we are tired of minors, who rule through agents. We have not forgotten Katuramu’s mess in Tooro and that of Apollo Kaggwa in Buganda.

It is almost three weeks ago when l run a two page story of Qaddaffi, Museveni and Mutebi relations and warned that those sexing up their disagreements will be disappointed. This story has proved me right. l wondered after the two leaders had met in New York, and some presidential aides continued fueling disagreements in papers and on talk shows. Museveni’s problem with traditional and cultural leaders/institutions was interfering in partisan politics and they seemed to have agreed with Qaddaffi on that. So those sexing up disagreement between Museveni and Mutebi, Qaddaffi and Museveni, etc… will be disappointed.

Prince Junju is the only son to the reigning Kabaka. If you go to Prince Wassajja, you will open a Pandora’s box. For Wassajja is a Catholic. If you go to Nakibinge, it will be worse, for he is a Muslim and he is a Paternal Uncle to Mutebi.But for Junju, be even assured of regional support in the Great Lakes and enemies will fail to call you sectarian and tribalistic since his mother is a Rwandese.

For the patrimonial Baganda (as most Africans), “nyoko aba Omunyoro, n’akuzaala ku kika.” That’s why they imported Kimera from Bunyoro, whose mother Wannyana was a Muhima. Even Kabaka Mukaabya Walugembe Muteesa’s mother was a Muhima, so was that of Prince Badru Wassajja Kakungulu. Buganda is not starved of princes of Royal family and Royal clan evenif Junju also dies today.

Ahmed Katerega

UAH FORUMIST

Peter Sematimba Has Not Denied Anti Buganda Letter

Posted on 31 October 2009

For several days this week, a letter has been circulating on Baganda Internet discussion lists, allegedly written by Peter Sematimba, offering the NRM advice on how to weaken CBS FM Radio.  The alleged letter, which was supposed to be highly confidential, is addressed to the minister for Security in the NRM occupation government, Amama Mbabazi. It refers to a previous discussion on the subject with David Mafabi of Museveni’s state house.

Our state house sources most familiar with the activities of David Mafabi were not aware of any specific contacts between Sematimba and Mafabi. However, they confirmed that,  since the Kayunga civil disturbances, Mafabi has gotten more involved in activities to subdue Baganda. The source said: “Since the Kayunga riots, even Museveni now knows that Kabaka Mutebi could take him down, if he had enough bright and brave people in Mmengo to support him (Mutebi).  Because state house staff know that Museveni was shaken,  each one is trying to show that they have the best idea about how to isolate the Kabaka, scare the few bright and loyal Mmengo officials, strenghthen JB Walusimbi and disorganize the Baganda youth and Diaspora movements. In this environment, it would not be surprising if two money hungry people like Sematimba and Mafabi cooked up juicy deal along the lines of this letter. But I have no information to confirm it.”

On Sematimba’s part, he declined to reply to our email message, sent to the address he uses for business, info@superfmstation.com, inquiring if he could confirm or deny the letter. Calls to his radio station numbers 041- 272777 / 0782-222885 also got a “Boss is not in office” response.

On reading the anti-Buganda letter, a leading Buganda analysts based in New York,  claimed that serious Baganda should only be happy when Buganda’s enemies are exposed like this. He explained: “Many so called intelligent Baganda are still subconsciously slaves to the belief that a foreigner like Museveni or Besigye will save them. Others are equally delusional by thinking that some fast talking Muganda president of Uganda, like Abedi Bwanika or Samuel Lubega or Frank Musisi will help. Such Baganda are either ignorant or afraid to face the fact that Museveni and his Banyankore and Rwandese kin have ransacked the Uganda experiment. It  is a failed state! So, what does Uganda have to offer to Buganda anymore?”

The analyst continued: “What would stop Bwanika or Musisi from becoming a Sematimba once he gets power? The more intelligent Baganda know that a Muganda president of Uganda will have to go anti-Buganda, in order to maintain support from the other groups, who are uniformly anti-Buganda. This letter by Sematimba, is good for demonstrating that, Mulondo, Nsibambi, Bukenya, Mulwaanyamuli, Katende, Sekandi and Tamale Mirundi were not the last to betray Buganda. More like Bwanika, Musisi and Lubega are coming, only they might even be worse than Muwanga. The only way out is independence for the Buganda Kingdom. Fortunately, the younger Baganda who are the majority seem to instinctively understand it and that is why they are 100% behind Kabaka Mutebi.”

The controversial letter is reproduced in full below:

TO: The Minister for Security

Cc; David Mafabi O/P

Date: 2^nd/October/09

RE: INPUT ON THE IMPACT OF THE CLOSURE OF FMs AND THE WAY FORWARD.

Honorable minister, we discussed with Mr David Mafabi (office of the president) regarding the closed Radio stations, and i raised several issues with him which I present to you and may as well share with the powers that be at an appropriate time.

First, I wish to express my reservations for the Broadcasting council for not doing enough to forestall the mess in the electronic media especially the fm stations more so in view of what befell the country .

As much as we have endeavored to set standards at Super fm, we have been let down by our competitors who either out of fear for positive competition or deliberately for failing fulfill the requisites of professional broadcasting.

With regard to the three closed stations, its my belief that the major protagonists are CBS and AKABOOZI while SUUBI FM is a nonentity in this jigsaw. It’s my conviction that you critically focus with CBS and AKABOOZI given their burgeoning presence in the FM industry.

Both FMs are a sister act especially with regard to violating the ethical code of conduct as per the press and journalist act 1995 and electronic media statute 1996 as well as the broadcasting council guidelines put in place for the electronic media to adhere to.

We at Super FM can use this time of relative normalcy before the closed FM stations  are re-opened to fix the situation both on behalf of Government and the party as well as check on the activities of the broadcasting council on their part.

Action Plan

I request that through your office you create a special desk where you can identify NRM cadres who can ably articulate party/ Gov’t issues on the air waves.

If this is implemented, am ready to offer a weekly program preferably during the day in fulfillment of this mission.  This will help us mobilize.

Honorable, we are aware of the imposing status of these two stations and the expected new sense of belonging upon re-opening I think that there is a need to covertly reduce their influence in the industry.

The stations will re-open with a bang and every listener will naturally want to associate with them after all this time in suspension. Its against this that if  no advance counter measures are put in place the bubble will bust  and you might not achieve the goal of their closure.

For instance you can do this by demanding that they unconditionally shuffle various presenters in unfamiliar programs, i.e. from presenters to newscasters and vice versa.

By so doing, you can institute an “independent” survey to rate FM stations and am positive that  the programs will be rating low after some time or/ and even most of the presenters will be disenchanted by the new set up  and may end up thinking twice.

Through this scheme, we can make amends by promoting those stations that are on the same page with the system

(e.g Super FM) and by the time they re-organize it will be after months when we have steadily set off.

Alternatively, like we discussed with Mr. Mafabi, we can sweet talk a couple of presenters and draw them to the realization of not risking their careers and instead switch to the operating radio such as Super FM.

Personally am targeting two from CBS FM and two from AKABOOZI. For the fact I know that the management of both stations cannot agree to sack their prized presenters for the sake of re-opening them because they form the basis of their popularity.

But I can assure you that if we cunningly implement snatching them away, it cannot take long before these presenters are beaten into line with what we want.

We has suggested with Mr. Mafabi and Tamale Mirundi that I make a presentation on the above issues so that I can give you a more practical picture on the way forward on this matter for the continuity.

Sincerely

 

Peter Sematimba

The simple story that explains federalism to a Ugandan

“THE STORY OF FEDERALISM IS THE STORY OF DEMOCRACY”, SAYS S/SGT. MWAIPOPO.

Last week but one, I met Captain Mike Kaggwa a former squad mate of L/Cpl. Patrick Otto at the junior non commissioned officers training course at Munduli under S/Sgt. Mwaipopo.

This week I had my rendezvous with Captain Mike Kaggwa at the Fox On The Hill pub on Denmark Hill in Camberwell not far from my house. As I was playing host I arrived early, bought myself half a pint of Pride of London and sat down on quiet corner of the pub sipping away at my glass and reading a copy of the Sunday Times. Our appointment was for three o’clock in the afternoon. I did not have to wait long before I saw Captain Kaggwa stroll into the pub and I drew his attention with a flimsy wave of the newspaper. He  immediately saw me and quickened his pace as I stood up and extended my hands in greeting. “You are most welcome my dear friend to SE. This is the famous Fox On the Hill.  I hope you had no great difficulty getting here”.

“Ho no not at all”. said Captain Mike. “I came by the District Line to Elephant and Castle and took the number 468 as you directed me. How are you any way Pilipo, you’re keeping alright”?

“I am pretty much in excellent shape” I said. “What will you drink”?

“Well, get me a pint of Stella please” said Captain Mike Kaggwa as he removed his jacket and eased himself into the seat.

As I made my way to the counter I remembered Obargot’s counsel “That can be a huge gamble”, and smiled to myself. It would indeed be a huge gamble for the captain since the counter was situated on a blind bend from our seat. I soon returned with the drink intact.

“Thanks man” said Captain Mike Kaggwa, as I placed the drink on the table in front of him. “So where were we? I think I promised you a flavour of our field training at Munduli under S/Sgt. Mwaipopo” said Captain Mike Kaggwa as he sipped his drink. “Today I would like to relay to you exactly what S/Sgt. Mwaipopo told us would be the best way to establish federalism in Uganda”.

“How come L/Cpl. Patrick Otto has not told us about this. You mean S/Sgt. Mwaipopo actually taught you how federalism can work in Uganda? Incredible!”, I said with much expectation of what was in store for me from captain Mike Kaggwa.

“Ho yeah”, said captain Mike Kaggwa. “S/Sgt. Mwaipopo did teach us how to establish Uganda into a federal nation and bring about lasting peace  to this our long suffering nation”.

“ OK captain go right on tell me about federal Uganda”, I said.

“This is how you would establish federalism in Uganda” said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo, began captain Mike Kaggwa.  “First, you need a truely democratic government than the present government of president Yoweri Museveni. Next, the democratic government will have to enact a law; the Federal Constitution Act (FCA). This is the law that will provide the legal basis for implementation of federalism in Uganda. The Federal Constitution Act will have five aims; generally stated as:

(1) To promote, assist and facilitate in the process of  consultations with traditional leaders of the original 15 federal states and districts of Uganda at the time of  Independence in 1962; these are the federal states of Ankole, Buganda, Bunyoro-Kitara; Tooro; and the districts of Busoga; Acholi; Bugisu; Bukedi; Karamoja; Kigezi; Lango; Madi; Sebei; Teso and West Nile, and His Worship the Mayor of the Capital City Territory of Kampala, opinion leaders, religious leaders and the grassroots and all stakeholders about federalism and federal constitution of Uganda;

(2) To convene a Traditional Leaders Conference (TLC), comprising traditional leaders of the 15 original federal states and districts of Uganda and His Worship the Mayor of the Capital City territory of Kampala; to discuss and agree the parameters and  principles of federalism in Uganda.

(3) To facilitate the establishment of fully constituted, regional states consisting of the original 15 federal states and districts of Uganda at the time of Independence, and  the Capital City territory of Kampala. Once fully constituted these several 15 states and the Capital City Territory of Kampala shall have independent legislatures, executives and judicial systems.

(4) To convene the Federal Representatives Assembly (FRA) to draft, discuss and pass the federal constitution of Uganda; and

(5 ) To facilitate ratification of the federal constitution of Uganda by the several states and the capital city territory of Kampala.

Once parliament has passed the federal constitution law the president will dissolve parliament in order for the above process of establishing federalism to begin.

“Excuse me Sir”, interrupted L/Cpl. Patrick Otto looking animated as he gestured his hands towards S/Sgt. Mwaipopo. “I think at this stage the president should have to declare a state of emergency or at least the army should be on a state of Full Alert! You see there could be some rogue kingdoms that might wish to exploit this opportunity to secede. We need to protect the unity of Uganda”, pleaded L/Cpl. Patrick Otoo.

“Calm down Effendi Patrick Otto”, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo.  ”There is no need for a state of emergency or for the army to be on a state of full alert. What we are proposing to do is to dismantle the unitary nature of Uganda block by block from top to bottom. We shall then build federalism in its place also block by block from bottom to top. Remember, at this stage only the parliament has been dissolved not the constitution. So everything is being done according to law and there is no power vacuum. Are you OK with that Effendi Patrick Otto”?

“Well it’s kind of reassuring Sir”, muttered L/Cpl. Patrick Otto. “However, we should never take anything for granted. I just hope and pray that the army generals will be alert even if the president does not ask them to be”, retorted L/Cpl. Patrick Otto sounding somewhat relieved though not fully convinced.

“Sir I have got another query” begged L/Cpl. Patrick Otto. “Supposed during the Federal Representatives Assembly (FRA) representatives of some rouge state, say Buganda decide that they do not want  federalism any more, and demand full independence instead, how would you handle that?”

“Ho come now Effendi Patrick Otto”, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo, “it won’t come to that. Do you remember the Traditional Leaders Conference (TLC)? The traditional leaders conference is a formal process of consultation on federalism, and its main purpose is for the traditional leaders to agree and set the parameters of federalism. Once the traditional leaders and His Worship the Mayor of the Capital City of Kampala have agreed the parameters and principles of federalism and made a declaration of commitment to that effect then there is no coming back on federalism, from that point you only fire forwards towards federalism, nothing else.

Secondly, there is a doctrine of international law that justifies secession in cases of severe human rights abuse and oppression of a people. In general the international community will continue to be sparing in its support of non-consensual secession”, explained S/Sgt. Mwaipopo to L/Cpl. Patrick Otto.

“Sir”, it was once again L/Cpl. Patrick Otto gesturing with his hand to S/Sgt. Mwaipopo.

“Yes Effendi Patrick Otto”, responded S/Sgt. Mwaipopo, “do ask your question”.

“Sir, how will the principles and spirit of federalism be established in the original 15 federal states and  districts of Uganda at Independence and the Capital City Territory of Kampala?”, asked L/Cpl. Patrick Otto.

“Thank you Efendi Patrick Otto, that’s a very good question to ask” said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo, beginning the explanation to L/Cpl. Otto’s question. “The most important first step in the establishment of federalism is sensitisation and consultation about federalism within each constituent prospective new state. Intelligent and educated people like you L/Cpl. Patrick Otto will play a very important role in all this. One of the most important principles of federalism in Uganda that will have been agreed by the traditional leaders and his Worship the mayor of Kampala is the right of each prospective new state to maintain its unique cultural, social, political and economic identity.” explained S/Sgt. Mwaipopo.

Sensing that L/Cpl. Patrick Otto was dominating the session I decided to put in my own question to S/Sgt. Mwaipopo. “Sir”, I said, “could you explain how federalism would be established in Acholi, as one of the prospective new federal states of Uganda”?

“That’s a very good question Effendi Mike Kaggwa especially coming from you who is a Muganda”, responded S/Sgt. Mwaipopo. I could see L/Cpl. Patrick Otto trying to pay particular attention to what S/Sgt. Mwaipopo was going to say about federalism and Acholi.

“This then is how you would establish federalism in Acholi”, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo clearly on top of his stuff.  “Politically Acholi can best be described as a federation of independent chiefdoms, which are descended from the same Luo ancestral linage and holding a common Acholi identity. Each chiefdom is headed by a royal prince or Rwot. Some, but not all, of the notable Rwodi include Rwot Achan II of Payira, Rwot Ogwok of Padibe, Rwot Martin Atinga of Lamogi, Rwot Oryang Lagony of Koch, etc.

The first step in establishing the new Acholi regional state is the drafting and adoption of an Acholi state constitution. The Acholi state constitution will be independent, and will similarly establish independent Acholi state legislature, Acholi state executive and Acholi state judiciary”.

At this point L/Cpl. Patrick Otto who had been listening attentively shot up a question, “Excuse me Sir”, he said, “who will head the regional state of Acholi”?

“That’s a very good question again Effendi Patrick Otto”, responded S/Sgt. Mwaipopo. “Now listen very carefully.  As a federation of independent chiefdoms, the several Acholi royal princes or Rwodi will elect one of their own peers to serve as the  nominal and constitutional head of Acholi state for a fixed term of say six years on rotation basis. The constitutional head of Acholi state could be styled “The Acholi Governor General”, and would rank equal to HH the Kabaka of Buganda.

The Acholi state legislature would be the highest elected body in the state, and would legislate on statewide laws and institutions. The Acholi state legislature would bring together legislators from the present districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lamwo and Amuru. The legislature could be called the “Acholi Senate”  and its legislator would be called ”Member of the Acholi Senate” (MAS) and will rank equal to the Buganda Lukiiko and its members. The Acholi state constitution will guarantee freedom of association including political association, therefore, election to the Acholi state senate will be on multi party basis, with all the major political parties; DP, UPC, FDC, NRMO, CP, etc., taking part. The Acholi Senate would be independent of the Federal State legislature, or Parliament of Uganda. For example the Acholi senate could abolish the death penalty for capital offences such as murder committed on Acholi soil.

The present district council or LC5 would be retained to be the legislature for Acholi districts, similarly the present LC3 at sub county would be retained, and so would the LC1 be retained. These are some of the best reforms brought in by the government of president Yoweri Museveni. Election for LC5 and LC3 would similarly be on multi party basis, with all major political parties taking part. Election for the LC1 would be on “individual merit” and political parties would not be permitted to take direct part in the elections at this very basic level of community.

The Acholi state executive or the Acholi state government would be formed in accordance with the provisions of the Acholi state constitution. The head of the Acholi state government could be called “Governor”, and he/she would be an elected official serving a fixed elected term and would rank equal to the Katikiro of Buganda. Departments of governments such as health, agriculture, education, judiciary, Science and Information Technology, etc., could be headed by Directors. Thus you would have the Director of health, Director of education, etc., and would rank equal to a Mmengo minister.

The process of establishing new regional states would happen at the same time throughout the nation. Once regional states have been established, then next would follow a convening of a Federal Representative Assembly (FRA). The Federal Representative Assembly would comprise of elected representatives of the original 15 federal states and districts of Uganda at independence and the Capital City Territory of Kampala and their function would be to draft  and adopt the Federal Constitution of Uganda.

Once the Federal Constitution of Uganda has been adopted by the Assembly, then it would be left to all the 15 regional states and the capital city territory of Kampala for ratification. The whole process of establishing federalism in Uganda could take between four to five years, perhaps longer”, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo.

I yawned, and for the first time noticed that both our drinks had long run out. Captain Mike Kaggwa had been engrossed in talking and I in listening so that neither of us realised how more than four hours had gone by. “Shall I get some drinks and something to chew?”, I suggested to Captain Mike Kaggwa.

“Certainly that would be most welcome”, said he, ” I will go to the gents meanwhile”.

I returned with both our drinks and some roasted peanuts. We were soon back to S/Sgt. Mwaipopo’s lessons on federalism.  Captain Mike Kaggwa drank a mouthful from his glass before continuing.

” Next I want to talk about the merits of federalism”, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo, continued Captain Mike Kaggwa with his narrative. “This is also very important and I want the class to listen carefully. Two distinctions can be made of federalism and how it arises in different nations. These two distinctions are shaped as the product of what is known by  pupils of politics as “centripetal federalism” and “centrifugal federalism”. Centripetal federalism is a “coming together” federalism; this is when there is a strong central or federal government and weaker provincial or regional governments, as is the case in the United States of America. On the other hand centrifugal federalism is a “holding together” federalism; this is where more powers is dispersed from the central government to the provincial government, as is the case in Canada; which has managed to respond to the most basic aspirations of Quebecois”.

At this point S/Sgt. Mwaipopo directed a question to L/Cpl. Patrick Otto. “Effendi Patrick Otto”, enquired S/Sgt. Mwaipopo, “which of the two do you think Uganda’s federalism would fall under”?

“Sir, I think Uganda’s federalism would probably fall somewhere in between a “coming together” federalism and a “holding together” federalism”, said L/Cpl. Patrick Otto.

“You are probably right”, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo. “Some regions of  Uganda may want a strong central government, while others may prefer more powers dispersed to the regional or provincial governments. It is up to Ugandans to find the right balance”, I saw L/Cpl. Patrick Otto nodding in agreement.

“What then are the merits of federalism”?, said S/Sgt. Mwaipopo. It was more of a preamble than a question.

“According to pupils and practitioners of democratic politics these are the merits of federalism”, enumerated S/Sgt. Mwaipopo.

1. Federalism furnishes the means of uniting commonwealth of peoples under one nation and one national government without extinguishing their separate administrations, loyalties and local patriotism.

2.  Under federalism regions or federal states can act as ‘laboratories’ for policies to be tested. A comparatively small commonwealth like an American state easily makes and valuates its laws; thus mistakes are not serious, for they are soon corrected; other states profit by the experience of a law or a method which has worked well or ill in the state that has tried it.

3. One major merit of federalism lies in its capacity to accommodate diversity. When a country is subdivided in sufficiently small and autonomous subunits, different religions, ethnic or cultural groups can arrange their affairs according to their preferences in their own areas.

4. Generally, where there exists many decision-making centres covering limited areas, more people will get what they want from those who govern them than where only one decision making body is in charge of the whole country.

5. Federalism is the most effective way of preventing ‘dictatorship of the majority’ over a minority. Thus in a situation where 51% of the population could dictate to 49%, administrative borders coincide by and large with ethnic or other divison lines within a country. In that case federalism can be effective method of solving minority problems.

6. ‘Practice makes perfect’; by groups perfecting their association, coexistance and interdependence within their smaller subunits, ethnic or cultural groups, this will lead to more confidence in striving to live in a much larger country or nation.

7. The direct opposite of a “one-solution-fits-all”, federalism tends to minimise the risks involved in errors in political decison making: if such an error affects the whole country, the damage will be severe than if it affects only one province.

8. Federalism provides a method of plurality in a country where there are sufficiently stong local loyalties and where in its absence the only resort to hold the country together is force.

Finally class, I want to live you with a few satatistics and facts about federalism to think about. There where only a handful of true federations at the end of the Second World War. These included Australia, Canada, Switzerland and USA.

Since 1945 numerous countries have become truely federal, including Austria, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Belgium, Colombia, Peru, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Brasil, USSR, Argentina, Ethiopia and more recently Nigeria and South Africa. Where democracy progresses, surely in many cases federalism will follow. Can anyone of you imagine a democratic China that is also unitary? Think about it”.

I looked at my watch and the time was a quarter to eleven. We had been in the Fox On The Hill for more than six hours and it all passed like a flash.

“Thank you so much captian Mike Kaggwa. This has truely been a very well spent evening and I have learnt a lot.”

“My pleasure my dear friend Pilipo. Now let’s get out of here”.

Pilipo Oruni

UAH forumist residing in London

References: Forums for Federations,Canada; The Federalist Papers, and the United States Constitution; Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty; Buganda Constitutional Proposals 2003; Obargot Pabwola notes on ideas and thoughts for federalism in Acholi; Pilipo Oruni, What is Right for Uganda, 1994; Notes by Andrew Garib, Campus Progress; ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com.

Weak-up call for the Baganda dreaming ‘a strong’ kingdom!!!

Although someone, WHOSE identity I do not recall well, attacked my posting over M7,Kagame and Besijye vis-a-vis Buganda interests and the Kabaka, I feel compelled to throw some light on another, rather problematic, issue with Buganda and Kabaka. I must eat an humble pie, this might not be good news for some of us’ ears … but be sure, it is coming!!!!

My thesis:

Buganda destiny has already been strategically planned by M7 and the Bahima/Banyarwanda clique. The current Sabasajja’s death is already planned and, as well, the successor to Sabasajja has already been selected and prepared. The resulting cahos already foreseen and, apparently, there is some assurance that the governmnet will come in, as usual, to put an end to the ‘internal’ disputes in Buganda.

Questions:

1. Is it gonna be a replay of the 1966 saga?

2. Who are the major actors and why?

4. Is it reversable?

N.B: I am no more in the corridors of power and so my submission might be outdated but make no mistake to think is is all wrong

M7 and Kagame will not make THE  mistake to replay the 1966 Obote strategy with the current Kabaka. It has all been planned. What will happen is replica of the current Busoga- Kyabazinga saga or at least something worse. The plan is that when the Muganda-Munyarwanda Prince of HM. Mutebi finishes with his military training, and I think he is becomin a Captain this year or he next year, he will go through the military ranks as fast as possible and hence ready for the task. It is all set. Rwanda has put it in its constitution and Manifest that it will do anything possible and practical to protect anybody who will be denied of his rights simply because he is related to Banyarwanda. This targets this young Prince. Should he be denied of his right to become a king after the Father’s death, my friend, that war is already well planned!!!!! Wait and see.

At this point, Buganda might have to accept this new King alone or there will be another Buganda kind elsewhere but not based in Mengo. Those who will support this Muganda-Munyarwanda king will have to remain in Mengo and those against will go to RAKAI with their ‘king’!!!!

How will this work in practice?

It is all to do with money and the gun. Money?? Yes, it has been all organized.  Did you know that Sabasajja’s and actually Buganda’s major business partners are the following: Sam Kutesa, Kagimu, Kagame – through Rose Museminari and the Munyarwandakazi – the likely future QUEEN of Baganda ( the mother of the Muganda-Munyarwanda Prince) ? Tell me of  any Sabasajja’s personal business or Buganda Business where these individuals’ money, separantely or jointly, is not involved? Do you think this is by mistake???? By the way, if anybody thought that Sabasajja has ever given up with this Munyarwanda Queen is mistaken.

When should the Sabasajja Mutebi yield way for “the Prince”? It is not yet an opportune time but anytime it is practical, never be shocked!! How is the Sabasajja supposed to yield way? It is also already catered for. Havent you heard the romour that Sabasajja has ‘long ill-health complications “which is why it took them sometime to bear a child …?” Haven’t you heard the romour that the Nabageleka did not breasfeed because of the same complications …? So how is he going to yield way for the new KING? Read more about Mayombo’s death and recall  what M7 said  and Mayombo’s burial “I have always warned these youngmen about discipline … sex .. drinking .. sickness … these things are finishing potential leaders”. M7’s speech, God forbid, during the Sabasajja’s burial will not be different, anyway!!!!

How will factions develop – who is to support the Mengo and/or the Rakai Buganda King?

The mengo group will be led by Kagimu on behalf of the big wings I have already mentioned. What will be the Libyian leader’s role in all this? Ask yourself, when Museminari, Ndahiro, Kutesa and others were getting ‘the Prince’ into the British Military Academy, which Presidents were really behind the move? Surely if Rwanda’s President, Uganda’s and Libyia’s were not the authority and power behind this, then give me a call.

Woweeeeeeeeeeeeee, Buganda is nearly an empty shell. Mukuma lubugo lubale bamutwala daaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

Banange munsonyiwe, nze njogela byemanyi.

Ndi musajja wa Kabaka Omunarwanda.

LUSOKE WILLY

Ndi musajja wa Kabaka Omunarwanda.

Buganda Emergency Conference

Baganda should not blame me-Mirima

Dear Baganda,

You sound like you are blaming me for what you think I am not doing anything to develop Bunyoro-Kitara.

My participation in the struggle to recover the kingdom’s land, I am doing a very big service for Bunyoro-Kitara. I believe you have done some elementary course in Economics; There they tell us that LAND is the basic, a most precious asset, any entrepreneur needs in order to engage in economic development activity. My struggle to recover our land which was stolen by the British, and donated to Buganda, is a very big service to the kingdom.

When this land is recovered, including the over 4000 land titles in Kibaale District the Baganda absentee landlords are holding, I will have done a very big development activity for Bunyoro-Kitara. Therefore, do not think I am not doing any developmental activity for the kingdom.

And as for your description of me as a very rare old man, you are 100 percent correct. The Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru in the year 2009 Empango Celebration Ceremonies recognised this fact and awarded me one of Bunyoro-Kitara’s highest knighthood. His reason, “Henry Ford Miirima is a brave Defender of Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom”. Henceforth I became an officially respected elder in Bunyoro-Kitara.

In Buganda where I hold an  LC post in my village, I have been returned unopposed for the last over twenty years, ever since I began seeking a post there. This is a conspicuous show of respect by the people, residents, of my village .But the likes of you cannot see this.You think all those people who respect me are fools.

And in the profession of journalism, apart from holding a First Class University degree in the profession, attained in 1966 at Kent State University, Ohio, USA, one of the best Journalism Schools in the USA, the Uganda Journalists Association in 2002 awarded me a title of, THE MOST COURAGEOUS JOURNALIST in Uganda in year 2002. Nobody has ever won it again.  I am the only one holding it today. The Association gave me a commemorative trophy to show this.

As an investigative writer, a book publisher, I have written books whose subjects most people fear. I have published, UNVEILING WITCH-CRAFT . This is a subject most people fear to tackle. But after ten years of research I came out with conclusions which go against the established, archaic beliefs in Uganda, or Africa as a whole. I discovered that spirits worshiping is a pack of lies and trickery. I do not fear to antagonize people believing in spirits worshipping, abasamize, abafumu, okusamira okubandwa, lubaale, emizimu, emisambwa,  etc. In that book, I and Bro/Fr. Anatoli Waswa, we clearly show that our population which believes in spirits worshiping are ignorantly/honsetly misled.

I have also published  another book which lesser people would fear tackle.  This is the book, DEMYSTFYING OIL EXPLORATION IN UGANDA. Several forumists have said such a book should be written by professors who have spent years in the field of  oil exploration. How come a person like me who has no degree in oil exploration, should write it.

Yes, Henry Ford Mirima, is a rare old man. The above are just a few examples to show I am a rare old man.

Henry Ford Miirima

Spokesperson for Bunyoro

Letter from Abu Mayanja to the Uganda Argus

CROSSING THE RUBICON

Letter from Abu Mayanja to the Uganda Argus [6 March 1958]

The threat by the Kabaka’s Government to sabotage direct elections for Legislative Council in Buganda is so full of ugly possibilities for the future that it is high time somebody did some very straight talking to the reactionary elements in Buganda who seem to imagine that somehow Buganda can contract out of the 20th century, -and revert to a system of administration when the efficiency of guns used to be tested on human beings.

These elements are ’seeking to block the development of democracy in Buganda whilst pretending to pay lip-service to its principles. An example of this was the attempted intimidation of Makerere students by the Lukiko speaker when the former demonstrated against the reject of direct elec  tions to the Lukiko. The Katikiro’s admonition of those who dared to criticize the speech from the Throne is another pointer in the same direction.  So, too, is the recent statement by the clan leaders threatening those joining political parties with expulsion from the, clans. Nor is it purely coincidental that leaders of the political parties have been subjected to a spate of denigration and prosecutions – only to be acquitted after their reputations had been tarnished.  Sir, it is not at all fanciful to see in these and other instances the presence of a plan not only to sabotage democracy within Buganda, but also to seek to entrench the anti-democratic system by cutting Buganda from the rest of Uganda where it might be subjected to democratic influences. I am not saying that it is wrong for anyone to be against democracy; the world is only too full of examples of anti-demo­cratic regimes. What I am pleading for is that we should recognize these facts for what they are. I am also appealing to those who think in this way to come out in the open and tell the country exactly what they believe in.

If they want Buganda to go back to the 18th century, with the Kabaka ruling through hand-picked men and clan heads, let them say so – they owe it to the country to speak the truth. I also think that the notion that the Kabaka’s Government – which is but part of the Government of Uganda – can defy the latter is a matter so grave that it must be clarified and the correct position authoritatively stated.

There is grave responsibility which these events cast on the Protectorate Government. There is obviously a clash of objectives between those who want to see a democratic system developing in Buganda, and   those who do not.

It would be dangerously tempting for the Protectorate Government either to observe a benevolent neutrality, or to playoff one faction against the other.  I hope the Protectorate Government will realize that it has a duty to pursue with vigour those policies calculated to fulfill Britain’s mission in her dependencies – to take Uganda to democratic self-government.

I hope that the Government will take this attitude not only in the full confidence that history is on its side, but also with the knowledge that it has the unstinting support of the overwhelming majority of the educated Baganda who will struggle tooth and nail to resist the reimposition of feudal tyranny based on the debasement of the human personality and the vagaries of the so-called customary law.

I should like to warn our reactionary rulers that they are running a great danger of discrediting our traditional institutions, and thus making it impossible for many of us to reform and adapt what is good in them to the conditions of modern life.

I also wish to address a word of warning to the forward-looking, edu­cated Baganda.  I think we intellectuals (yes, though some people may laugh at this word) – I think we intellectuals have been much too timid so far. I think we have allowed ourselves the luxury of sleeping in strange beds for too long; I think we have compromised our position much too much; I think it is not too soon for us to declare from the hilltops what we believe in.

Speaking for myself I have crossed the Rubicon. I have set my face firmly against any autocracy whether it be foreign and imperialist or native and feudal. I stake my future and dedicate my life to the realization of democratic principles in my coup try no matter from which side the obstacles may emanate. This is a declaration of political faith, and I call on other intellectuals to do likewise.

Abu Kakyama Mayanja

Busujju.

Arrest of Mutesa 11 in 1953

On 30th Nov 1953, when the Governor Sir Andrew Cohen surmoned Sir Edward Muteesa to Government House in Entebbe, after Sir Edward refused to budge from the numerous threats made towards him, Sir Cohen handed him the deportation order. Without looking at it, Sir Edward passed it over to his Katikkiro, Owek. Paulo Kavuma, and kept on staring at the Governor. He (Sir Edward) just calmly asked them, “Does this mean that I am under arrest?” The Governor hissed out, “Yes”. Two white constables then walked in to take away the Kabaka. He then allowed them to walk him out of the office. Upon reaching outside, his deputy ADC, Robert Ntambi (RIP) being concerned over the safety of his Kabaka asked him, “Ssebo, nkube?”, meaning “Sir, should I shoot the bastards?” Sir Edward being the Royal and British trained military personnel he was, replied calmly with wisdom and guidance, “Tokuba, baleke” meaning “Just let the poor souls be!” Please note that Sir Edward himself was armed with a revolver which he later handed over to the accompanying British officer in the aeroplane when they were already airborne, and could have done a Terrance Hill to those two poor souls, but he couldn’t kill an innocent man. And lo, some Baganda bashers and haters spew lies on this forum of how Sir Edward killed innocent Banyoro in Karuguza, my foot!

Buganda was a good negotiator during colonial times

There is the Kiganda saying that; “Okwogera ennyo, ssi kuzza Lubaale!” In other words, even if you play and dance TWIST, it won’t help you to bring back the Bazungu wish of stiffling Buganda and the region!

 

The problems between Bazungu (this includes Indians and British citizens who were living in East Africa at the time) and Baganda might have started with Sir Hesketh Bell, but this does not erase the history that as per the 1894 and 1900 Agreements, Buganda was treated as a Sovereign State, and that is why Buganda and later Uganda was NEVER a Colony! Amazima gakaawa but non-Baganda should appreciate Buganda’s role in preventing their regions from becoming a colony, as was the case with Kenya and Tanzania! I shall repeat once more, Buganda has perfected the art of negotiating since time immemorial, that is why the Arabs and British explorers cum traders found it in an asdvanced stage, because Baganda knew the value of negotiating! Even the wars that were fought by Buganda and her neighbours, negotiations were not ruled out. Patrick, you are a great historian, take the case study of the wars between the Buganda Christians during the era of Kabakas Mutebi, Kiweewa and Kalema. If Buganda is not such a good negotiator, then who come John Kabalega and Daniel Mwanga II ended up colleagues? It is the types of the Mirima’s who now want to bury this history and bring back the animosity between us!

 

Simply because of Olunyoomonyoomo lwa Bazungu that was evident with the coming of Hesketh Bell on the scene, we are not going to accept our history to be re-written. Buganda was a Sovereign State while other regions looked on, but just like a good teacher who doesn’t wish to see part of the class advancing while the rest is lagging behind, Buganda tried to move in step with the rest of the regions, at her expense. Otherwise we would have got our independence in the 1930s. Ever heard of the Buganda organisation called Bataka Union – BU, that was headed by a one Ssemakula Mulumba? Those men were not jokers!

 

You very well know that in the past, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have enjoyed a long history of co-operation under successive kingdom and regional integration arrangements. Kingdom in that Bunyoro-Kitara and Buganda kingdoms were trade partners way deep up to Karagwe in Tanzania and then westwards. With the negotiations between the British and Buganda that brought about the Uganda (Buganda) British Protectorate in 1894 and the Buganda Agreement of 1900, more developmental initiatives were introduced. These have included the Customs Union between Kenya and Uganda in 1917, which the then Tanganyika later joined in 1927; the East African High Commission (1948-1961); the East African Common Services Organisation (1961-1967) which was tasked with pst office, railways, airways, ports and harbours; and research. The East African Community was formed later in 1967 and lasted until 1977.

 

The East African High Commission sparked off what was later to become the 1953-55 Buganda Crisis. Why? Because the British in their arrogance formed it without consulting Buganda thru its Great Lukiiko in Mmengo, as per the Agreements in place. Buganda just learnt about it through the media, and to add salt to injury, this son of a Briton called Oliver Lyttelton announces at an exclusive party tha was held at the East Africa House how Britain is going to federate the three East African Countries just like they had done with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Malawi). The rest is history, but bottom line: Buganda affairs before were in the Foreign Office okutuusa abalabe baffe lwe baatukwatirwa obuggya! And even then, if you persist on the disinformation, the demand for Buganda to be returned to the British Foreign Office shows the foresightedness of our forefathers and the kingdom as a whole. Hate it or love it, if it weren’t for Buganda negotiators, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania would now be like Zimbabwe or South Africa! The choice is yours. Please, give the Devil his due!!!

Nviiri

Selective reading by enemies of Buganda

Firstly, it is quite astonishing if not corrupt intellectually to use literature selectively to character-assassinate buganda leaders like Ssekabaka Mutesa. Secondly, it is interesting that we are willing to believe our former colonialists if the issues can malign Baganda. It is the same Baganda abhorrence brigade. Thirdly, the accounts of Kabaka’s incest, etc are gossip, emanating from what was clearly a personality contest between Kabaka Mutesa on the one hand, and Cohen as well as Lyttelton on the other hand. These two colonial personalities hated Kabaka, and would therefore never say anything positive. Check page 197 again, where abuse is passed upon Kabaka Mutesa – those statements are not referenced; so they are not fact. I see that there are other referenced documents abusive of Kabaka Mutesa cited by the enemies of buganda. This is not new – there are actually many such documents, and not only about Mutesa but almost about all leaders. Unfortunately, we have more of the colonialists accounts. The author (Ronald Hyam) does not reference Mutesa’s book for example, neither are there any quotations from any Muganda! A fair judgement would definitely be to get Kabaka Mutesa’s  account or some accounts from some of his Baganda subjects about what happened.Thre isn’t a single Ugandan referred to in the passage that buganda enemies references(in these pages by Ronald Hyam), and yet, they wants us to belive that they are an authority about history, wirtten by and accounted for by exclusively the colonialists. It is high time we wrote our own history!!!

Finally, if indeed Sekabaka Mutesa was that bad – so what? What should happen? The fact remains, he was the Kabaka of Buganda, respected for standing up against the colonialists. Just as some Ugandans love Museveni and/or Obote, I for one, love Sekabaka Mutesa II with pride and valour. He was very courageous in times when the rest of leaders in Uganda were silent, and he instigated the agitation for independence. I believe that very few of you his critics will ever achieve even a minute fraction of what he achieved or did. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

By the way, there are so many books about these incidents. Some of such books appear in the footnotes of the reference cited here. There one by Professor Mutibwa, a Ugandan – it could be a little more aunthetic, but has lots of faceless heresay as well. Nonetheless, from the same reference, there are within the same pages some rather startling accounts, which would in fact seem like coming from text, different from what the enemies of buganda read.

Page 193

…In any case he sought separate independence for Buganda with a fixed timetable. This was in direct conflict with the British objective of a self-governing unitary Uganda. In which Buganda was geographically the keystone: its secession it would be a bit like taking England out of the United Kingdom. 

…Few field officers supported Cohen.

… The resident in Buganda, R.E. Stone, for example, was much more sympathetic to the Kabaka, feeling that he was pulled in two directions at once by conflicting royalties, and managing a difficult situation well.

Page 195

Lyttelton had a hard decision to make. …..between sacking the Kabaka and sacking the governor.   Cohen was the darling of the Labour Party…. So, although he had the gravest doubts, Lyttelton represented the Kabaka to his colleagues as an intransigent weakling, in defiance of HMG, ….

The legality of the action was tested in court. Prof. Keith Hancock led an independent inquiry, …. Cohen changed his mind. After a visit, Lennox-Boyd felt the balance of arguments for relenting, ‘always close, had definitely shifted to allowing the Kabaka’s return’, …

But ironically the court ruling was that despite the Kabaka’s having been ‘disloyal’ and therefore his deposition therefore justified, it was HMG who had technically acted in breach of the 1900 agreement.

Nevertheless, by underestimating the strength of Bagandan national pride, traditional royalities and sense of honour, and by deporting the Kabaka, only to restore him a year later, Cohen was strongly criticised, even though prepared to be apologetic. …. Perhaps he was right to insist on challenging Buganda separatism. But equally it could be argued that Mutesa showed just as much courage ….

Essentially this controversy, between British prestige and Ganda honour, boiled down to a matter of personalities…

Then follows Otto’s selected delegatory quotes, which the writer states clearly were ‘beliefs’ rather than facts. By the way, I hear roumors of incest still existing.

Obudde mu lulimi Oluganda

Mukama Katonda tulina okumwebaza ennyo olw’okuwa bajjajjaffe amagezi ag’ekika ekyawaggulu nebasobola okutukolera Enkuluze (Dictionary) mu lulimi lwaffe oluzaaliranwa.

Waliwo amawanga mangi agatalina mannya ga biseera mu nnimi zaabwe enzaliranwa, ate Abaganda abamu nabo tebaafuna kakisa okumanya amannya g’ebiseera nga bwe biyitibwa mu Luganda. Kati nno y’emboozi eri mu ddiiro.

Year – Omwaka, kino kigambo kya Luswayiri naye mu Luganda olwaffe lwennyini omwaka tuguyita – Ddaaza

Month – Mwezi, kino kigambo kya Luswayiri naye mu Luganda olwaffe lwennyini omwezi tuguyita – Zzooba

Week – Ssabbiiti/wiiki, bino bigambo bigwira, mu Luganda olutuufu ennaku omusaanvu tuziyita – Ddimaansi

Date – Ennaku z’omwezi, bino nabyo bigambo bigwira, mu Luganda tugamba nti – Enzingu e.g. 11th Nov – ng’enzingu kkumi nalumu mu zzooba erya Museenene

1. January – Gatonnya

Mu biro eby’edda ezzooba lino lyabanga lya kyengera, era ng’amatooke geengerera nnyo mu nsuku. Abaganda baagambanga nti: Owange, amatooke mayitirivu obungi, gano gatonnya butonnyi!

2. February – Mukutulansanja

Mu kiseera kino mu Buganda, ng’essaanja liggwera ddala mu nsuku, anti olw’omusana ogwayakanga okwekutula okuviira ddala mu Ntenvu (December) okumalako Gatonnya! Abaganda kyebaavanga boogera nti, guno omusana Mukutulansanja!

3. March – Mugulansigo

Mu kiseera kino, Abaganda mwe baateekerateekeranga ennimiro n’okunoonya ensigo ez’okusiga ng’eddaaza likkiridde. Bajjajjaffe nebasalawo ekiseera kino okukituuma Mugulansigo.

4. April – Kafumulampawu

Mu kiseera kino enswa Empawu mwezibuukira nezefuumuula okukamala. Era ekiseera kino kye kiva kiyitibwa ekya Kafumulampawu!

5. May – Muzigo

Mu kiseera kino enkuba etonnya nnyo (Enkuba eya Ttoggo) kale ebirime nebigingimuka nnyo era nebibala emmere nebikatagga. Ate ebisolo ebizaalibwa mu kiseera kino, naddala enkoko, tebitera kukula olw’obutiti obuyitirivu. Kale bajjajjaffe nebasalawo ekiseera kino okukiyita ekya Muzigo.

6. June – Ssebo Aseka

Ekiseera kino kyabanga kya kyengera ekya kasooli era nga bwe mumanyi, ensiri zaagala nnyo ebimera ebikutte ekifuko. Kale ensiri zaabanga nnyinnyi nnyo era nekireetera abantu okulwala omusujja (Malaria) kyokka ng’endwadde eno tebagimanyi. Olw’okwagala okufuna ku kabugumu, Ssebo (musajjamukulu ssemaka) yafulumyanga ku katebe ke akolugalaamiriro oba akaliba ke, n’agalamirako mu luggya mu kasana asobole okufuna ku kabugumu. Mukazi we yayokyanga kasooli era nga kasooli ayidde, yatumanga omwana nti: Twalira kitaawo kasooli ono alyeko. Omwana naye teyabanga mubi, ng’akikola. Mukaziwattu bwe yageranga ekiseera era ng’ategeka bulungi omusooli omulala ng’addamu okutuma omwana. Omwana bweyatuukanga ku kitaawe, yasaanganga kasooli gweyasoose okuleeta ng’akyali awo; ssi mukwateko ate nga taata amannyo gali kungulu! Anti bambi nga musajjamukulu yasomose dda, lututte ffenna abaatusooka gye baalaga. Mu butamanya, omwana yayitanga kitaawe nti: Taata, taata, nkuletedde kasooli omulala wuuno olyeko. Kyokka oli nga teri kanyego. Omwana yalowoozanga nti taata ali mu kumusekerera era kyeyavanga akomawo ewa nnyina n’amugamba nti: Ssebo aseka busesi! Nkanda kumuyita naye ye ansekerera busekerezi! Awo nno bajjajjaffe ekiseera ekyo nebasalawo okukiyita – Ssebo Aseka!

7. July – Kasambula

Mu kiseera kino omusana gwaka kitonotono, kale abantu ab’edda beeyambisanga ekiseera kino okusikambula mu nnimiro ebisoolisooli ebikaze n’okulima omuddo okuguggya mu bisaambu byabwe. Wano bajjajja kyebaava batuuma ekiseera kino – Kasambula.

8. August – Muwakanya

Mu kiseera kino mubaamu enkuba etonnyerera ate ng’erimu okubwatuka kwa Laddu (lightening). Abaganda ab’edda kino bakivvuunulanga nti enkuba eno eraanga okujja kw’eddaaza essajja (Male Year) eriyitibwa Ddumbi era erirwanyisa eddaaza ekkazi (Female Year) eriyitibwa Ttoggo. Kale bajjajja ekiseera kino nebakituuma ekya Muwakanya nga bagamba nti: Ddumbi awakanya Ttoggo.

9. September – Mutunda

Mu kiseera kino enswa eziyitibwa Entunda mwezibuukira, kko bajjajjaffe nti: owange, kino ekiseera kya Mutunda!

10. October – Mukulukusa Bitungotungo

Bajjajja bwebaalinga bakungula entuungo (ennyaga), emu yayiikanga mu nnimiro. Kale oluvannyuma lw’enkuba eya Muwakanya, entuungo eno yamerukanga. Naye mu kiseera kino, enkuba yeeyoongeranga obungi era okukkakkana ng’ekulukusizza entuungo eno ento eyabanga emeruse. Kko bajjajjaffe nti: Eno enkuba Mukulukusa Bitungotungo!

11. November – Museenene

Wano edda nga ky’ekiseera enkuba ey’olutentezi mweyatonnyeranga ate nga n’enseenene kawoomera mwezibuukira(bazzukulu ba Kalibbala munansonyiwa). Kale bajjajja ekiseera kino nebakituuma ekya Museenene.

12. December – Ntenvu

Mu kiseera kino ku ttale ebaayo ebiwuka ebiyitibwa entevu nga bingi ddala era bajjajja kwekutuuma ekiseera kino nti kya Ntenvu.

06:00 a.m. Lubungubungu oba Maliiri

Wano Omuganda ow’edda weyateranga okukkirira mu nnimiro n’atandika okukakkalabya ogwa kidima (enkumbi).

09:00 a.m. Emmindi esooka

Wano Abaganda webaawummuliranga okuva ku lubimbi ne balyoka bakoleeza emmindi zaabwe nebafuuwako. (Si kuloga, wabula kuwummulako)

10:00 a.m. Kalasa mayanzi

Wano omusana gwabanga gutandise okuwoomereza era nga amayanzi gabuuka gava wano gadda wali. Omuzungu bwe yaleeta Chai wano Omuganda we yanyweranga chai.

11:00 a.m. Emmindi eyokubiri

Wano abakazi Abaganda webaatandikiranga okuwaata emmere n’okufumba eky’emisana, era n’okukoleeza emmindi baddemu banyweko.

12:00 p.m. Ttuntu

Omuganda ekiseera kino yakitwalanga ng’amasekkati g’emisana era ng’omusana gwaka okwememula.

1.00 p.m. Malya g’ekyemisana

Wano Omuganda weyaliiranga eky’emisana.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Ggandaalo

Wano Omuganda weyawummulirangako emmere emukke mu ntumbwe. Ekigendererwa ekirala kyabanga kwewala kutambula mu musana ogwa ebisolo ebikambwe n’emisota webisiingira okuba n’obukambwe obusukkiridde.

4:00 p.m. Akalabirizabazaana

Wano omukazi Omuganda weyatandikiranga okutegeka ekyeggulo*

6:00 – 7:00 p.m Enjuba weegoloobera (sunset)

Wano Omuganda weyaliiranga ekyeggulo*.

7:00 – 9:00 p.m

Wano abakulu baakumanga ekyoto nebanyumya ebyafaayo n’engero ez’abedda.

9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Kawooza masiga

Edda amasiga gaaberanga ga mbaalebaale oba njaziyazi, kale nga galwawo okuwola. Ekkiseera kino kyabalibwanga nga amasiga wegawolera.

11:00 p.m. Ekisisimuko ekisooka

Wano Omuganda eyabanga yeebase oluvannyuma lw’emboozi y’ekyoto, weyasisimukiranga yeetegereze ebifa ebweru, ssi kulwa ng’ekyalo kizindiddwa.

00:00 a.m (Midnight) Ttumbi

Ekiseera kino kyabalibwanga ng’amasekkati g’ekiro.

1:00 a.m. Mattansejjere

Ekiseera kino enswa ensejjere mwezibuukira, era Omuganda anatta ensejjere emisana yalinga yategese omumuli gwe ogw’okumulisa ensejjere nga zigwa mu nvubo.

3.00 a.m Kinywambogo

Wano embogo wezitandikira olunaku lwazo nga zitandika n’okunywa amazzi mu myala oba emigga.

4:00 a.m. Enkoko embereberye

Wano empanga wezisookera okukookolima, n’oluvannyuma neziddamu ku ssaawa ekkumi nebbiri (6:00 a.m.). Era wano wewaava n’okuyimba oluyimba nti:

Mukasa akeera, akeera ku nkoko

Mukasa akeera, akeera ku nkoko embereberye.

5:00 a.m. Mmaambya (dawn) Enkoko eyokubiri

Wano emmsambya eba esaze (nga ku ggulu kuzzeeko ekitangaala ekimyufu).

5:30 a.m. Matulutulu

Ku ggulu kuba kuzzeeko ekitangaala ekya kyenvu era obunyonyi butandika okukaaba oba okuyimba.

6:00 a.m. Maliiri oba Lubungubungu

*Ekyeggulo – (supper) kino ky’ekigambo eky’Oluganda ekituufu okukozesa bw’oba otegeeza okulya emmere ey’akawuungeezi. Waliwo Abaganda abakozesa mu bukyamu ekigambo Ekyekiro nga baagala okutegeeza “Supper” oba emmere eriibwa akawuungeezi. Ekyo ekigambo kikyamu mu makulu ago era kiwemula.

*Ekyekiro – Nnazzi kuno (edda) ng’omusajja Omuganda bw’ava ku mboozi y’ekyoto, nga yeefubitika ensiisiraye era ng’agamba mukazi we nti: owange, kati katulye Ekyekiro; amakulu nti “Let’s play sex”. Kale nno bwekatakutaandanga n’okikubawo mulujjudde nti: Bannange mujje tulye Ekyekiro, oba nti: Gundi yatusaanze tulya ekyekiro! Wano Omuganda omutuufu ayinza okufa ensonyi, naddala nga waliwo nnyazaala oba ssezaala!

Awangaale Ssabasajja,

Biwandiikiddwa nze, Nviiri, nga bwe byambuulirwa jjajjange Alice Norah Kayaga Nnakiyingi.

11 Museenene 2008

Nviiri

sucession of the Kabaka

I would like to clarify something about the succession of a Kabaka of Buganda. No Kabaka has ever come from the Balangira clan. The Balangira clan is not composed of “Abalangira ba Mujaguzo” (the sons of a Kabaka) or “Abalangira ba Kanabba” (the sons of a prince). Because these princes are potentially in line to the throne, they all belong to the clans of their mothers. Hence, Daudi Chwa belonged to the Engabi clan while his son Edward Mutesa belonged to the Ente clan.

 

The reason for this was so that no one clan could monopolise the position of Kabaka. The saying that “Ebukojja teva wa lubu lwo” strictly relates to us “Abakopi” and never to the above two classes of Abalangira. The order followed in choosing a Kabaka starts from among the “Abalangira ba Mujaguzo.” If nobody qualifies, then the order goes to “Abalangira ba Kanabba.” Two of the main qualifications for any prince before he can become Kabaka are (1) that prince must be born in Buganda (more like an American President must be born in America). Fyi, Mutebi’s mother had to be rushed to Kampala although she conceived in Europe during Mutesa’s first exile; (2) the mother must have a Muganda father. This means that that mother will, in effect, have a Kiganda clan.

 

Finally, “Abalangira ba Kanabba” must have a Kabaka as a grandfather. This limits the extent of this class of princes.

Mwebale nyo

Mbalamusizza nnyo banange. Kirungi era kisanyusa nnyo olwomuwendo gwemuwaayo okunonyereza ko nokutuusa ku banaffe bangi okutegeera nokwongera okumanya obulungi ebifa ku nyaffe Buganda.

 

Mbakakasa nti okufuba kwamwe si kwabwereere. Mugende mu maaso naffe tujja kuba mabega wamwe  era nokwongerako kye tumanyi anti kamukamu gwemuganda.

 

Ssekabaka Sir edward Muteesa mu kwogerakwe eri eggwanga ku lunaku lwa independence yateegeeza nga bweyali yenyumiririza ennyo mu Jjajawe Mutesa 1 olwebyo byeyayolesebwa nasobola okukolera obuganda ne uganda yonna okutwalira awamu.

Nkakasa nga namwe mwenyumiririza mu ba jjajjamwe benkakasa nga nabo baali bantu ngwanguli anti ekyo kyeragira kumwe okuba nti temuwena.

 

“The prime virtue of life is COURAGE because it makes all other virtues possible” Winston churchill. Obuvumu bwamwe bweyongere bubeere nekubaana bamwe nekubazukulu.

 

Twesiimye nnyo olwa Buganda yaffe! Eriyo abantu abalowooza nti abaganda abeda abaali abazira ennyo tebakyaliwo. Abo tubasaasidde nnyo. Ate mwe mujja kuba bazira nokukirawo anti mukolera mu mbeera nzibu nnyo ate nga mwesudde amabanga naye mukama anaabanga namwe Era oyo gwetusaba bulijjo abakuume. AMIINA.

 

 Ai ensi yaffe twewayo gyoli. Ssabassajja Kabaka awangale.

 

IS THE “NAMASOLE” ALWAYS THE KABAKA’S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER?

I am seeing vials of wrath being emptied on Sarah Namasole Natolo.  Some have dismissed her as ”Butabika”, others like Mr Kyijomanyi have advised the pressmen that reported the intra-Mengo wrangles over land to go to Namirembe where Irene Druscilla Namaganda, Kabaka Mutesa II’s mother was burried.

The problem here seems to be mixing up the biological mother of the Kabaka with the office of the Namasole.  In fact, Irene Druscilla Namaganda was not the Namasole.  Was she?

1/4 In other words, you have corrected the wrong impression created by some forumists that “Namasole = Kabaka’s biological mother”. That fallacy is being thrown up by those that want to silence Sarah Namasole Natolo regarding her recent complaints on land.

2/4 For Irene Druscilla Namaganda, we need to remind ourselves of the events that followed 1939, the year when Kabaka Chua died.  The queen sought to remarry and that caused a serious storm in Mengo (equalled only by claims that Kabaka Chua had fathered a certain gentleman called Idi Amin, resulting in the breakdown of the marriage between Amin’s parents).

3/4 Irene Druscilla Namaganda as queen was not supposed to remarry because the Kabaka could not call another man (especially a mukopi) his father.  It was also deemed to be a taboo for the kabaka to have brothers who were not of the royal lineage which would tend to confuse future successions..you know the saying that “Kabaka taddwaako mukopi” - (Kabaka cannot have a commoner for a sibling).

4/4 Mutesa II was the first king to compromise on that custom.  He allowed his mother to remarry, and still there was considerable uproar in the kingdom. To quell this uproar, the official duties of the Namasole were transferred from Lady Namaganda to her older sister, Perepetwa Nnaabaweesi.  In other words, Lady Namaganda eventually lost the Namasoleship, and not because she died, but because she remarried.

Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick

Irene Drusilla Namaganda wa the Namasole of Sir Edward Muteesa ll.

Irene Drusilla Namaganda wa the Namasole of Sir Edward Muteesa ll. Upon her death, she was succeeded by Sarah Nattoolo. We have namasoles for early Kabakas like Kintu, Chwa, Kimera etc… We have naalinnyaas for all Kabakas. For example Princess Srah Kagere, sister of Kabaka Ronnie Mutebi, is the nnaalinnya of Kabaka Kintu. Princess Kigga, another brother of Kabaka Mutebi, is the Nnaalinnya of Winyi at Kibulala Singo etc…. So Natoolo is the Namasole of Ssekabaka Muteesa ll. It is like the incumbent Ronald Mutebi ll. His Queen mother died in the seventies. But she was succeeded by another one who stands in for her. Natoolo is not the biological mother of Kabaka Muteesa, but the official Queen Mother.

Namasole has a valid point, but as we were moving towards coronation in 1993, the Ssaabataka proclaimed the Ssaabataka Supreme Council to become Olukiiko lwa Buganda and l think in the process it elected a Kabaka. The Mmengo Information Minister Charles Peter Mayiga , can be of good help on this.

Ahmed Katerega Mussazi

late Irene Druscilla Namaganda (RIP) remarried

L_Cpl Otto:

We know that the late Irene Druscilla Namaganda (RIP) remarried. Do you at what age she was widowed? What is shameful about one’s mother re-marrying? Should Ugandans whose mothers have re-married be ashamed? What about fathers who re-marry? Credit should go to the late Kabaka  Mutessa II (RIP) for letting her mother re-marry. What if it had been the father widowed at an early age? Would he have stayed widower all her life?

But what has the re-marrying of the late Irene Druscilla Namaganda (RIP) got to do with the current wrangle?  Are you hoping that telling UAH members who may not have known that the current Kabaka’s jaaja re-married should make him ashamed? Of what?

The late Irene Druscilla Namaganda stood up for women’s rights in Buganda and Uganda. She fell in love with a religious man and re-married.  There is no shame in women or men re-marrying openly

I asked Ms Birigwa something about Lt Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba whether he is a biological son of Ms Museveni or not? Why are they shamed to say the truth? Is he or is he not a biological son of Ms Janet Museveni? Are they ashamed about it?

You had told ‘UAH’ about the late Irene Druscilla Namaganda (RIP), now can you tell them about the biological mother of Lt Muhoozi Kainerugaba? I have broken my policy of sparing the children for a reason.

WBK

Mutesa II family challenges Kabaka’s legality

Monitor Online

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Mutesa_II_family_challenges_Kabaka_s_legality_82636.shtml

Posted in: News

By Lominda Afedraru
Apr 4, 2009 – 2:00:35 AM

Kampala

The Family of Sir Edward Mutesa II has petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging the legality of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi as King of Buganda.

Ms Sarah Namasole Natolo who claims to be the mother of late Kabaka Mutesa II and Prince David Simbwa, the son of Kabaka Daudi Chwa claim when the government passed the 1967 Constitution, it tampered with the kingdom constitution that provided for the election of the Kabaka.

The petitioners claim Article 2 of the Buganda Kingdom Constitution states that “the Kabaka who is ruler of the Buganda Kingdom shall be elected by the Majority Votes of the Lukiiko”.

They argue that although any prince including the Kabaka is entitled to nominate or choose his own personal successor upon death, the Kabaka remains to be elected by majority votes of the Lukiiko.

According to the petitioners the past Kabaka’s of Buganda nominated their personal successors but the Lukiiko went ahead to elect other people.

Relationship between Nyakazaana and Buganda kingdom

Dear Baganda,

1/7 What do you mean by “Nabakooba is a partisan Muhima on a pro ‘Nyakazaana’ anti people mission” ?  You mean support for Nyakazaana is pro-Hima and probably anti-Ganda?

2/7 Bahima particularly Maama Nyakazaana, have given Buganda Kabakas and Chiefs.  The prominent Nyakazaana is of the Bahinda clan of the Royal family of Nkore (“Ankole”) and the earlier you got to know her, the better for you in your effort to be in good stead with Buganda royalty.  Thus far, things may not be good for you.

3/7 This is what I mean: Nyakazaana was the wife of Zachary Kiwanuka Sensalire, and together, they were the parents of Ham Mukasa Rwamujonjoza (1871-1956), one of the greatest sons of Buganda.  Ham Mukasa as you know was the Sekibobo of Buganda (i.e., the Chief of Kyaggwe), the longest serving chief in the history of Buganda.  Zakariya Kiwanuka Sensalire was himself a descendant of a long line of Sensalires, i.e. heads of the balalo clan of Njovu who are known to have gained prominence right from the days of Kabaka Kintu as the official balaalo.  Up to now, it remains the duty of the Njoveu clan to educate every new Kabaka on the art of bulaalo (herding).  Like other balaalo, Sensalire married from among his fellow Bahima, hence the Nyakazaana that you are now vilifying.

4/7 Nyakazaana, a Muhima, was the mother of Ham Mukasa as we have seen.  Ham Mukasa, with his first wife Anna Mawemuko, then went ahead to father  Victoria Sarah Nalwanga (b. 1910).  Nalwanga was the mother of the two Kisosonkoles, Sarah and Damali, the wives of Kabaka Edward Mutesa II.

5/7 Sarah Kisosonkole, (the great grand daughter of Nyakazana), was Kabaka Mutebi’s mother. The Kiganda version of the Hima name, Nakazana has stuck around up to now. Kabaka Mutebi’s first Namasole was known as Edith Nakazana.  She passed away recently in London, I think on 02 Sep 2008, and you may have even attended her funeral service!

6/7 So, by vilifying Nyakazaana are you may be launching a calculated assault of Kabaka Mutebi’s parentage or you really do not know what you are talking about.  From my instinct, I suspect the latter.

7/7 Baganda had better educate you on the roots of Buganda royalty or start being weary of you as a “green grass in the snake”.  Your anti-Nyakazaana vitriol is as venomous as it is inimical to Buganda.

Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick

Note:Nabakooba is Uganda Police spokesperson

Relationship between Himas and Buganda

1/7 mine is not an attempt to re-write Buganda history but to tell it as it is in response to some Baganda’s Hima-hate campaign which will unfortunately wind up at the Buganda royal house.

2/7 Tracing the ancestry of Nyakazaana was not an end in itself but a means of shedding light on the basic facts that we disregard when we are stoking antipathy against certain groups.  Key here is the extent to which groups have intermingled over time, and in case of Buganda, the extent to which it is indeed a bundle of bundles, one of which bundles are Bahima. One could almost argue that Buganda is a bundle of Bahima and balaalo, contrary to what many of you think.

3/7 Look at this: the mother of Kabaka Mutebi I, Wanyana, was the daughter of Mugalula Buyonga, the founder of the Nseenene (conjugated from Nswa enene) clan.  Mugalula, originally called Mugarra, a Muhima from Busongora and a mulaalo, moved with others from Busongora, with their herds of cattle and settled in Bweera via Buddu, then eventually moving to Nakanoni village in Gomba and on to Kisozi.

4/7 One of Mugalula’s brothers, Kalyebala (whose Kiganda’s corruption is “Kalibbala) became the chief mulaalo of Chwa I, Kabaka Kintu’s successor, was to be promoted to the chieftainship of Kayima or Kaima (in Runyakitara, part of which Rusongora is, Kahuma or Kahima, the cattle keeper or mulaalo). The Kayima or Kaima is still the title of the Chief of the Ssaza of Mawokoto (just like we have the Mugema of Busiro, the Kasujju of Busujju, the Katambala of Butambala; the Pokino of Buddu, the Sekibobo of Kyaggwe etc).  All those were Bahima.  I am sure you know that, those of Nsenene clan that lost their herds of cattle to rinderpest in the 1880s and resorted to crop rearing are now called Baima abatasunda, that is, the “Bahima that no longer churn milk”.

5/7 As Mr Kateregga has been telling us here, Mutesa I’s mother, Ndwaddewazziba, was a Muhima; Prince Badru Kakungulu’s mother was a Muhima, Prince John Kintu Wassajja’s mother was a Muhima, Princess Teyeggala’s mother was a Muhima, and as we have shown you here at UAH, Prince Jjunju Suna Kiwewa’s mother is a Mututsi, the Muhima equivalent of Rwanda-Burundi.  The whole process of the arrival on the scene of your likely next Kabaka has been a process of concentrating Hima/Tutsi blood at Mmengo.  You do not have to hate or love the fact.  That is how it is.

6/7 So, in your current royal family, there is Hima blood coming from deep, deep on the Kabaka’s paternal side, and there is Hima/balaalo blood from the Kabaka’s maternal side, in the line of Zakaria Sensalire himself, Ham Mukasa’s father, and on the side of Nyakazaana, Ham Mukasa’s mother.

7/7 Digging up family histories should not trouble you alot.  It is family histories that make up clan histories, and then community histories.  We are simply trying to understand what we are as communities.

Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick

Note:Katerega works for NewVision and a regular contributor to the UAH forum

History of the bahima and balaalo in Bugana

As we try to “dig dip” the history of Bahima and balaalo in Buganda, I will refer you to some readings that might give you some basic facts.  These might also be of some use for others that champion Buganda exclusionism and the anti-Hima and anti-Tutsi invective that abounds on the UAH forum:

1. Reid, Richard J (2002), Political Power in Precolonial Buganda (Kampala: Fountain)…also available from James Currey and Ohio University Press.
2. Kaggwa, Apollo Sir (1934), The customs of Buganda (New York: New York)
3. Ashe, RP (1889), Two Kings of Buganda (London).
4. Roscoe, J (1911), The Baganda: An Account of their Naive Customs and Beliefs (London).

And on your conviction that Baganda are pygymoid, I refer you to:

Mukasa, Ham (1904), Uganda ’s Katikiro in England ; being the official account of his visit to the coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII ( London : Hutchinson ).

In Sir HH Johnston’s introduction to that book on page xvii, we read that, Apolo Kaggwa is “…a very tall and muscular man about 6ft 3in and of absolutely unmixed Negro race.”

And on your view that my reference to Bahima being part and parcel of Buganda history is contraband, on that same page of that book I quote above we read that Ham Mukasa is
“…somewhat lighter in colour and has about him a slight element of the aristocratic caste in Uganda (read Buganda) known as the Bayima or Bahima”
That corroborates the information some people discounted as “smuggling” Bahima and Balaalo into Buganda history.  And of course, they did not justify your use of the term “smuggling”: the best way to justify it would have been with counter evidence on the ethnicity and origins of Ham Mukasa’s mother, the Muhima lady Nyakazaana.

Note that Ham Mukasa was baptised the name “Ham”…that looks obvious.

“Ham Mukasa was born Mukasa Rwamujonjoza”: We have already ploughed through the “Rwamujonjoza” name.  What I forgot to mention is the meaning of that name and the language where it derives from.  The root word in the name is “jonjoza”.  It does not exist in Luganda.  It is a Runyankore word which means to bully or abuse.  Rwamujonjoza may mean child or descendant of a bully.  You can confirm this on page 54 of this dictionary that defines Kujonjoza:

Davis Margaret Beatrice (1938), A Lunyoro-Lunyankole-English and English-Lunyoro-Lunyankole Dictionary (Kampala: Uganda Book Shop)

In Runyoro, the verb “kujonjoza” is part of the vocabulary of metallurgy.  In iron working, it meant flattening smolten ore into a sheet that would eventually be moulded into swords (one sword is a Kitara) blades, spears, platters and digging implements.  Ham Mukasa may as well have had connections with Bunyoro-Kitara iron-working traditions.

When you scheme through Luganda grammar, you do not find “Rwa…” as one of the prefixes.  It is exclusively a Runyakitara prefix.  So, the name “Rwamujonjoza” has little to do with Kiganda origins, and is either from Nkore or Bunyoro-Kitara.  Given as we have seen, the origins of Ham Mukasa Rwamujonjoza’s mother, Nkore is more likely.

Mukasa was called Ham because of his Hamitic looks.  The  name itself is evidence of that background of Nyakazaana.  They could as well have called him Kaima/Kayima/ Muhima/Muyima Mukasa.

Note that Apollo Kagwa was a Muhima of the Nsenne clan, the migrants from Busongora….typical Musongora…angalia yeye!

If readers can, look up the history of the Nsenene clan of Buganda, and ask them why the title of the Ssaza Chief of Mawokota (one of the three core counties of Buganda) is “Kaima” up to now.  Ask them about the first Kaima that was to be aloocated a large estate in North Mawokota, the only known grazing grounds in the Mawokota-Kyaddondo-Busiro heartland of the nascent Buganda.  Kaima means Kahima or Kahuma, “the Hamite”.

Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick

Katikiro should deign and consult people before he makes major decisions

Dear Baganda,

I’m against an elected Katikkiro in Buganda.How can a Katikkiro pay allegiance to the Kabaka when he is elected by the people? he would definitely pay allegiance to those who elect him/her and of course to the government, and ultimately to the ruling political party, who pays him. Secondly, what is the composition of Buganda today to elect a Katikkiro who would be interested in Kabaka? Buganda has been filled up with Balaalo, etc., and you imagine these will elect a Katikkiro who would even respect your ‘royalty’?

I think the governed people do know how they wish to be led, and so should be consulted. I wish to reiterate that I do not have any particular opposition to Katikkiro Walusimbi, except that he should deign and consult people before he makes major decisions.   To my understanding, there are two structures in Buganda which Katikkiro is supposed to recognise and consult: the clans and then the chieftainship structures, the later being led ultimately by the Sazza chiefs.
The Katikkiro should request clan leaders to organise forums within their clans on major issues and get the clan leaders to Mengo to bring what their clans say. It would be possible for the Katikkiro to diarise dates when he would actually attend clan meetings. This would not eliminate non Baganda – communities that comprise sizable numbers, such as Nubians, Alurs, Balaalo, etc can in fact have own clan/traditional meeting BUT only if they wish, and either agree to take these to Katikkiro IF they recognise him or take those to their own areas of origin.  Point though is, they should recognise the customs of Baganda, one of which is that Baganda have a Kabaka and a Katikkiro over the regional area called Buganda.
Katikkiro should also attend meetings at Masaza  – the Masaza would include concerns of every resident of a Sazza. I am not sure how functional Milukas are, but these would send representatives to Sazza meetings. That is, Masaza meetings bring to the table feelings of all inhabitants of an area; while the clan/tribal meetings are more apposite towards traditions BUT not limited to those, the Sazza meetings embody regional (geographic) concerns.
I think the weight  of each gathering depends upon the issues. For example, if we are dealing with a tradition or cultural matter, the clan/tribal meeting would have a bigger consideration, while if it is a matter of development; bulungi bwansi for example, the sazza gathering would matter more.
Therefore, the Mengo constitution should comprise two houses; clan/tribal house (clan leaders and leaders of other tribes in habiting Buganda in reasonably large numbers)  and chiefs. The royal family could have representatives attending.
Those gunning for elections should rather set them for the chiefs, with vetoing powers of the clan/tribal house, and of course ultimately of the Kabaka. Mengo’s poverty partly originates from lack of goodwill from the public. Goodwill comes from recognition and consultation. People do not have an idea of Mengo’s  budget  because they are not informed, and most importantly because they never have a chance to debate it.
Now I personally have attended some of our Nvubu meetings and found that people hardly attend. The reason is not only poverty but also the realisation that their contributions in terms of ideas do not seem to be considered.  The other is that people are not informed about budgetary requirements and issues about the Kingdom clearly.
Does the Uganda constitution allow this? I am not sure but if it doesn’t, there lies the origins of dictatorship , desires of secession, etc. If this model is allowed throughout Uganda, there will be no descent, aware that other regions do not have Kabaka. For example, in Karamoja what do the Karamojong people want traditionally? Then what do the residents in Karamoja say? Allow each tribe room to live their traditional lives while giving consideration of immigrant residents in those areas. This to me is the foundation of federalism. This does not remove political party politics. In fact one might find that the Sazza is the equivalent of a district, and the Sazza chief an equivalent of LCIV or LCV. MPs could remain in the national parliament but of course in far less numbers.

Johnnie Muwanga-Zake

Mayanja Nkangi becomes Katikkiro

Going by popular sentiment in Buganda, electing leaders at Mengo is tantamount to endorsing the abolition of the kingdom. Any proposal to elect the Katikkiro is greeted with loud cries of ‘foul’ as an attempt to smuggle alien practices into a sacred culture. The following slightly edited story appeared in the Uganda Argus newspaper of 18^th August 1964.

EASY WIN FOR MAYANJA NKANGI

Overwhelming vote for new Buganda Katikkiro

Jehoash Sibakyalyawo Mayanja Nkangi (34), former Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Central Government, was overwhelmingly elected Buganda’s Katikkiro by Lukiiko Members yesterday. He got 44 votes and his rival, Mr. Masembe Kabali, former Minister of Natural Resources in the Kabaka’s government received 22 votes.

There was tension inside and outside the Bulange before the election. All entrances to the grounds were guarded by Buganda Government police and all doors except the main one were locked.

Some of the Lukiiko Members and Kabaka Yekka regional leaders who had no invitation cards were delayed at the main gate for some minutes until Mr. Daudi Ochieng, KY Member of Parliament for Mityana identified them.

Mr. Masembe Kabali’s campaigners were then busy lobbying the Lukiiko Members and KY regional leaders.

A KY delegates’ conference was held in the Bulange an hour before voting and it was understood that Mr. Masembe Kabali was their choice. But most KY Lukiiko members did not take heed of the conference’s decision.

Just before the voting stated, a letter from Mr. E. M. K. Muliira, asking the Deputy Speaker, Sheikh Ali Kulumba to withdraw his name was read to the members. Sheikh Kulumba then asked the members to vote on three names; Mr. Nkangi, Mr. Masembe and Mr. C. M. S. Kisosonkole.

Loud cheers filled the visitors’ gallery when Mr. Nkangi’s name was announced.

Mr. Abu Kakyama Mayanja, a former Buganda Minister of Education said yesterday that the election of the new Katikkiro as “tremendous challenge” to the younger, educated generation in Buganda.

Asked whether he would join Mr. Nkangi’s government if asked, Mr. Mayanja said he thought he ought to continue serving in the National Assembly, particularly since Mr. Nkangi would now be leaving the Assembly.

The Organising Secretary of the Uganda People’s Congress, Mr. Matthew Rukikaire saluted Mr. Nkangi on securing such an overwhelming vote of trust and confidence from the representatives of the people of Buganda.

Educated at King’s College Budo, Mr. Mayanja Nkangi graduated from Makerere College in 1953 with a BA in Economics. Mathematics and History In 1954 the Uganda government awarded him a scholarship to Britain’s Oxford University to study for an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, specializing in the latter. At the successful completion of his course, he entered Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the Bar in 1959. When he returned to Uganda he practiced as a barrister.

Mr. Nkangi’s political activity dates back to 1953. In 1960 he led the United Party. When the United Party decided to merge with Uganda National Congress, he abandoned it to form and subsequently chair the United National Party. He then joined Kabaka Yekka and was elected KY MP for Masaka in May 1962.

He was first elected Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In October 1962 he was appointed Minister without portfolio under the same ministry and later became Minister of Commerce and Industry. He resigned the post recently when the KY/UPC alliance was dissolved.

The Lukiiko is meeting today to submit 15 names from whom the Katikkiro will appoint his ministers.

end of story

POINTS TO NOTE

There is fear today that non-Baganda might manouvre to elect a non-Muganda for Katikkiro, as if non-Baganda will be participating in Buganda politics for the first time.

Bear in mind that when some of the electorate got close to being denied the right to vote it was Owekitiibwa Daudi Ochieng, the Lukiiko Member for Mityana who identified them. Daudi Ochieng was, by the way, an Acholi and was as non-Muganda as Umaru Mandela (Somali) and Dr. Higiro Semajege (Nyarwanda) are while loyally serving their Kabaka at Mengo.

To those who describe an elected Katikiiro as likely to owe allegiance to the voters rather than the Kabaka I ask, would you prefer a person disliked by, and hostile to the Baganda as the best katikkiro for your beloved Kabaka? This fear of electing leaders and the greater fear of losing elections to those you consider unworthy of serving is the root cause of this vote-phobia.

Kabalega was brave, overambitious but militarily and political myopic

This is in response to Mr. Henry Ford Miirima’s comments on colonialism. I would first request him to always be balanced and objective whenever he is discussing historical issues which can benefit all Ugandan and stop showing his frustrations. Let him help his fellow Banyoro to develop their kingdom which is now being taken over by the Bafuluki(Bakiga) who he invited to help them defeat the Baganda during the referendum on the lost counties. Bakiga are claiming they have a say in Bunyoro land because (Banyoro are the ones who invited them to come and vote on their side).
 
When we are discussing historical issues, time is very important. If you are serious as Mr. Miirima claims to be can you compare Kabalega and Muteesa 1 who ruled at different period in time? What he would have done if he is objective to let his children and grandchildren learn he would have compared Mwanga and Kabalega and then give creadity where it is due. Also if he was objective he should discuss and compare Muteesa 1 and Kamulasi and the problems he had with Rioga. A force at that time working on them was the same.
 
When am to assess Kabalega objectively, I would say that Kabalega was brave, overambitious but militarily and political myopic because as a statesman he failed to gauge the superiority of the British. He just wanted to resist the British because they had come with Buganda their traditional enemies. He was still backward in think, at that particular time just comparable to Chief Kinyikitale of the (a cult) who organised the Majimaji rebellion. The great Kabalega hoped that his few guns and many spears would defeat a well organised army which had cannon. Let Mr. Miirima get this even if the British had moved alone without the help of the Baganda still they would have subjugated the Banyoro and all of Africa as they did. Ethiopia remained independent, what is good now?  They had created an Empire where the sun would never set, and then what was Bunyoro by that time? If Mr. Mirrima you compare Muteesa 1 with a fish and hock, I would also use the General’s (Museveni) words to compare Kabalega with a silly dog that can try to kick an Elephant.
 
Mr. Miirima history at the end is the same for those who collaborated and those who resisted.  Tell us the difference between Kabalega, Mukwawa, Nyunguyamawe, Mwanga, the many tribes in southern and central Tanzania, Muteesa, Kamulasi, Kasagama, the Helore of Namibia, Azande, and the Red Indian. All were treated the same their powers were reduce and their empires destroyed. The only different for those who resisted their present grandchildren are frustrated and far behind in thinking and blaming others. Visit Kibale and the majority of Bunyoro, it is only the hardworking Bakiga who are doing a commendable job. Because of your Fitina (jealous), you do not even want the hard working Bakinga to take part in politics, let me assure within no time they will dominate you politically as they have done it economically.
 
By claiming that Kabalega is praised as a hero, ask yourself who is praising him? Why is he doing it? Mr. Mirrima time in history, events in time are very important, imagine if Obote had died in power, they would have buried him at Kololo. Others see him as a hero but when Museveni was here Obote was not mentioned. To the Baganda and Musevei, he is not a hero that is why he was buried at Akokolo.
 
Mr. Miirima if you are a real patriotic Munyoro not after gaining cheap popularity, please tell us?
 
·         What has left Bunyoro behind? Is it colonialism (British), Baganda, Muteesa, you educated Banyoro, laziness of Banyoro, or politics (leaders) after independence? We would like to learn fromyou.
 
·         What do you expect to gain from Oil? What role have you played to determine the share you are to get? This is the area where you have to die for, which can help to built the once powerful Bunyoro as the son from Burega tried to shape it. If you fail you will be accountable for it.
 
·         What plans do you have to help the poor Banyoro as I travelled in all parts of Bunyoro people are very poor? It is time you mobilize Banyoro for projects which can help them to study and prosper.
 
Recommendation
 
As a patriotic Munyoro, you should go back and develop the kingdom and have Roads named Henry Ford Miirima in Hoima not here in Buganda. You are also behaving like a colonialist.
 
If you say that you bought that land in Kibuli using money our grandfathers bought that land in Bunyoro using their blood as of now Museveni will claim ownership of the oil wells in Bunyoro using his blood and the furnaces he passed through. The Bakiga claim and got the right to stay and acquire land in Bunyoro because you invited them and voted on your side during the referendum for the lost counties in the 60s
 
If we are to build Uganda, we have to work as Ugandans, Professor, Nuwagaba advised us to stop thinking on tribal basis, to think as Ugandan, work as Ugandans.  
 
Mr. Mirrima, remember in African culture it is anvil to speak bad about the dead. Let our forefathers and great leaders rest in peace.
 
Also remember, if it was not the British Mr. Mirrima you would be where we don’t know. Even Museveni who abuse the traditional leaders, their so called weakness helped Obote to come to power; Obote’s coming to power paved the way for the so called commoners like Museveni to come to power. If it was not that he would have died a cattle keeper down in Nyabusozi. Let us think globally and work globally not locally.
 
 
Ssentongo Chris

Mirima’s positions are either conflicted, or he is doing so for political expedience

Mr. Henry Ford Mirima,
 
May I remind you of another Luganda saying, “Ekidedde ekigenza omukadde mu lusalosalo….” which roughly translates “a Darker cloudy sky makes an old person poop nearby…” This is done in the hope that the run-off water will wash away the excrements, but alas often darker clouds do not translate into rain, and the poop stinks up the home to the regret of the “old fellow.”
 
I fear for those who are pooping in the “lusalosalo” in the hope that the cloud hovering over Uganda is set to rain. Bless your soul, but also be blessed for the stench, phew; does smell goo at all!

I have no reason to challenge your Luganda, my path has crossed yours in the past, we walked the same lanes in the 80’s and I trust your competence in Luganda. (With total respect I would love you to recall another Kasala be cca…) First of all I did not claim to be a pure Muganda, what I am sure of is that despite the fact that I am a hybrid Muganda, not pure Muganda I am uncompromisingly proud to be a Muganda. But what is more important to note here again is the fact that these are not Baganda/Banyoro issues, these are national matters. All I did was to show you that every coin has two sides and you seem to only be looking at one side. The good thing is that you understand the importance of nantabulirirwa… that combined with ndiwulira… should and must be guiding maps in our ethos. Thus far, I will belabor the following:-
 
I put it to you that some of the extreme positions you have taken of late indicate that you are either conflicted, or you are doing so for political expedience. The man from Karuguuza, the son of that decent soul of a unique nature our elder Kazairwe (RIP) I know, can not be the same one posting what is attached to your name on this forum. I have refused to believe it, because I know you are a much better person, who embodies the great grain of your late father. The Mirima I know is a reconciliatory person not a provocateur
You have repeatedly accused the Baganda of being “colonialists,” I do not think that any one can deny that fact, but who is innocent of this crime? The Baganda could have been colonialists in your view, but is you ask me there is an alternative story that is not often told. You know that Buganda did not start with Kintu, the Banyoro had colonized a land occupied by a people called “Balasangeye” who had constantly fought Banyoro for their freedom. I believe in your research you have came across the facts relating to Chief Mugoziita and finally Buganda, whose reign-line ended with Bemba, who was overthrown by Kintu. Kintu finally was able to repel Banyoro from Buganda and declared Buganda an independent Kingdom in a meeting of clan heads which met at present day Nnono. You are aware that Bunyoro in its war adventures had almost extended as far as present day Busoga proper. That far we have all been there! Therefore your father’s reconciliatory tone in regards to these matters was, and is a better approach. We are all Cameroonian Bantu (read Vansina, Path through the Forest) and at the center of it all we are brothers, we need to figure out how to deal with our past. It is important to figure out how to use the history markers to inform our tomorrow. How do we decide what time period in history to revisit and what to exclude is a question is can not answer?

lawrence mukasa Ssemagulu

Of Buganda, Kampala, swords and daggers !

Good people,
 
I have been on this for the last 16 years (since the federalism debate gained momentum in preparation for the current constitution) we need to think ahead and move the Capital City out of Kampala. There is a lot of varied interest around Kampala which might not make it conducive for a decent capital city. Some of them are immotional, and inflated immotions rarely cohabit with reason.
 
I have suggested that we plan to move the city to some location around Karuma falls. The south most point for the City would be the current town of Migyera, going west to Malembe, father go north westerly across the Nile to Abudama, demarcate North easterly to Aganga Hills, map south Easterly to Abutokom, looping by lake Kwania (Kyoga) shoreline in the south direction to Tumba port, and curve back to Migyera.
 
My reasoning which can definitely be improved on is that:-
The area is central touching a majority of a large number of ethic interests.
The availability of water and power generating source at the Murchison Falls.
Nakasongola which is lager that Entebbe can very easily be converted into an international Airport.
The Railway line can be brought up from Namasagali
The area is generally sparsely populated, with a good chunk of it falling with the borders of a national park.
The other lands are part of the Baganda 9000, and Buganda should be able to attach a financial value to it. The remainder of the land is also made up of some ranches which the owners can fore go for a “common good” with compensation.

 

Taking over Kampala today for a growing national city will not answer our problems. I highly doubt that my friend Mirima is willing to give up his modest house in Kibuli so that a southern highway is constructed. And even if he was to do so, in a few years he will have to give up his Kibanja in Kyengera, because the city will have “grown”. Knowing Mirima he has emotional attachment to these properties and he is not alone. Brother Tendo I feel your pain, but this might be the cure, bitter but better and that ryhms!
 
What say you out there?
 
Ssemagulu

The Ganda Clan System

Ssebo Dr, Jones Josia Kyazze,

Nsanyuse nnyo okusomako ku bye wawandiika ebikwaata ku Bika bya Buganda mu lupapula lwe wateekako omutwe ogwo waggulu. Kinzizaamu nnyo amaanyi ne kimpa essanyu lya kitalo okulaba nga tukyalinawo abantu abamanyi ensonga enkulu nga zino ezitukwatako ng’abantu Mukama be yasindika okuzaalibwa mu Bwakabaka bwa Buganda nga obwo bwe bulambe bwaffe ku mulundi guno gwetulimu wano ku nsensimbe mukasansi (planet earth).

Nsaba nkweyanjulire ssebo mukama wange:

Amannya gange: Bhuka Bijumiro-Jjumiro

Kitange: Muhammadi Kalaagira Mayanja

Obutakabwe: Katiko e Nnaama mu Ggombolola ye Busimbi e Mityana.

Ndi muzzukulu wa Kisubi, mutabani wa Lule Buddeddi mutabaji wa Ssemuwemba, mutabani wa Bawalessanvu mutabani wa Bwangatto eyeddiranga Eng’onge okuva mu ssiga lya Lutaaya e Bbongole eyali mutabani wa Katikkiro Kisolo ku mulembe gwa Ssekabaka Kintu.

Ndi musajja muwandiisi wa bitabo naddala ebikwata ku by’okuyiga bino:

1. Ekkubo lya Basseruggulamiryango ery’Obutangaavu (Obutuukirivu) eryayitibwanga Ekkubo Eddemeezi (Mysticism).

2. Ebyobuwangwa obw’ensi yonna (World Culture and Traditions).

3. Ensibuko y’Abantu, Obuwangwa bwabwe, Enzikiriza zaabwe n’emirimu gyabwe mu bulamu obukusike (Esoteric Cultural Anthropology/ Enthnology)

4. Ebyafaayo by’Abatuukirivu ab’Ensi Yonna (World Spiritual History).

5. Amagezi Amakusike aga Ssitirizi (Esoteric Psychology).

6. Okuzuula, okujjanjaba n’okuziyiza endwadde z’Abaana ezitali za kungulu (Metapediatrics)

7. Engeraageranya Y’Amadiini (Comparative Religion)

Kye nsaba ssebo, nnandyagadde nnyo okukolagana naawe n’abakugu abalala bomanyi naddala ku nsonga ezikwaata ku nsi yattu Buganda ne Uganda n’okukulaakulana kwayo mu makowe egatali gamu. Mpandiise ebitabo bingi mu Luyunganda n’Olungereza ebikwata ku masomo agatali gamu kw’ago ge ndaze waggulu. Oyinza okunkyalirako ku website yange eno:

www.zenithgoldpublishers.com kw’ojja okusanga ebimu kw’ebyo bye twakafulumya.

Nga kampuni ekyali ento ddala ekizibu kye tukyalina, kwe kubeera nga tetulina ba editors ba bitabo bya Lungereza ate nga tusinze kuwandiika bya Luganda. Nabyo tetunnabifunira basensuzi era nze mpandiika ate ne nsensula ekintu ekizibu ddala okukola obulungi. Mu kiseera kino twayagala tusinge kuwandiika ebitabo bibeerewo bingi birisensulwa oluvannyuma naye nga tufunye omusingi omugumu ogwoleka obugagga mu Luyunganda. Tetunnassa ssira ku bya kusamyassamya (advertising and promotion) oba okutunda ebitabo byaffe, omulaka tukyagutadde ku kukungaanya oba kuwandiika buwandiisi. Bwe tufuna abantu abamala abeesigwa abasobola okusensula, okusamyassamya, n’okutunda, nga tugenda mu maaso ebitabo nga bibuna ensi yonna mu nnimi zonna ezisoboka.

Nga bw’onoolaba ku website yaffe, ebitabo ebisinga bikwata ku kaliisoliiso wa byamwoyo  nga tubisimbulira ddala mu buwangwa bwa Bajjajjaffe Bakalimagezi Abasengejje nga bwe baabiyigirizanga ekiro nga batudde ku kyoto.

Nnaasanyusa nnyo ssebo mukama wange okufuna okuddibwamu okuva gy’oli era n’okukolagana mu nsonga ezikwatagana n’Obuwangwa bwaffe mu makowe agatali gamu.

Omuweerezaawo bulijjo

Bhuka Bijumiro-Jjumiro Msc.D.

MENGO WARS

Abeebitiinisa Ssemuwemba n others opposed to JB Walusimbi;

After reviewing the comments and reasons why a group of Baganda Sitakange and ultra-patriotic Baganda, I, as an investigative journalist, and a person who grew up and was  educated in Buganda, and I even have children from Baganda women, I know the spirit of Buganda.

The Baganda who are opposed to JB Walusimbi as Katikkiro are the ultra-patriotic Baganda doing it honestly but ignorant of the trend of modern developments. These Baganda are still living in the last century. They have not woken up to realise that the world is moving very fast and that  it will not wait for those who are stuck in the last century.

I hate to repeat that my one-month holiday in the UK has re-enforced my belief that the world has moved out of the old order or politics. The former colonial/imperial  powers are today laughing at what their grandfathers did to commit sins againsit humanity, that is TO COLONISE AND SUBJUGATE OTHER COUNTRIES, TO  PUT HUMAN BEINGS UNDER SLAVERY BY CARRYING OUT SLAVE TRADE, TO  CARRY OUT THE INQUISITION, ETC.

When I visited Buckingham Palace, The House of Commons, the Catholic and Anglican Westminister Cathedrals, Covent Gardens where English street entertainers perform all sorts of plays and the audience and THE players are drawn from all nationalities and the atmosphere is friendly and love of each other, at the beaches where every activitiy is cosmopolitan, indeed by talking to the ordinary Englishmen on the streets, I wished these Baganda ultra-patriots should be given a chance to see that the Buganda special position they are clamouring for is an outdated, archaic, colonial mentality activity.

They should review their history. They will find that if JB Walusimbi sticks to his guns and goes ahead with modernising Buganda their childlren will hold Walusimbi in honour because he will have done to Buganda what Bismark and Garibald did to Germany and italy.

Germany and Italy before 1867 were  collections of different independent kingdoms. But using an iron hand in difiance of ultra-patriotic Prussians, etc, Bismark forced the unity of Germany which eventually became so strong that today Germany  is one of the great powers.  Italy was also the same. She was  a collection of small independent kingdoms but foward looking Italians, Garibald included, literally forced the unity of those small kingdodms, and did away with earthly powers of the Pope. Hence, let Walusimbi stick to his guns and push through with modernisation of Buganda. Those who are opposed to him today will in future praise him.

The issue of Walusimbi’s Catholic religion cannot be ruled out from those pushing for his removal. Colonial mentality amongst Anglican Baganda is still alive and kicking.  They aspire to the maintenance of Anglican/Protestant hegemony. Their eyes cannot believe that  even a Catholic can lead very efficiently.  They should learn what the whites majority in the USA  are leerning today that even a black man can lead mighty USA

As for the Catholics who are opposing fellow Catholic Walusimbi, they have a hidden agenda. Namabooze has openly stated that she wants to make history by becoming the first woman Katikkiro of Buganda. She does not realise that her utterances have misled peasant Baganda.

As for Emmanuel Sendaula, he feels terribly bad that he was not confirmed as the katikkiro. He feels Walusimbi usurped his post. So, he understandably wants Walusimbi to be booted.

I know my brother Kalundi Serumaga is going to accuse me of meddling into Buganda affairs. But, he forgets that when Buganda catches a cold, every Ugandan sneezes.  Reality is: Buganda is central in Uganda’s politics. Therefore, if Buganda chooses to remain in the last century, she will be dragging the rest of Uganda behind. Therefore, me, Henry Ford Miirima, will not fold my hands as a journalist and let Buganda drag Uganda behind just like that.

Therefore, Buganda elites listen, wake up. Do not fear the noise-makers (abawowoganyi)at Mmengo. You follow the example of Tamale Mirundi who tells Baganda that a spade is not a big  spoon.

Mulikenga ikookere.

Henry Ford Miirima

BISMARCK VS JB WALUSIMBI IN ‘MENGO WARS’

Mr.Mirima Henry,

While I appreciate your comments about the Katikiro of Buganda,JB Walusimbi, I don’t think that you have got Buganda at Heart, even for a second. So your support for JB makes some of us think twice about him however much we support some of the decisions he has made so far.

The only reason I see why you are comparing him to Bismarck is because Bismarck didn’t want colonies and you see Buganda as an agent of colonialism. But like I said, Bunyoro is hiding some hidden agenda by hiding behind the unrealistic decolonisation of Uganda. Then again, I cannot see how JB will ever end up like Bismarck under the circumstances:

Otto Von Bismark said that it was reprehensible for a great power to get involved in ANY kind of a conflict in which its own interests were not involved. On the other hand, the banyoro supporters of JB (including the speaker of Bunyoro kingdom) just keep interfering in the interests of Buganda kingdom.

Bismarck made superficial concessions to pacify republicans in order to unify the Germans and consolidate the power of the monarchy in that time. On the other hand, JB has done less to unify the Baganda and consolidate the Buganda monarchy within Uganda.Baganda are more divided now than they were under Katikiro Ssemogerere.

Under Bismarck, people were poor. Then Bismarck introduced the minimum wage laws (accompanied by social security in 1889) and Germany turned rich. On the other hand, JB has introduced some programmes on a paper like the establishment of a Buganda commercial Bank, building public libraries in all Buganda cities,…. but without any means to fund them. JB should be fighting for federalism as this is the definite way he will fund all the economic programs he has put on paper. Most Baganda in the rural areas are very poor and are only eyeing the central government for rescue. Even programs like BUCADEF are not helping.

Bismarck recognized Germany was inherently insecure because it was too big to be satisfied, but too small to dominate. On the other hand, JB has not yet recognised that taking Kampala away from Buganda will make it too weak to even continue to be recognised as the biggest influence in Uganda politics. A small Buganda kingdom whose borders are being redrawn everyday will end up being ‘nothing’ as in nothing but your future ‘Bismarck’ has not yet seen this. He is not talking about it but instead wants us to cooperate with the people creating more kingdoms within Buganda.

Bismark was very careful about avoiding things like two-front wars or getting involved in the Balkans. Bismark was shrewd and cynical, but also had an excellent understanding of what was achievable and what wasn’t. On the other hand, your future Bismarck,JB, is neither fighting the central government to get what he wants or arch enemies like Bunyoro who keep poking their noses where they are not needed. JB would make a great leader of some old party in Uganda whose leaders were always afraid of opening ‘wars’.

I must say that you as a spokes person for Bunyoro, should try as much as possible to work with Buganda to achieve certain things within Uganda instead of supporting certain ‘Bismarcks’ for reasons best known yourself. Kabalega was a great leader but his successors seem not be as competent as he was yet they like talking about Bismarck whose successors (people like Caprivi and Holstein) were competent.

If I may conclude by saying that Bismark was put to pasture and eventually died, what will happen to JB if he starts getting support from the likes of Mirima who have made it clear that Buganda must be weakened at all costs

Byebyo ebyange

Abbey.K. Semuwemba

Buganda Think Tank

Dear Baganda banange,

Omutaka Kavuma wrote in one of the newspapers asking the Mengo adminstration to form a Think Tank and i think it is a good idea but my gut feeling tells me that it won’t be implemented or it is difficult to be implemented considering the political climate in Uganda. It is amazing that Buganda which was the birth of political civilisation in the country has not managed to produce a president to lead that country for longer and to change that country for the better.

 

Political parties were born in Buganda out of political movements. It is widely believed that Katikilo Nsibirwa was assassinated by the Buganda political movements because he was looked at as a stooge for the colonialists. Buganda had a party which united both the tenants and landlords which was called the Bataka party. This party was founded by Baganda intellectuals and it was the first to oppose the East Africa federation. Probably, I would not have been a member because I support both the Federalism in Uganda and the East Africa Federation though the former needs to be sorted out first.

 

At the moment, I wonder who really officially advises the Kabaka of Buganda on important issues. It is also very interesting to note that most of the Baganda youths join politics just to ‘eat’ but not to help their kingdom in the true sense of the word. Why can’t some body form an organisation depicting the achievements of a man like I.K.Musazi. Nkoza Zambogo is not enough to push for the kingdom interests. Buganda needs an organisation that opens branches in different parts of the country including the North and East Uganda . Musazi is the prime example of how he turned his movements into a strong nationwide political party. In 1946,Musazi formed the Uganda Africa Farmers’ Union- which championed the interests of farmers. This organisation later changed its name to Federation of partnerships of Uganda African Farmers which also changed in 1952 to Uganda National Congress. It was the ‘kalimagezi’ of Musazi and a few Baganda that gave birth to Uganda ’s 1^st political party. Why can’t the youths in Buganda emulate the achievements of their ‘bajaja’ to form organisations that are useful to Buganda and Uganda as well.

 

Yes, there are people from other regions that naturally don’t like Baganda and Buganda but this is all out of jealousy and it is historical. The jealousy of other regions over Buganda is well documented and it is exemplified by a letter wrote to the British Governor on 10/07/1956 by the leaders of other kingdoms. So this jealousy should not stop Baganda from fighting for their own interests and those of other Ugandans as a way forward. Try to get the ‘friendly’ non-baganda on board if Buganda is to see any fruits in its fights with the central government.Baganda can nolonger fight political wars alone.

 

 Under the present circumstances, I would be surprised if all kingdoms don’t join to fight the intentions of Museveni because whatever he is planning for Buganda will catch up with other kingdoms as well if Buganda fails. Kingdoms united during the time they looked at the introduction of political parties as a threat to their existence in Uganda . I don’t see why Bunyoro should take president Museveni seriously when he throws ‘enkonyogo’ to Buganda in most of his recent public speeches. It’s more like a man who divorces his wife because he snores a lot and then starts a relationship with another woman. This man then promise to marry this new woman before he has spent a night with her to be sure that she doesn’t snore like the ex-wife. It would be a mistake to enter into a marriage with this man because if he finds that the new lady is snoring, he will go ahead and marry her for selfish reasons or if he finds that she doesn’t snore, he will marry her and divorce her at some stage for another reason (probably because she is not clean enough). So if I were Bunyoro, I will be careful with Museveni’s new friendship.

 

The idea of a think tank is very good.

 

Abbey

The cardinal principle of federo & the Buganda question

Mamdan’s analysis is correct about the openness Buganda has for other tribes; Regrettably, Baganda have paid the price as all central governments have abused this openness. This has accelerated the demand for federalism. In fact, other Ugandan tribes like the Banyoro might have observed how Bafuruki and central governments abuse openness and decided to resist.
The opposition to such abuse its inherent dictatorship is what anti-Baganda deliberately misinterprets as tribalism. How can we be labelled tribalist when, according to Mamdan, we accommodate the most varied collection of tribes? The demonization of Baganda is due to their opposition against totalitarianism (Mamdan); as I pointed out sometime ago, Baganda have time immemorial resisted dictatorship. Just note how we once in a while squabble with our Katikkiro; Mamadan too mentions the resistance of Bataka (Bataka Bbu) against colonial interference.
It is the fear opposition among Baganda that the NRM is breaking up Buganda by recognising Bafuruki such as the Banyara and Baluuli in Buganda as traditional entities worth Kingdoms. In some ingenious way, the Baluuli and Banyara are being used: they think they are being helped to fight Buganda for their self-actualisation, when they are in reality accomplishes in a drive towards totalitarianism. Ultimately, Baluuli and Banyara will realize that things were after all better under Buganda as they will too be forgotten and discarded as non entities. Furthermore, the anti-Buganda crusade hopes and plans that a large collection of Balaalo will also one day claim a Kingdom within Buganda – so, many Balaalo are being re-settled in Buganda. The question of land rights for peasants seen in this light gives rights to Bafuruki ONLY in Buganda. Can you imagine a little Kingdom of the Bafuruki in Bunyoro, similar to that of the Banyara and Baluuli in Buganda? Double standards indeed!
The second abuse is cryptic behind urbanisation; that, urban centres belong to every Ugandan citizen (Mamdan). So the central govt. is expanding and taking over the administration of Kampala. Again, people deliberately miss the point that, Buganda allowed and allows Bafuruki to settle, and Kampala became what it is partly because of this openness to other tribes. It is a contradiction to democracy that, it is only Kampala, and in Buganda (where there is amicable co-existence of tribes) in the whole of Uganda where the govt. wants direct control. It is Baganda openness, firstly abused, and then transformed into totalitarian manipulation, where the president appoints the Mayor. Elsewhere, the govt is creating districts ostensibly upon its decentralisation policy.
I agree with Mamdan, Buganda can provide lessons to Uganda; one such lesson is national unity. It is mainly in Buganda where different nations (who the colonialists dubbed tribes, according to Mamdan) amicably co-exist.
Indeed, the belief that Baganda can be used and subsequently thrown away like garbage is because Baganda are accepting – what Mamdan left out is that, Baganda have learnt and are resisting even more. The resistence against totalitarianism in Buganda has a long history that precedes Uganda. It is for self-actualisation and for a federal state that will once again be able to accommodate diversity without coercion.

Johnnie Muwanga-Zake

Kabaka Mutebi’s 16th anniversary of his coronation

1/5. On the 16th anniversary of his Coronation, H.H.The Kabaka called for “Truth and Justice“.

But he said it in the Luganda language, “Amaazima n’obwenkaya” (for sure, not the DP motto).

2/5. It is notable that he emphasised “Obwenkaya” which in the context here does not ranslate just into  “justic”.  It tralsates here instead as “..EQAUAL TRATMENT…”

3/5. Now, if “what is good for a goose is good fo the gander” as the English say, how will M7, having given Bunyoro “federo” at the stroke of a pen, now turn around and deny the Baganda the same???

4/5. No wonder then, a leading academic said recenlty, {of M7’s continued pampering of the Banyoro [first, at the expense of Buganda (by trying to dismember her), now at the expence of Bachiga  - the Bachiga are 13% of Bunyoro's population, the Alur (12%) and the Acholi (4%) plus the Lugbara (4%) combined, beat the Chiga. Banyoro form 43% of the region's population. They are 31% of Masidi District population: (Source: the Independent Magazine, Kampala).}, "....M7 has given the Baganda a rope by which to hang him...." ..said the academic [equivalent in Luganda to: "..kye twayagalizang'embazi, kyibuyag'asudde - an impossible task has been done by default, with no own effort applied].

5/5. But, knowing the his attitude to the Baganda, will he dispense the “equal treatment the Kabaka has demanded be applied??

We wait and see.

CM,

Nakasero,

Kampala.

Mukaabya Walugembe Muteesa is the architect of Uganda

The role of Muteesa is not under estimated. Just read STanley’s Trhough the Dark Continent. At first Muteesa thought that Buganda was the World’s super power. After hearing aboput other powers, at least it was the one in Africa. Thus he befriended Arab and Europeans. His diplomatic resistance of colonialism including offering to marry Queen Victoria, helped Buganda and Uganda to be administred as a protectorate other than a crown colony like Kenya was. His letter brought missionaries who were negotiators between African chiefs and colonial masters. The westernisation that was brought by the missionaries was partly due to Muteesa’s letter and the one of Stanley that was written in Daily Palagraph.

According to Baganda, Muteesa was the Kabaka that was between the ancient kingdom and the new generation. He was admired , imitated and resisted but not ignored by the rest of Uganda and beyond.

Mukaabya Walugembe Muteesa was the actual archtect of Uganda. No wonder, Prof.Matiya Mulumba Ssemakula Kiwanuka, wrote a book entittled “Muteesa of Uganda”

Ahmed Katerega

NewVision journalist

Buganda’s un-changeable borders

1/4. When opening the 16^th session of Great Lukiiko under his reign on 24^th August 2009, The Kabaka said, “…the boundaries of Buganda Kingdom were well demarcated and ‘cannot just be changed’ because they are well spelt out in the Constitution”.

2/4. The Kabaka was as usual being just magnanimous. He could have as well continued, “….the borders of Buganda are ‘God made {natural}’. Buganda extends from lake to lake and from river to river. Rivers and lakes cannot be shifted by man”.

3/4. Well, H.H. did not want to sound arrogant but every one knows that, whatever the wishes and designs one may harbour , the lakes Nalubaale [Victoria, southern border] and Kyoga [northern border] plus the rivers: Nile, the Kafu, the Kagera, etc cannot be shifted by man.

4/4. Concluding: It is therefore impossible to wish away, the alone remove Buganda from existence, however powerful [politico-militarily] one may (temporarily) be. First, because it can’t be removed from the peoples’ mind but important as well, because “God created” Buganda [through the people’s effort] within ‘secure, natural’ borders. Only awareness of his self evident fact, not envy, will stabilise Uganda as a politico-economic space.

Christopher Muwanga,

Nakasero,

Kampala.

25.08.09.

We must cede to avoid total destruction

Estate developers are slum builders?

Estate developers acquire Buganda land – set up a 1000 housing Units on less than 1 sq km of land. But what does 1000 housing units mean in practice. Normally an African family is a composed of six members that is 2 parents and at least four children. It implies with a 1000 units within just a period of five years, you will have a well-organised slum of 6000 people on less that 1 square km of land! See last paragraph.

To start with

How do you generate a crime-invested society as that experienced in England and the United State of America? Do the above! Vicious Drug Abuse, and Brutal Urban Crime started in well-to-do estates, since children and their parents in such estates are overtly idle. It is colonial Uganda government officials who been implicated in drug crimes! “ Affluent and idle”

Pollution: These estates do not have a single sewer line (national water & sewerage corporation) they instead use septic tanks. All spring well in Kampala region are polluted with faeces! The yellow substances are nitrate and ammoniac compounds. 6000 people will be dropping on less than 1 sq km, 3000 kilograms of human excrement and 6000 litres of urine daily. There are well-designed underground electricity or telephone lines, Internet or properly designed roads.

The above situation is reminiscent of Nakawa and Naguru estates. Within less than 10 years those buildings, in so-called satellite areas in Buganda, would have fallen into dilapidation. No estate developer, has a policy on building maintenance at all. That duty is relegated to the de facto property owners. (Bugolobi nhcc estate)

Either the colonial government or the opposition comments about the above, since they are the investors. The opposition make the biggest bulk of the corrupt. They are busy stealing and getting “affluent” in effect, totally destroying Buganda.

It will be too late when Baganda realise what had environmentally, socially and culturally happened. The colonial state of Uganda is busy destroying Buganda – and such is the catastrophe Buganda faces now and in an undetermined future. Rectifying such problem can be a very costly venture if not impossible. At least the mighty usa has failed.

reasons are causes: buganda must cede to avoid total destruction.

Baganda are being displaced in Mubende and some are murdered – why, for their land! Why is dp, fdc, cp, not talking about it?! Why is it not a national debate? The opposition is equally murderous.

Building Laws, Land Titles and Land:

Who made the land titles on which buildings are placed i.e. on privately owned mailo land in Kampala. owners of this land must sue the government of uganda.

There are two categories of building structures; temporary and permanent. These structures in order to be constructed according to the Laws in Colonial State of Uganda, City or Town Councils and /or Municipal Physical Planning Board, must approve the Building Architectural Plans and Engineering Structural designs.

The above implies that the proprietor or owner of the building structures, in addition to architectural plans and building engineering structural designs, must have a genuine land title. Who owns land in Buziga, Kampala and Entebbe and who approves the building plans on them and under which laws?!!

N.B. the Colonial State of Uganda, has three-land tenure systems; customary, freehold and leased land. Baganda under the international native laws, are the natives of Buganda (land on which Baganda had settled for centuries) and their titular head the King (Ssabaataka Kabaka) is the sole custodian of the entire Buganda land. That is all land within the boarders of Buganda.

Bwanika , Nakyesawa Luwero.

Baganda Must Sue Colonial Uganda Government for Polluting Bugand

Will nrm take violators of Urban Laws to Court

Uganda government and its opponents, has only one choice: that is to prosecute kcc leadership, nema, Minister of Works and Transport, umeme, Uganda Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (UEDCL), Uganda Forest Authority (ufa), National Water and Sewerage Corporation (nwsc), Minister of Health and Director General for Health, Uganda Communication Corporation (ucc), for intentional destruction, pollution of Buganda land and social structures by slumisation, and violation of urban laws.

Baganda landlords, Bibanja holders, property owners and Baganda workers sue the above entities for violation of your rights to a health environment and spread filth in water, air, soils, and atmosphere in Buganda. There is the East African court to start with, but Buganda can try the International Court of Justice. The repercussions of such a legal procedure will be through going.

Reckless destruction the environment and waters in Buganda, placement of industries and factories, Schools and falls squarely under the Land Commission of which leadership should also be prosecuted in courts of law. The land act clearly spells out issues on the environment and land use.

Why haven’t the laws and statutes on law books, not been implemented? Is it intentional murder and destruction of Baganda? The above laws are intended to protect the people why are they not implemented? All laws below have direct implications, Baganda welfare and health but why haven’t they been implemented? Who ask that question and below are the laws:

1. Physical Planning laws;

– The Country and Urban Planning Act 1964,2000

– A poorly written Local Government Act 1997

2. Water Act (surface, underground), nwsc

3. Environmental Act (air, water, soil, atmosphere), nema

4. Forest Act (green belts, forested areas), national forest authority

5. Land Act

6. Building Act (temporary and permanent buildings), kcc

7. Public Health Act. kcc and ministry of health

8. Traffic Act. Ministry Transport and Works

9. Electricity Act 1964 (power lines, networks/installations) ueb aka, umeme, uetcl, uedlc …

1. Communication Act (telephony and internet networks/installations) uptl aka ucc, posta, utl

Bwanika – Nakyesawa Luwero.

Daniel Bwanika

www.idrc-ug.com

The Urban World of Swines/Buffoons

The Urban World of Swines/Buffoons

Wakiso district had an ambitious programme of developing all small towns in the district. It is alleged people in the opposition parties failed those programmes!! Then nrm as a ruling party, had never tried what so ever, to solicit money or enforce or prosecute those who stopped those Baganda developments.

why?!!

Buganda, who developed kampala urban master plan! Were Baganda involved and if not, why?

It is said towns to be developed by Wakiso district were; Wakiso, Matuga, Buloba, Kajansi or Kisubi and then go on to develop Gayaza, Nsangi. Notice those towns are almost in a crescent form  in a radius of 7 – 12 kilometres from Kampala in the centre, with a murrum road joining; Bukasa, Wakiso, Matuga, Kasangati, Kira, Kyaliwajala, Nakawuka, Sisa to Entebbe road.

Suppose that the nrm government love the law so much, and sets up an independent commission of Judges from; Tanzania, Kenya, Ivory Coast and South Africa; (supported with a special combination of Uganda special urban military and police, Wembley type) with a mandate and express prosecution orders, of whoever has violated the urban planning laws (see below) in Kampala to rectify the problem/s.

will there be change or not

-    Try that presupposition to see who will oppose such a legal framework first!
-    If slum dwellers be provided with decent provisions i.e. houses, lighting, proper working environment i.e. markets, as Banyankole people are provided with milk collection centres and cooling plants?!!!
-    Will nrm fight her military marionettes and thugs i.e. in the business of land grabbing, violating building regulations, traffic regulations (bus and matatu owners),
-    Indians violating electricity and telecommunication laws.
-    Will nrm prosecute umeme, utl, and minister of works for not conforming to urban laws.

The facts are as plain as daylight.

here is the biggest news;

There is an elderly gentleman called Mr. Merion Tibabiganya, an educated transport, and traffic specialist: once a persistent columnist in the New Vision on Traffic/Transport issues until 2007. All of the sudden his articles disappeared from the New Vision! Was he as allegedly rumoured effectively stopped by the powers that be to write the articles and if yes why?! Baganda who do not exactly understand nrm, and its so-called adversary political partiest (dp), would like to investigate the reasons behind the gentleman’s articles disappearance on transport and traffic issues, from the New Visions – a government owned paper!!!

That is the brutal truth; Buganda has to liberate herself immediately.

urban laws:

Why haven’t the laws and statutes on law book below, not worked and what will make them work in Metropolitan Kampala?! Young Baganda men and women are on drugs, some very well educated relegated to an ever-expanding slum. It is grotesque scenery.

The laws below have a direct implication, on physical urban planning issues, human welfare, and health but why haven’t they been implemented;

1.    Physical Planning laws;
–    The Country and Urban planning Act 2000
–    A poorly written Local Government Act 1997
2.    Water Act (surface, underground), nwsc
3.    Environmental Act (air, water, soil, atmosphere), nema
4.    Forest Act (green belts, forested areas), national forest authority
5.    Land Act
6.    Building Act (temporary and permanent buildings), kcc
7.    Public Health Act. kcc and ministry of health
8.    Traffic Act. Ministry Transport and Works
9.    Electricity Act 1964 (power lines, networks/installations) ueb aka ,umeme, uetcl, uedlc …
10.    Communication Act (telephony and internet networks/installations) uptl aka ucc, posta, utl

an urban commission of judges

Suppose that the government sets up a commission of Judges from; Tanzania, Kenya, Ivory Coast and South Africa with a mandate and assignment to prosecute, whoever has violated the above laws in Kampala and thus give express order to rectify the problem/s at the culprits own cost and in a period of 6 month.

– will there be change or not?

Baganda and Buganda leaving in the world of swines and buffoons: the swines and buffoon’s world view and interpretation will not be same as ours, let us say defining the problems in E’kibuga Kampala; A categorical failure and its content transposed against a supposition that indeed in swines and buffoons world what is reflected in Kampala’s realities today is true to them .

We can’t argue then that buffoons and swines, one day will build a town or city of their own? The truth is that even if a Darwinian time scale was invoked, buffoon’s and swine’s can’t build a town or city as other beings might know or perceive to be! The omnipotent God can’t change that order for in the first place swines and buffoons   to leave their lives don’t need organised towns or cities!

Bwanika Nakyesawa Luwero,

Daniel Bwanika

www.idrc-ug.com

Baganda hand over Kampala, Buganda Kingdom Ends

Baganda hand over Kampala, Buganda Kingdom Ends

Baganda must have a say in Kampala policy-making decisions.

Now consider this. Mukono town council has an industrial area, the sector after Mbalala on Mukono –Jinja road where the Abcus factory is located. Then nrm (idi amin) wakes up one day, take over Buganda land in Namanve, an exclusive wetland (examine the plant diversity) to start a similar industrial area to be given to investors (foreigners) by Dr. Kigozi!

What is the pension and social security funding amounts to for the Baganda; Chapatti makers, Boda Boda cyclist, Food Vendors, and Baganda petty traders will get on their pension day?

planning process

- Who were the city planners of Garden city and Nakumat placed on a busy city road

- Who were the city planners and umeme engineers that planned relocation of city electrical installations, i.e. umeme transformers on Ben Kiwanuka street, Mini Price corridor (Gaza Buiilding), high voltage power leaves - can they produce the design on paper?

- Who were the city planners who planned for the relocation of city schools

- Who were the city planners who planned change of the road in Bugolobi

- Who were the city planners who planned the degazzeting of Lugogo play grounds and green belts

nrm self-deception and hypocrisy, becomes even more apparent in these matters. Let us look at all City Council workers, ministers and other public workers, who were actually approved by the state;

- Can the state through the igg, public Accounts, ura, cid; investigate property ownership and who own what and how in Kampala!

- How did government workers as opposed to common moneyed Baganda have access to these properties and land

- Where the funds for buying those properties relative to their wages or borrowed from banks

- Where government valuers valued those properties

That is the very issue and the essence of Kampala problems (who are Kampala planners and authors!!) – basically nrm and specifically its compatriot adversaries, the so-called opposition parties predominantly designed Kampala so-called master plan and even roads. The facts are there for everybody to see in reports and so on.

And 90% of uganda police force is in kampala, which is however expanding according to the planners and politicians, now extending to Wakiso, God knows where else!!! What are the police policing?!

Buganda must cede from Uganda. Denmark has left Iceland cede and this must be taught to each and every Muganda wherever they are; children, old, lame, women and men!

Coffee, Cotton;

The political elite, media and moneyed class, should stop being ambiguous, vague, double faced, and stupidly misleading poor Baganda into temptation and confusion. When nrm (including DP) destroyed coffee and cotton factories in Luwero, they said it was sabotaging the Obote regime and not Buganda Kingdom! Ask how many factories have been built or replaced there today?

None! These people are imperialist and worse than colonialist and in the likes of Boers with a destructive agenda for Buganda. Have you ever thought of how many (numbers) Baganda survived on that above-mentioned trade!

Milk and Cattle

Who said Baganda were not cattle breeders? That is nrm indoctrination that they even started offering (teaching!) Baganda women Friesian cattle, to breed albeit without the veterinary and technical support i.e. drugs! What arrogance! However, all modern cattle farms in Luwero, Kiboga, Mubende, Ngoma, Nakasongola 90% owned by Baganda (commercial cattle farmers) and if not the church and seminaries, were systematically destroyed by nrm and dp!!

Luwero, Ngoma, Nakasongola corridors are among the largest milk and fruit producers, in the region. nrm thugs ate the cattle but all what we hear is that – all dairy production factories, milk plants and policies are being located and implemented in Ankole! Not a single milk plant, has ever been built in Buganda Kingdom, milk producing region by nrm and why?

How many Baganda survive at the whims of the state? Accept for Prof. Nsibambi, Prof. Bukenya, Speaker Ssekandi, Presidential advisers Nagenda, Ssebunya and their likes?!

99% of Baganda provide for their families and children with sweat and toil;

- School fees

- Medicare

- Feeding

- Accommodation

Baganda effortlessly used to provide for themselves through farming (coffee, cotton, cattle farming, maize, banana, cassava, oil nuts, fishing and seeds) (now the coffee industry is an exclusive business run by nrm individuals = Oyite Ojok!)

Baganda are on the verge of total destitution.

.

Kampala E’kibuga

Once upon a time, Muteesa I found Kampala City as E’kibuga kya Buganda –the King was very clear and firm in his actions the reasons were the following;

1. Entry in Kampala was limited to certain corridors.

2. Strategic Economic Interest of Buganda Kingdom, read Baganda.

3. Security Wise Kampala is well defended topographically

4. Geographically Kampala has a tri-lateral import, in that it is near the largest Lake Catchment region, an Agricultural region and a long time Traditional transport corridor in Buganda Kingdom

5. Topographically Kampala could settle much more Baganda than any other region in Buganda without the Kingdom being bothered much with their welfare.

6. With the above there was low social conflict.

Kabaka Muteesa I’s genius and foresight, is reflected in his spatial planning method of E’kibuga. He made sure, he de-concentrated as much people and institutions as possible, at the same time, maintaining freer land within the same region, the E’kibuga.

Compare Kololo and Naggalabi as state ceremonial grounds!

Why didn’t Kampala become a slum area between 1820 – 1890 (70 years) and has become a slum only between 1986 – 2009 (23 years)??!

Proof:

1. Basoga as the nearest cousins to Baganda were settled in Kampala but none of a clan difference could be recognised – that is Kabaka Muteesa I’s genius and foresight. Their clan head stayed on one hill, where the present Bahai church is located

2. Arab traders and first British people in Buganda were settled by Kabaka Muteesa I’s himself and integrated within.

3. All visitors to Buganda who wanted to stay, were settled according to Kabaka spatial plan some in Bagerere, Luwero (Badama, Nubians, Jaluos from Kenya and Bahima/Balaro).

Compare the above with the so-called investment Indians and Chinese in Kampala!

NOTE: Kabaka Muteesa I’s genius and foresight refused the Arab traders zonal establishment, and concentric zones thus effectively stamping out, what would have turned out to be natural segregation that resulted in Nakasero, Naguru (African settlements), Katwe etc, in early 20^th century. Baganda remained equals to all foreigners in the region. He effectively stopped early traveller’s self-aggrandisement, by himself allocating appropriate sites for their settlement normally among the settled Baganda.

Ssabaataka Muteesa I, allowed given routes as entry points into the E’kibuga! Something, which effectively stopped natural pollution of his fore fathers land. The same system is used in modern town planning! That is exactly what nrm and their adversaries’, the bus and taxi owners’, have refused to accept, hence congesting E’Kibuga and polluting E’Kibuga with diesel fumes.

If any silly policy derived not from Buganda strategic interest – 900 km is quite a massive landmass that will leave more than 3 million Baganda landless, homeless, jobless and in destitution.

Ssabajja Muteesa I made sure that free land which was not institutionally utilised such as;

- Burial places

- Kingdom ceremonial grounds

- Religious grounds

- Hunting grounds,

- Roads

- Fishing grounds

- Palaces

Was used to employ and settle the masses of Baganda. Homelessness, destitution and joblessness are new phenomenon in Buganda. He even change the governance structure that governors the Bakungu and Abami never allocated land!

Ask therefore, who will own the 900 sq km of land on which Baganda have dwelled for centuries that falls under Kampala urban planning area? What will poor Baganda do on poor marginal land if they are resettled and a city that has a limited number of jobs?

How will Buganda employ her landless masses?

Buganda must cede from Uganda. Denmark has left Iceland cede and this must be taught to each and every Muganda wherever they are; children, old, lame, women and men!

Solution

Carefully, read the 1955/62 Urban and Country Planning and 1998 Land Acts!

The Kingdom of Buganda as the originator of Kampala E’kibuga must have the mandate to compel Baganda landowners to conform to urban planning policy and regulations, as per the above acts. The Ssabaataka is the sole custodian of Buganda land, he holds in trust for every single or people that profess to be Baganda.

Baganda and the Kingdom of Buganda own Land in Kampala and Buganda. Exactly as Acoli, Basoga, Lugubara and Banyankole own land in Acoli, Busoga, WestNile and Ankole respectively.

It is foolish to think you put a stealing soldier or politician, who has been stealing since 1986 and will change Kampala. In the nearest future all data on land grabbing in Kampala will be listed on the Internet.

Bwanika , Nakyesewa Luwero.

Daniel Bwanika

www.idrc-ug.com

Deliberate misinformation from VP Bukenya

http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=693598

This is clearly a deliberate misinformation from Bukenya, singing his master’s voice. Where and who asked for absolute monarchism? Certainly, not Mengo. People understand the difference between monarchism and federalism. Secondly, the government does not give power – people give power. Anyway, why did Bukenya’s refuse to abide by the referenda about federalism? I am sorry to ask – who are Bukenya’s parents? (Following on the news article having had the trouble to mention that Bukenya is  a Muganda).
 
I sometimes find cause to indulge into analysing some of the sweeping paradigms, which eventually become beliefs. One such is democracy. One definition: democracy is a political system in which all the members of the society have an equal share of formal political power. How does federalism fail this definition? Instead, we see what is called Ugandan centralism so far (from Obote I, Amin, Obote II, and now Museveni) failing democratic principles by degenerating into oligarchies – the political, economic and military power in Ugandan governments  have so far effectively rested upon those elite, who are royal to the presidency (not to the people of Uganda – so, for example, they could remove presidential term limits). Indeed, these families prepare their children to be heirs of the power of the Ugandan oligarchy; wait to see Gabonese succession in Uganda. The kingdom of Buganda and the demand for federalism is simply standing against that centralist oligarchy.
 
Nonetheless, Bukenya’s assertion that once there is one person one vote is democracy is also terribly misleading. Not only have we seen that votes are bought and stolen, particularly in Uganda, but also that it is really financial capacity, which determines the votes in most countries. Absolute democracy (just like absolute monarchism) is currently a myth. On the other hand, federalism brings democracy and political power closer to the people. Federalism differs from Bukenya’s decentralisation in that federalism renders political power to federal states – decentralisation simply gives (Bukenya’s own words!) some responsibilities to districts, while the central oligarchy holds the political power. The current centralists simply fear to lose their controlling position to loot from the centre.
 
Moreover, while democracy is bears some desirable attributes, it has been thus desirable in some so called democratic countries for some other hidden interests. In some of the Western democracies, there were fears of community or tribal, often indigenous groups, which the conquering powers, looking for resources to support their economies, deliberately had to obliterate. In the USA, were the Red Indians and one way of liquidating their legitimate claim over the USA was to introduce one person one vote, as soon as the Whites became the majority. So was the case in Australia, as a British extension. In both these cases the aboriginals were killed en mass and rounded up into camps, while at the same time the powers encouraged immigration, not of any other race but Europeans  – so as to increase their majorities. THEN they introduced one person one vote. To some extent, this has happened in Buganda – killing, immigration of other tribes, and a demand for one man one vote about the Kingdom of Buganda.
 
My prediction is that the one person one vote format will change as soon as Whites become minorities in the USA and Australia. In fact, the voices supporting power and representation of minority groups have become louder. The point I am raising is that the one reason for the one vote philosophy is that it has benefitted immigrant majorities – it has enabled control by immigrant majorities. I think this is clearly demonstrated in Bunyoro and Buganda where Bafuruki win elections, and traditional institutions are deliberately being weakened.
 
Extrapolate my hypothesis to Uganda – some of the people most vocal against federalism are those who enjoy control and plunder of ‘national’ resources. In similar light, the East African community will help some dispersed ethnic groups like Banyarwanda to simply disappear as a group, while controlling federal governments.

Johnnie Muwanga-Zake

Why Buganda refused the regional tier

The federal arrangement is undermined, not because it cannot work, but because the centre still wants absolute power. The crises you refer to were not due to failures of federalism but firstly because of British imperialism that desired the control, inter alia, of a larger portion of the River Nile. Then later on Obote was nearly impeached because of his activities in Congo; when Obote learnt of the pending vote of no confidence in his government, he used the army (henceforth the military interventions in our political lives) to obliterate the Kingdom of Buganda and the remnants of federalism. Please note that Uganda never voted for a republican constitution although I doubt anyone would re-introduce monarchism. Uganda was made a state by colonial design and a republic by force. That this marriage of convenience between different parts of Uganda causes trepidation, is expected, and cannot be simply wished away for ever-lasting tranquility. Furthermore, in terms of the love of power and control, our presidents have not really differed from the colonialists.

You correctly identified the division of powers under a regional system. The catch is that political power is still in the centre in a regional system of government – it does not matter how many ministries become controlled by the regional governments; what matters is how much political power the regional governments can exercise. This is because, the central government, and in the powers vested in the president of Uganda today, the operations and governance of regional governments can be changed at will or even suspended. For example, budgetary allocations to regional governments can be altered regardless of the wishes of regional governments, and a regional government can be easily blamed of underperforming where it is (deliberately) starved of finance and of other resources, especially if a particular regional government is judged to be unfriendly to the central government; in fact the Minister of Local Government might be more powerful than a regional governor. It will take a president of extreme magnanimous proportions to willingly relinquish some of his/her power to federal states in Uganda.

The other reason federalism has been undermined is because anything Buganda favours is anathema to some people. Federalism would be today Uganda’s system of governance if Buganda hated it. It is really amazing that without critical analyses, many subscribers on the UAH forum dismiss federalism as a Baganda thing! Yet, most are living in countries, which are surviving only because they are federal unions of states.

Finally, while an elected Katikkiro is ideal, what would prevent that Katikkiro to act like Obote did against Buganda and the King of Buganda in 1966? Remember that the Katikkiro would possess executive powers. I think Baganda have legitimate suspicions and fear of an elected Katikkiro, especially justified on account of fraudulent election processes, which could usher in an anti-Buganda and anti-Kabaka character. Although the Katikkiro has ever been elected before; those times had fewer Bafuruki. Today, it is possible that we have a Bafuruki majority. So we need some checks and balances. Thus, yes, we can still elect a Katikkiro BUT there has to be censorship of those who can stand for Katikkiroship by the King of Buganda and the Bataka Lukiiko. I for one would not want a Katikkiro who would use executive powers, because s/he is an elected Katikkiro to dismiss my King. I guess other regions in Uganda would exercise similar censorship.

What Exactly Is The “Beast” Called Federalism?

What Exactly Is The “Beast” Called Federalism?

Do we know?

I need to start my brief response on this “federal” system of government that Baganda are demanding for, in the country, from the position of a layman, because quite frankly, I myself still have serious difficulties getting my fingers on the pulse of what exactly it is, that is called federalism! So bear with me, and I sure this might be a bit long write-up.

Therefore, to begin, my question to you all is, what exactly is the “beast” called federalism? Do we know? Does anybody out there know what this federalism is all about? If there is any person out there who know what this federalism is, he/she better come out quick and explain it to us, blow by blow, what the beast is, so that we can make informed choices without wasting time.

In my limited understand of how the issue of federalism cropped up in Uganda body politics, it was by the dawn of independent that British suggested that Buganda be granted a federal status in an independent Uganda.

The British did not grant Buganda a federal status by 1962 when Uganda popped out of colonial womb to become an independent country; they, the British, left that task to the new Uganda administration. If this is true, then it means the federalism that Buganda has been demanding for all these 47 years of the country’s independent, is actually federalism between Buganda, the Kindom, and the rest of Uganda – the secular rest of Uganda.

Now, is there an example in the World, where there is a federation between a Monarchy and a secular State? Lets assume for a moment that at the dawn of independent, Buganda Kingdom was granted independent by the British while at the same time, the rest of Uganda was also granted independent. So, it must have been therefore out of mutual agreement between the two, in 1962, that they formed the country called Uganda: a loose form of federation between a Monarchy and a secular State!

My question however is: Where in the World is there a federation between a Monarchy and a secular State? I don’t think there is any. So, if Buganda wants to federate with the rest of Uganda as was suggested by the British, then personally I think it would be safe to say that that kind of federalism is probably very difficult to put together, because the doctrines that are found in a secular State are totally different from what are found in a Monarchy. If the rest of Uganda was composed of Kingdoms as well, then federation would have been possible. But you cannot have a secular State federating with a Kingdom. That is not possible, simply on the basis of doctrines.

Having said that, how then can the question of “federo” being demanded by Buganda be dealt with?

In my humble opinion, before we even attempt to deal with this difficult political problem of Uganda, we need to first of all understand in detail what it is, that we are dilly-dallying with; that is, what is that, which is called federalism. Without understand federalism in detail, we would not be able to deal with this issue. Instead, the problem is ever going to get complicated, and might lead to yet another war. So, lets suppose that we want to resolve this issue once and for all. Which means we decided that Uganda go federal so that we put this question of federalism behind in order to move the country ahead. How are we going to bring about a federal system of government in the country?

Well, first off, we will need to know what kind of federalism we will be able to put in place. This means we have to put on the table, a menue of federal form of governments possible in a Uganda setting, and then pick from the menue, the one that fits better. Therefore, what do we have, in the case of Uganda? Are we going to:

1) Create Federal State of Uganda between Buganda Kingdom and The rest of Uganda, like it was suggested by the British, which Buganda is demanding for?

2) Create Federal State of Ugabda from the many tribes we have: Acholi, Alur, Ankole, Baganda, Banyoro, Basoga, Bagwere, Banyole, Itesot, Karamojong, Madi, Kakwa, Lugbara, Kumam, Jopadhola, on and on?

or,

3) Create Federal State of Uganda by going back to the Provinces as they were during Amin’s time? Then we had Southern Province; Western Province; Eastern Province, Northern Province, and I believe, West Nile Province.

Obviously the first and the second options cannot be possible. I have already explained why the first option is not possible. The second option is not as well possible. Why? Because there are two many little tribes in the country; some of them are just a handful. Which means once you choose to federate on tribal line, you cannot deny anything “tribe” to become a federating member. So basically we will end up with over 50 Federal Tribes of Uganda, forming a Federal State of Uganda, like the Baganda are demanding. In fact this is also one of the reasons why the Buganda demand for federo is ridiculous, because, like we see it developing, even the Banyala will demand “federo” status. No one will say, let Baganda have their federo status with the rest of Uganda. The rest of Ugandans see Baganda as a tribe. Therefore, the immediate question that will come to their mind if and when “federo” is granted to Buganda, is, why should Baganda be treated different from say, Banyala, or Bagwere, or Madi, or Lugbrara, or even Bafuruki? Rwandese are also a tribe for heaven sakes! So, where is the country going to end up on a tribal federal system?

Impossible!

Another important factors that we will seriously need to look at, if federalism is what we decide to go for, are: a) Formation and establishment of local legislations, called it assemlies or local parliaments, like the Buganda’s Lukiiko, except Buganda’s Lukiiko is a cultural institution whose members are not elected by the people of Buganda, but appointed by Mengo; b) Formation and establishment of local tribal parties that only operate within the boundaries of each tribal enclave; or c) Formation and establishment of provincial parties that operate only within the jurisdiction of each province; and then d) Reformulating the central government.

All these are going to be needed done, one way or another, depending on which federal system one looks at, because those are the central pillars of a federal system of government. The question is, do we have extensively developed infrastructure to support all these, on a tribal federal system of government? The answer is NO!, we don’t. So, the only option that we can work with, and therefore create a Federal State of Uganda on, is the third option. Because in the third option we have only five provinces. Therefore, creating local legislations or assmeblies or parliaments, for these five provinces cannot be too much of a task. To see what I am talking about let us pick an example to work with.

If we decide to go federal on the second option, which is practically impossible, then what are we going to be looking at?

We are going to be looking at two important things. The first is establishment tribal legislations or assemblies. So, we are going to be looking at constructing a legilative building for each tribe. For purposes of simplicity lets pict Teso. Teso will therefore need a Teso legislative building. After we have a Teso legislative building put together, then we are looking at galvanizing Teso politicians to fill local Teso legislative positions, because these are the people who will be concern with Teso affairs; porposing and passing local bills into laws that only are effective in Teso area.

But these local Teso legislators cannot just be grabbed from the streets of Teso towns. They are going to have to be elected by Teso people. But how are these people going to be elected by Teso people to fill the local Teso legislative positions without any party institutions that would enable them campaign to Teso population so that Teso people can vote them in to fill the local Teso legislative positions? This means we are going to need local parties formed in Teso; parties that only operate within Teso area.

Once such parties are formed, then party members can then campaign under the umbrella of those parties so that they can be elected to fill local Teso legislative positions. Once that is done, then we know for sure that we have a Teso local government whose politicians are directly elected by Teso people. It is this Teso local government and local politicians that can now work for Teso people, while at the same time work in concert with the central government in Kampala, to address issues of concern to both Teso people, and Uganda at large.

For instance, the question of natural resource exploitation and management will obviously something to make decision over, between the two government. Which government should be responsible over the exploitation and management of natural resources in Teso area? Should it be the central government, or Teso local government? In many cases across the globe, the jurisdictions are carefully assigned. In this hypothetical case, Teso local government may take control over mineral resources; human resources,&c; while the central government gets control of forestry and wildlife; & transport and communication, &c. That way, the areas of jurisdictions would be clearly defined between the local government of Teso and the central government of Uganda, in Kampala. Other areas that will have to be carefully vetted are tax collections. Teso local government will have to collect certain local taxes, while the central government collect other form of taxes that are apllicable nationally. Where all these become intricate and interesting is where transfers and remittance of funds to either the central government from local governemts, or from the central government to the local governments, depending on which local government is needy, must be carried out. Using Teso again, let me try to explain this.

In a federal system of government, governments work at two levels. The local government, like that of the Teso local government I have explained above; and the central government. Between these two levels of governments, revenue collections and budgetary allocations get carried out. The central government always must take control of financing and funding issues of national character. Local governments, like that of Teso in the hypothetical example, normally performs their duties locally. Anything that falls within the jurisdiction of local government, the local government must foot the bills. If and when a local government does not have enough money in its budget for a particular fiscal year, then it has to turn to central government for top ups. However, the local government will have to prove first, that revenues it collected from all sources, were not enough. Once it is established that indeed, such and such a local government does not have enough money to finance all its projects and programmes, then the central government turns around and tops its budget up. That is what is called transfer of funds from the central government to the local government. So, in the case of Teso local government, if in a particular fiscal year Teso local government fails to collect enough revenue to meet its financial obligations for that year, it will have to turn to the central government and demand some top ups.

But where does the central government gets money to transfer to needed members of the federal government?

Note that I stated earlier that the central government as well collects taxes. Beside that, it also might be responsible in managing institutions of national nature and that are vital to the nation. I mentioned wildlife and Tourism; and there could be a few more of other such institutions. On top of these, the central government gets to collect remittances from the local governments. These remittances are very vital in that, the central government can transfer them to local government jurisdictions that need financial help because of their budgetary shortfalls. Now, if the central government is responsible for helping local governments in cases where a local government has budget shortfall, then why and under what condition, should a local government remits funds to the central government?

Remittance of funds to the central government by a local government takes place on one condition: When that local government collects, in a particular fiscal year, excess revenue. Now take the template we have: Teso local government. In the place of Teso, replace it with Bunyoro or Acholi local government. Either one works fine.

We know that in both places, there are oil deposits that have been discovered. Because of these oil, it is plain, for instance that, when the oil begins to flow, Bunyoro local government revenue, under a federal system of government, will shoot up compared to say, Teso local government revenue. So, since Bunyoro local government will have more money; more than its local budget would require, it is plain that Bunyoro local government would have excess money. In a federal system of government, some of that excess money, Bunyoro local government will have to remits to the central government. This is a must thing; it is called equilization of wealth. The central government uses that excess money remitted by Bunyoro to help the less-have local governments in the federation. This means, if Teso local government did not collect enough revenue in a particular fiscal year, Teso local government will approach the central government for financial help. And because wealthy local governments like Bunyoro would have remitted some of their excess revenue to the central government, the central government then turns around, takes that money and give it to Teso local government. This is the backbone of any functional federal system of government: Transfer and remittance of funds between the two levels of governments. Without this, a federation is merely a federation by name, and may just pass for fraud.

What we have in the country today is of course not a federation; it is merely an extension of the central government to the outlying areas of the country. That is why all the local governments look to the central government for fundings. But because the central government is virtually not even functional, it looks to donors for fundings so that it can fund its local government branches. And in some cases, due to illiteracy, those very same fundings dished out by the central government to the local governments get returned back to the central government untouched! Yet when you look around, you see poverty everywhere.

My intention in putting this brief explanation down is that, if we want a federal system of government, we need to know what we are up against. By using the Teso local government template, we can see that it is virtually impossible creating a federation out of tribal systems. So, our best bet would be to go provincial, like it was during Amin’s time. But even then, we must be prepared to establish local provincial legislations which will form the backbones of the local provincial governments; and then we must also be in position to start local provincial parties, that will only operate within each provincial jurisdiction. Some of you may therefore ask thus: If we formed new local provincial parties that only operate provincially, then how are we going to have member of parliament for the federal government?

Having local provincial legislations don’t stop us from having and operating a federal parliament for the central government. We have parties like DP, UPC, &c. These parties operate nationally. So, even under a federal system of government, these parties are still going to operate nationally. Therefore, in the case of Teso, while some Teso politicians will seek to fill positions in local Teso legislative assembly, others, who might be interested to represent Teso in federal parliament, will campaign under the umbrella of DP, UPC, &c, so that they are voted to become MPs in the federal parliament.

As you can see, creating federalism starts with establishing local governments first. These local governments and local legislative bodies are the pillars of federal form of government. What Buganda is currently demanding is simply impossible to implement. The local government that Buganda has as we speak is not the kind of local government requires for a federal form of government. The Buganda local government is merely a Monarchy form of government. So, if Buganda wants federation, it must first establish an secular local government; and then have members of Lukiiko elected by the people of Buganda, under local Buganda parties that only operate within Buganda region.

Currently memebers of the Lukiiko are appointed by Mengo. And even if Buganda meets the two conditions, the rest of Uganda will still needs to be re-organized so that local, preferably, provincial governments are established, including local provincial assemblies; and local provincial parties. Once these conditions are met, then Uganda can federate with Buganda as Buganda, in the process, becomes a part of the Southern province with Southern legislative assembly and Southern local provincial government.

That is the only way we can bring in federalism.

Obargot Paabwola

Baganda in the diaspora support the Kabaka

Baganda in the diaspora support the Kabaka

We Baganda in the diaspora fully support the Kabaka and his stand regarding Buganda and her relationship with the rest of Ugandan.  In agreement with the Kabaka, we would like to state the following:

(a) We strongly condemn the creation chiefdoms, by the central government within the Kingdom of Buganda.

(b) We confirm that Buganda is an inclusive kingdom that welcomes every Ugandan without fear or discrimination, but will not allow new comers to create ‘entities’ that undermine the cultural and geographical integrity of Buganda Kingdom.

(c) We also emphasize that Buganda’s boarders are well defined in the independence constitution of 1962 and 1995/2005 constitutions. Any attempt to alter these boundaries without our consent is a breach of the constitution and a violation of our rights. Consequently, such violation is likely to push us to ‘Use all means necessary to restore constitutional order.

(d) Furthermore, we remind the authorities in Kampala that all Ugandans including the Kabaka have a right to move freely within Buganda and Uganda and any attempt to restrict such movement is a violation of one’s citizenship rights and therefore a breach of the constitution of the republic of Uganda.

(e) We understand that the Land and Kampala bills are malicious, provocative and aggressive drafts of legislation that must be withdrawn from parliament because they threaten the cultural, social, political and territorial integrity of Buganda. It is possible to administer Kampala to anywhere without annexing Buganda.

(f) We demand that all MP’s and officials in government representing, or from Buganda declare their stand on all historical issues affecting Buganda including ‘Ebyaffe, creation of chiefdoms, Land and Kampala Bills and Federo. It’s time to determine who works or is for us, and who is working against us.

(g) We demand that officials in (NRM / Government) who have not declared their stand on the above issues should NOT attend Buganda functions where the Kabaka is in attendance. In particular, Vice President Gilbert Bukenya, Prime Minister Appolo Nsibambi, House Speaker Edward Ssekandi and Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya should lead the way to declare their stand or stay away from the Kabaka.

(h) We are concerned by Presidential Spokesman Tamale Mirundi’s campaign to incite violence among Baganda Landlords and Tenants. Buganda has a long tradition of co-existing between Landlords and Tenants. Anyone undermining this historical relationship is an enemy of Buganda and Uganda.

(i) We believe that the best way to uplift the standards of people in Buganda and the rest of Uganda is through a Federal system of government. This is the only way through which all Ugandans will enjoy ‘Justice, fairness and truth’.

(j) We also advise that a resolution be passed in the Lukiiko requiring that the anthem ‘Ekitiibwa kya Buganda‘ be sung at every birth, death, and at the beginning and end of any function in Buganda of 8 people or more.

Baganda in the diaspora.

Luganda Version

Obuwagizi n’obuwulize bw’Abaganda eri Kabaka w’e Buganda

Ffe abasajja n’abazaana ba Kabaka, abatuuze mu mawanga agali ebweru wa Buganda, tuwera n’okuggumiza ensonga nga bwe tuli mabega wa Ssabasajja mu nzikiriza Ye nti Buganda erina okukoleganira awamu obulungi n’ebitundu bya Yuganda ebirala. Mu kino nga tuli emabega wa Kabaka waffe, twagala okuggumiza bino wammanga:

(a) Tuvumirira era twekokkola enkola abafuzi aba gavumenti eyawakati gye beegumbulidde n’okwettanira mu nsangi zino ey’okutondawo obwami obutabangawo mu byafaayo by’ensi yaffe kasookedde etondebwawo.

(b) Tukiggumiza nti Obwakabaka bw’e Buganda gye bufa bwenkana bubadde bwaniiriza buli muntu ow’eggwanga lyonna asiima okubusenga awatali kumusosola. Obwakabaka bw’e Buganda buzze nga bulera abantu ab’amawanga ag’enjawulo mangi nnyo awatali kwekengera n’omu nti lulikya omuntu oyo n’abusekeeterera. N’olwekyo Buganda tegenda kukkiriza muntu n’omulundi n’ogumu okugisekeeterera n’okukolerera okusaanyizibwawo kwayo ng’omuntu oyo ayita mu kuseeseetula ensalo zaayo ezaluηηamizibwa mu lukiiko lw’e Lancaster nga twetegekera ameefuga mu 1962 era ne zikkaatirizibwa ne mu Ntegeka ey’eby’obufuzi eya Uganda eya 1995 ne 2005. Milton Obote yagezaako okukola ekintu kye kimu mu 1968 era n’alemwa.

(c) Tukiggumiza nti mu kuseeseetula ensalo za Buganda ezaluηηamizibwa ku meefuga mu 1962 era ne zikkaatirizibwa ne mu Ntegeka ey’eby’obufuzi eya Uganda eya 1995 ne 2005, singa Buganda ebeera temaze kwebuuzibwako era n’ekkiriza, kino kiba kutyoboola eddembe lyaffe ery’obwebange ng’Abaganda era n’okumenya Entegeka ey’eby’obufuzi Uganda kati kwetambulira. Ekikolwa ekyo kyandiviirako Obwakabaka bw’e Buganda okulandulula ku bigere bukwate amakubo amalala agayinza okuzza nate obufuzi obulambulukufu obutambulira ku Ntegeka ey’eby’obufuzi eyaluηηamizibwa bannansi.

(d) Katusabe okujjukiza abo abali mu buyinza e Kampala nti nno, buli Munnayuganda, nga ne Ssabasajja Empologoma ya Buganda mwe tumutwalidde, alina eddembe ery’obwebange okwetaayaayiza mu buli kanyomero ka Uganda awatali muntu yenna kumukuba ku mukono. Okutangira Munnayuganda yenna okwetaayaayiza mu Uganda, nga ne Ssabasajja Empologoma ya Buganda mwetumutwalidde, kibeera kulinnyirira eddembe ly’omuntu ery’obwebange era nga kimenya Entegeka y’eby’obufuzi Uganda kati kw’etambulira, bo ppo nga Ssabasajja obutafaananako nga Bannayuganda n’abafuzi ab’ensikirano ab’omu Uganda abalala, alina amateeka amalala agatalambuluddwa mu Ntegeka ey’ebyo’obufuzi eya Uganda eya 2005 gavumenti eyawakati kweyagala afugibwe. Bikiba bwe kityo, ne Buganda kati efune bunnambiro eddembe eriwa olukusa ani alina okutambulira mu Buganda n’okusengamu.

(e) Tumaze okukitegeera nti amateeka agali mu bbago erya Land Bill 2007 erikwata ku by’ettaka, n’erya Kampala Bill 2009 erikwata ku nsalo z’ekibuga Kampala; gaaletebwa mu mwoyo ogujjudde enge n’effutwa ku Bwakabaka bw’e Buganda ng’ekigendererwa kwe kunafuya Obuganda n’ennono yaffe ng’Abaganda. Amateeka gano agakyali mu bbago kigwanidde gaggyibweyo mu lukiiko lw’eggwanga olukulu – Parliament, kubanga singa gayisibwa ne gafuulibwa amateeka amakakase; empisa, ennono n’obumu bwa Buganda bijja kusaanawo. Katusabe nate okujjukiza abo be kikwatako nti okufuga Kampala kisoboka bulungi nga tebasoose kukeccula Buganda obufiififi oba okugimaamira obukoko.

(f) Kati kino ky’ekiseera buli mubaka Omuganda oba yadde atali Muganda kyokka ng’akiikirira ekitundu ekisangibwa mu Buganda ng’ensalo za Buganda bwe ziyimiridde mu Ntegeka ey’eby’obufuzi eya 2005, okuvaayo obuseke ayasanguze ludda ki kw’ayimiridde ku nsonga eziruma Obuganda, naddala ensonga y’Ebyaffe, okupaatiikibwawo kw’obwami obutabangawo mu byafaayo by’ensi yaffe, etteeka ly’Ettaka, etteeka ly’okuseeseetula ensalo z’ekibuga Kampala ekyakubibwa Ssekabaka waffe Muteesa Walugembe Mukaabya n’enfuga eya Federo. Kino ky’ekiseera buli mbuzi okudda ku nkondo yaayo, Omukulu takulira mpya bbiri – endege tezivugira mu mazzi. Tewakyali aga n’aga; obeera mabega wa Ssabasajja, oba obeera ku ludda olumusekeeterera.

(g) N’obuwoombeefu tusaba abo abakungu ba gavumenti eyawakati abatannaba oba abatya okwasanguza luuyi ki lwe baliko ku nsonga za Buganda ezimenyeddwa mu nnyingo ezo waggulu, obuteetantala kwetaba mu mikolo gy’Obwakabaka bw’e Buganda, muddala nga Ssabasajja anaalabikako eri Obuganda. Omuganda agamba nti Ekkubo litemebwa Mukulu, kale nno katutwale omukisa guno okusaba n’obuwoombeefu abakungu era ab’ebitiibwa Omumyuka w’omukulembeze w’eggwanga Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, Ssabaminisita wa Uganda Prof. Apollo Nsibambi, Omukubiriza w’Olukiiko lw’eggwanga Edward Ssekandi ne Ssabawolereza wa gavumenti eyawakati Kiddu Makubuya; okwesimba obwentoogo bakulembere bannaabwe abakakaalukanyi b’ebyobufuzi mu kulangirira wa webayimiridde ku nsonga z’Obwakabaka bw’e Buganda. Awatali kukola ekyo, Obuganda bwonna bujja kukitwala nti abakungu abo batiiriridde Kabaka waffe n’olwekyo kibagwanidde obutaddamu kwetaba mu mikolo egitegekeddwa Obuganda era n’obutaddamu kukiika Embuga.

(h) Emirundi mingi nnyo kituleetedde ennaku n’ennyiike okulaba n’okuwulira ng’omwana enzaalwa eya Buganda ate nga Muzzukulu wa Mugema, Tamale Mirundi, yeefunyiridde okutabangula Obuganda ng’ayita mu kukuunga abaseenze ku ttaka ly’Abaganda bajeemere bannannyini ttaka. Omukungu oyo takomye ku ekyo kyokka, naye asaakirizza abaseenze okukozesa emikutu egiyiinza okweyambisibwa okuyiwa omusaayi mu kutuukiriza ekigendererwa kyabwe eky’okwefuga ettaka kwe baasenga. Gye bufa bwenkana, mu Buganda omuseenze abadde akolagana bulungi nnyo ne nnannyini ttaka eyamuseenza. Mu byafaayo bya Nnyaffe Buganda tukiwulirwangako nti wabaluseewo oluyombo wakati wa nnannyini ttaka n’omuseenze we. Omuntu yenna eyettanira okuleetawo embeera efaananako bwetyo ye mulabe w’eggwanga asingirayo ddala.

(i) Oluvannyuma olw’okwetegereza ebyo byonna ebizze bibaawo kasookedde tufuna obwetwaze mu 1962, tufunye okumatira nti nno enfuga ey’enkola eya Federo ye yokka eyinza okusitula omutindo gw’abantu baffe abasangibwa mu Buganda wamu ne mu bitundu by’eggwanga lyonna okutwalira awamu. Awatali kutambulira ku nfuga eya Federo, okugamba nti nno buli Munnayuganda anabeera n’eddembe; anaafuna obwenkanya n’okutambulira mu mazima; ekyo kuba kukootakoota muga lumonde.

(j) Tukubira nga tusaba Olukiiko lwa Buganda e Bulange (The Great Lukiiko) okuyisa ekiteeso ekikkiriza oluyimba lwaffe olw’eggwanga Ekitiibwa kya Buganda, okuyimbibwanga Abaganda bwe banaabanga mu bungi obw’abantu munaana n’omusobyo mu Buganda wonna ku mikolo: ogw’okujaguza olw’okuzaalibwa kw’omwana Omuganda azze mu nsi, ogw’okuziika Muzzukulu wa Kintu amaze olutalo lwe ku nsi, n’ogw’embaga y’Omuzzukulu wa Kintu agenda okwaza Obuganda.

Ffe, Abasajja n’Abazaana ba Kabaka abali ebweru wa Nnyaffe Buganda.

‘UAH’ BAGANDA FORUMISTS

Pilipo Oruni defends Federalism

Dear  all,

Mr.Obargot raised a very important question which is at the heart of the political dialogue of our nation today. Many people today are indeed quite unsure of what federalism is and what it entails. However, it needs to be said here also from the outset that the Buganda Kingdom government has done very extensive research on the issue of federalism and have made a number of very balanced and well tought out proposals on all aspects of federalism for Uganda. I will return to this later. First let me answer some of the issues and questions you raised.

1. He  asked “How did federalism crop up in Uganda body politics?”.

The origin of federalism in Uganda derives from two things. The first is the 1900 Uganda (Buganda) Agreement. This agreement which was infact a “draft constitution” was signed between the British Government and the people of Buganda. The 1900 agreement defined the basis by which the people of Buganda would be governed. The British later signed other agreements with other outlaying tribes or communities, addiding to Buganda, gradually to form Uganda as we know it today. So these agreements, signed under different conditions reflecting different circumstances, provide the first basis of federal system for Uganda.

The second basis of federalism for Uganda is the cultural, social, geographical and locality ”differentness” of the various communities that form Uganda. We share some aspirations in common, but we also differ in our expectations and what is of priority to us as different bodies of tribes or communities that comprise the nation Uganda.

2. He said “The British did not grant Buganda a federal status by 1962 when Uganda popped out of colonial womb at Independence.”

Infact Buganda was granted a federal status at the Lancaster Conference in  October 1961, and this was later enshrined in the 1962 independence constitution.The Kingdom of Buganda was governed as a federal regional government until 1966 when the Kabaka was deposed, and the constitution abrogated in 1967, when a unitary constitution was then put in place.

3. He asked “Is there an example in the world where there is a federation between a monarchy and a secular state”?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain is a federation all but in name. Britain does not have a written constitution, but the country comprises of four completely distinct regional governments or nations:- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although there is a ‘national parliament’ at Westminster in London, England where MPs from all four nations sit, the Scots also have a parliament, the Welsh have an assembly and Northern Ireland also has an assembly. Infact in World Cup these four regions compete as separate nation.

4. He said “The Buganda local government is merely a Monarchy form of government. So, if Buganda wants federation, it must first establish a “secular” local government.”

There are two aspects to this particular issue you raised. Firstly, the Kingdom of Buganda has a cultural head; His Highness the Kabaka. However, the characteristic features of the governing structures of the Kingdom of Buganda are no different from, say, those of a Republican or non monarchy government. The current situation whereby the Kabaka appoints members of the Great Lukiiko is a temporary anomaly which infact has been forced on Buganda by the absence of a federal law or constitution. Indeed, His Highness the Kabaka desires so much not to rule as an absolute monarch that is why he has appointed members of the Great Lukiiko and the Buganda Ministers to advise him informally, until such a time when the federal law or constitution is in place.

Secondly, you are right when you say that if Buganda wants federation, it must first establish a “secular” local government. By “secular” I take it that you mean His Highness the Kabaka should not have undue or formal influence in the day -to -day running of the local government or federal government of the Kingdom of Buganda. To create a “secular” (to borrow his word) Kingdom of Buganda or regional government of Buganda the Kabaka needs to become a “constitutional monarch”. This means that His Highness the Kabaka will be a figurehead of state of the Kingdom of Buganda. His powers of state having been devolved to an executive prime minister, or the Katikiro. The fact of the Kabaka being a figurehead means that he “has to accept” the lawful functioning of his government and cannot interfere with it.. The independence of the executive arm of the Kingdom of Buganda government from His Highness the Kabaka will be entrenched in law, in the federal constitution.

Let me now turn to the main question that he raised, namely:- “What exactly is the “Beast” called federalism”?

In plain language federalism is a system of government whereby power is SHARED between national or central government and regional government. Broadly, national or central government has control over matters affecting the nation as a whole, or the area best handled by the central government. While regional government have control over matters of that region. This division of authority is ENTRENCHED in law, in the federal constitution, as well as federal government laws.

The key thing about federalism which differentiates it from a unitary form of devolved local government is that AUTHORITY IS SHARED, between the central government and the regional government. Whereas in a unitary devolved or decentralized local government the central government  “gives away some of its power to the local government”. In the federal system the authority of a regional government, such as, for example the Kingdom of Buganda “to act” or “function” is not derived from the central government but from the federal constitutions. The other distinction is that in a federal system, decentralisation starts at the regional level. For example, it is the Kingdom of Buganda government that will decentralise power in a federal system.

WHAT ARE BUGANDA’S PROPOSALS OR “DEMANDS” FOR “FEDERO”?

The proposals or “desires” of Buganda for “Federo” or federalism are contained in the submissions of the Kingdom of Buganda to the 1991 Odoki Constitutional Commission and the 2003 Constitution Review Commission. Buganda has put forward five main demands:-

1. Federal system of government.

2. Kampala district as part of the Kingdom of Buganda

3. The return of the 9000 square miles to the Kingdom of Buganda

4. The excesses of the Land Act 1998

5. The status, immunities, privileges of the traditional leader.

Let us examine each proposal/demand.

FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

In its submissions the kingdom of Buganda is not asking for the same federal system as in the 1962 Constitution, whereby only Buganda was granted full federal status and the other kingdoms semi federal status. Buganda has proposed amending the 1962 system so that all regions of Uganda have “full and equal federal status”. The model proposed by the Kingdom of Buganda is infact  a combination of Obargot’s district and provincial models.Thus there would be 13 federal states or regional governments of:- Acholi, Buganda, Bugisu and Sebei, Bukedi, Bunyoro Kitara, Busoga,Karamoja, Kigezi, Lango, teso, Tooro, West Nile and Madi.

Buganda have cited about 30 areas which it proposes to be exclusively the responsibility of the central government, this include, to mention a few;- defence, national police force, protection of territorial integrity and regional integrity, arms, explosives, foreign affairs, immigration and nationality, national identy cards, deportations, extraditions, national elections, central bank and all all banks, national parks, inter regional high ways, population and cencus, export duty and import duty, deplomatic protocols, foreign treaties and agreements, etc.

KAMPALA DISTRICT AS PART OF KINGDOM OF BUGANDA

The government has currently put in place the Kampala City Bill by which it intends to bring Kampala district under central government jurisdiction. The Kingdom of Buganda has proposed that Kampala district including the main city district be under the Kingdom of Buganda area. Buganda cites various institutions of Buganda including the Lubiri, the Great Lukiiko Assembly Hall, Tombs of past Kabakas and the fact Kampala is situated right at the heart of Buganda Kingdom.

In order to alley any fears that the central government and /or non Baganda Ugandans or foreigners might be evicted from Kampala, the Kingdom of Buganda  has proposed in Article 38 of its submissions  to the 2003 Constitution Review Commission  that “The National Constitution of Uganda does and should guarantee the equality of all people regardless of ethnic origin in any part of Uganda”.

Also in Article 39 of the same 2003 submissions, that “ There should also be appropriate provisions in the National Constitution that no regional governments has the right to evict the central government from any region of Uganda”.

THE RETURN OF THE 9000 SQUARE MILE TO BUGANDA.

Under the 1900 Agreement, “9000 sq miles of waste or uncultivated land” was allocated to the Colonial Government to keep for the people of Buganda in trust. On 8th October, 1962 before independence this land was reverted to Buganda government and was administered by the Buganda land board until 1967, when it was again taken over by the Uganda Land Commission. Buganda wants this land back and has proposed adequate constitutional guarantees to ensure people already leagally on the land do not suffer and loss, etc.

THE EXCESSES OF THE LAND ACT 1998

The Kingdom of Buganda contends that the 1998 Land Act was an “unfair land law, enacted by Parliament that protected the interest of land occupants at the expense of the land owners. Thus makes meaningful development of the land very difficult and unworkable” . The Kingdom of Buganda is proposing for “A more balanced law, giving sufficient protection to tenants and squatters at the same time giving protection to the land owners rights”.

THE STATUS, IMMUNITY AND PRIVILEGES OF THE TRADITIONAL LEADER.

The constitution currently recognises His Highness the Kabaka as the traditional leader of Buganda. The Kingdom of Buganda however would like the status of the Kabaka to be clearly defined in the constitution. They are proposing the Kabaka to be a constitutional monarch so that he is above party and politics.

Buganda is also proposing that His Highness the Kabaka be immune from prosecution. It is also proposed that His Highness the Kabaka should have precedence in protocol only to the President and the Vice- President during official functions in Buganda. It is also proposed that His Highness the Kabaka should be exempt from direct personal taxation.

My dear friend Obargot and all UAH members, as you can see the “beast” called federalism is infact quite a benign system that will bring about peace, stability, prosperity, equality, transparency, protection of the environment and resources, unity, integration and so much more benefits for the people of Uganda.

That currently many people are unsure or even hostile to federalism is due to lack of information and public awareness about the system. It is the responsibility of the government to put clearly all the sides of the federalism “coin” so that people can understand and make informed choices.. For the record during the Odoki Constitution Commission submissions 68% of Ugandans supported federalism. There is therefore majority support for federalism in Uganda. SO, FEDERALISM  WILL definitely COME. Uganda needs it.

Regards

Pilipo Oruni Oloya.

UAH forumist residing in London

Rumours against Ngoma Radio aren’t true

Michael Senyonjo and Musisi Bosco,

I think you are adults and probably educated people. Therefore before you start spreading silly rumours about Ngoma Radio – i think it is reasonable you do proper research. I know the guys who are running this radio and they include Major Mukiibi, Mustapha Semanda, Moses Nsubuga and other young volunteers. The radio was started and is funded mainly by Mustapha Semanda who is a local government civil servant in the UK. He is among the bright Fast Track scheme graduates the UK government  recruited from universities to be trained as future managers in the UK civil service. So he has a reasonable income. Unlike you Bosco Musisi – this young man is not unemployed or on the street as you claim. He was posted to Brighton & Hove City Council where he works as a Policy Development Officer and works very close with the Council politicians. If you want to confirm, his direct office number is 01273 291032. This young man was also the first elected DP UK chairman
who contested and beat Sam Lubega in 2007 – and last year he did not stand. Bosco some people are more able than others – when we see such young talents like Mustapha who has achieved something at the age of 26 – we should encourage them. I do not know how old you are (Bosco and Senyonjo) but surely get a life.

On the issue of advertising the Ngoma Radio in Bukedde.

Ugandans, it is true that the radio is sometimes advertised in Bukedde, but it is also advertised on www.radiokatwe.com and www.federo.com. It is not true that it has been advertised in the NewVision. To place an advert in Bukedde only costs about £100 a month – if you would like to confirm how Ngoma radio advertises contact Bukedde sales executive called Nganda.

The truth is that Senyonjo is a presenter and part of Kyeyo Radio which wants to rival Ngoma Radio. So we understand why he is keen to spread malicious rumours. I have lost respect for him. I think some of you are spies who pretend to fight for democracy yet you are moles destroying the true political activists. Michael Senyonjo – have you told everyone on here that you used to work for the NRM secretariate…………..

Museveni has divided us so much that some of us cannot even see the obvious. I wonder whether you two listen to Ngoma radio – these guys scrutinise everything and they are pro Federo and offer all Ugandans an opportunity to air their views. Click here for more information  http://www.theugandacitizen.com/about

So Ngoma radio is part of the Uganda Federo Confederates and The Uganda Citizen online blog. Click here to see how it was launched and its agenda http://www.theugandacitizen.com/news. These Senyonjos are failures and hate to see progress that they are not part of.

Have a good day

PADDY MATAMA

Ggwanga Mujje Appeals for Peace, Security and Freedom

We call upon all Ugandan nationalists in Buganda to be calm but vigilant. You should be courageous with firm convictions, principled in your behavior, reflective and philosophical in all your actions during this crisis. Resist the temptation to be lured into chaos and confusion by your enemies but do not easily succumb to the fear created by the muzzle of the gun as the unanticipated but predictable crisis sadly unfolds in our motherland.
We have to remember and learn from our history. In the past leaders have used political tricks to earn the trust, support and confidence of the people of Buganda. Some have threatened or actually used deadly force in order to suppress the people but in the end they have always failed to conquer Buganda. Remember that the Baganda, have, unfortunately, paid a big price for their misplaced trust and confidence in untrustworthy leaders who have neither principles to guide their political actions nor respect for our cultural institutions which have endured from time immemorial. Our cultural institutions are here to stay but leaders will come, go or fade way.
We are deeply saddened by the death of innocent people, the wanton destruction of property, the illegal surrounding of the Lubiri by armed forces and, as a result, the deprivation of the Kabaka of his personal liberty together with his immediate family and, by necessary implication, placing the entire kingdom of Buganda under detention. This has happened before!
In Buganda the Kabaka is not just another leader. To the Baganda the Kabaka is a national symbol and a cultural institution. The Kabaka is head of all clans and therefore he is fondly regarded by the Baganda as a member of one big family descending directly from Kintu. An attack on Kabaka as a person, or the Kabakaship as a cultural institution, is a declaration of war on all clans and each and every Muganda both individually and collectively as a kingdom.

 

We condemn the cowardly act of closing CBS radio, which is the voice of Buganda, or any other radio or media outlet. This action is reminiscent of the dictatorship Ugandans have endured for decades clearly manifested in the suppression of freedom of the media, political freedom and gross violation of human rights in the past.
The random arrest and detention of people for political reasons is a violation of human rights. It is intended to force people into submission. But it reminds us of the dark history of the “panda gali” era. The actions taken by the government of Uganda violate the constitution of Uganda. They must be unreservedly condemned because they are illegal and unconstitutional. Oppressive and illegal actions by the government of Uganda deserve no respect and should not be voluntarily obeyed by anyone.
It is an act of provocation to deprive the Kabaka of his individual liberty, to restrict his movement in his kingdom and to encourage the creation of new political entities within the kingdom motivated by a desire to control and enslave the Baganda. All these political machinations are accomplished without the consent of the Baganda. If the Banyala are not Baganda they are free to go back to their motherland.
The Bululi and/or Banyala issue should be resolved democratically by a referendum within the kingdom of Buganda. When the government of Uganda takes sides covertly or conspires to destroy or undermine the integrity of the kingdom of Buganda the Baganda have no choice but to fight for their freedom. Freedom is not bestowed upon the people by government;
it is an inalienable right protected by the constitution and recognized and guaranteed by international law.
We firmly believe that nobody can be proud of calling fellow citizens “sub-imperialists.” Such name-calling is divisive, provocative and essentially sectarian because it causes ethnic humiliation and hostility. It is demeaning to those who are labeled by such an unpalatable and abusive term. It must be condemned. But when it is done by our top leaders it acquires a particularly sinister character. It is a sign of hypocrisy. Moreover, labeling a group of people as “sub-imperialists” is not only discriminatory but also a violation the law enacted by the NRM government in 1988—a law which has never been objectively enforced but maliciously used to suppress political freedom by persecuting political dissidents and muzzling the media.
For all the reasons given above Ggwanga Mujje members are encouraged to be active in the struggle to fight for national unity, to be brave to face any future challenges but above all to strive for political freedom, cultural dignity, peace and security of all people in our diverse society. As long as suppression of freedom continues and the liberty of His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi is violated there will be no peace in Uganda.
Nevertheless, all people are encouraged to use peaceful means to achieve our objectives. We advise all peace-loving people not to support, subscribe to or buy any publications that are published, sponsored or promoted by the government of Uganda.
This statement is endorsed by members of Ggwanga Mujje who convened in an emergency meeting in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA, on Thursday, September 10, 2009.
Ssabasajja Awangaale.

Questions to Museveni

In the news release of 9/11/2009, president Museveni blames Mengo for not accepting
an elected Prime minister and a regional tier.

Please help me to answer the following questions:
1- Prof Nsibambi is Prime Minister of Uganda.  In what constituency was
he ever elected – yet he has much more power than the Katikkiro of Buganda?

2- Was regional tier meant only for Buganda? Why was it not implemented in
other parts of Uganda?

3- In the press release, the President clarified that the current Mengo institution is
not political. It is not a government; it is not a non-government organization.
It is a cultural institution and cannot have Ministers.
QN: If that is the case, then why does the central government want to impose an
elected Katikkiro on a  non-government organization?

4- The president said, “The regional tier is still in the constitution and can be
implemented even tomorrow”.
QN: If those supposed to benefit from it do not want it, why try to impose it on
them? Is there a hidden agenda in this so called regional tier?

Just curious!!!

paschal Mawanda Kibuule

DON’T HURT BANYANKOLE/BANYARWANDA PLEASE

Please, we should not turn this into a tribal warfare. This is what Museveni wanted by creating all these chiefdoms and we should not hand him this victory on a plate. Banyankole and Banyarwanda are not to blame for this mess created by one person. Please, i appeal to all Ugandans who can read this message to spread it around and ask Ugandans not to attack the Banyankole or Banyarwanda please. These people are Ugandans who deserve to stay anywhere they wish in the country.

It’s Museveni who presides over the nepotistic policies causing all these problems. So you can punish him  by denying him your votes in 2011 but do not attack Banyankole or Banyarwanda. It’s like attacking or killing your brother because your father loves him more than you. Please let’s preserve the little of what is left of Buganda and Uganda.

Thank you very much

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

photos of the 11th Sep 2009 riots

Folks,

No government in Uganda’s history ever had to unleashed its own mamba’s, tanks, unimocks against its own citizens in broad day light like M7 has.  He did it in 1980 when he was minister of defence when he unleashed his FRONASA soldiers against Baganda demonstrating Lule’s downfall.  He told Baganda it was the Anyanya’s that shot and killed peaceful demonstators and they belived him, i wonder which Anyanya is going to be blamed this time..

A Ugandan policeman raises his weapon and a stick as he instructs residents to run along Wandegeya street in the capital Kampala September 12, 2009. Security forces in Uganda clashed with rioters for a second day on Friday over a row between the government and the kingdom of Buganda. Violence has been triggered by land and power disputes between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government and leaders of Buganda — one of Uganda’s four ancient kingdoms.

Ugandan police instruct residents to run along a Wandegeya street in the capital Kampala September 12, 2009. Security forces in Uganda clashed with rioters for a second day on Friday over a row between the government and the kingdom of Buganda. Violence has been triggered by land and power disputes between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government and leaders of Buganda — one of Uganda’s four ancient kingdoms.

Ugandan civilians run with their hands raised along a street in the Wandegeya area of the capital Kampala September 12, 2009. Security forces in Uganda clashed with rioters for a second day on Friday over a row between the government and the kingdom of Buganda. Violence has been triggered by land and power disputes between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government and leaders of Buganda — one of Uganda’s four ancient kingdoms.

A Baganda tribeswoman chants slogans outside the Baganda Parliament in Uganda’s capital Kampala September 12, 2009. Security forces in Uganda clashed with rioters for a second day on Friday over a row between the government and the kingdom of Buganda. Violence has been triggered by land and power disputes between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government and leaders of Buganda — one of Uganda’s four ancient kingdoms.

A boy looks at the remains of a burnt truck following clashes in the Seta neighbourhood of the Ugandan capital Kampala September 12, 2009.

Ugandan police arrest suspected looters and rioters in the Natete neighbourhood of the capital Kampala September 12, 2009. Calm returned to the centre of Uganda’s capital on Saturday after two days of deadly riots, although police and residents clashed on the outskirts. Many shops remained closed in the centre of the city and Kampala residents walked cautiously past police with their hands in the air to try and avoid beatings, sometimes unsuccessfully.

Baganda tribesmen chant slogans as they gather outside the Baganda Parliament in Uganda’s capital Kampala September 12, 2009.

Ugandan police arrest a man carrying a child at a suburb of Kampala

Ugandan police escort arrested civilians into the Wandegeya police station in the capital Kampala September 12, 2009

A suspected looter carries mattresses after his arrest following clashes in the Natete neighbourhood in the Ugandan capital Kampala September 12, 2009.

A 13-year old boy lies dead after he got shot in the head during riots in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.

A mans body lies in the street after he was shot during riots in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.

Uganda military police arrest a man during riots in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009. The unrest began Thursday after the government prevented a representative of the traditional ruler of the Buganda kingdom from traveling to a region northeast of the capital for a political rally. Members of the kingdom make up Uganda’s largest ethnic group but there is friction between the Buganda and members of the smaller Banyara tribe, who claim the Buganda refuse to recognize them.

A woman mourns her husband as he is carried in the van after he was shot during riots in Kampala, Uganda.

Armed riot police secure the area around the razed Nateete Police Station in Kampala, Uganda, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, after it was destroyed by rioters on Friday. A traditional Ugandan ruler, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has canceled a scheduled appearance at a rally near the capital, following two days of deadly riots between his supporters and security forces.

Burnt-out cars litter the street around the razed Nateete Police Station in Kampala, Uganda, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, after it was destroyed by rioters on Friday. A traditional Ugandan ruler, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has canceled a scheduled appearance at a rally on Saturday near the capital, following two days of deadly riots between his supporters and security forces.

Video:RWANDA – DO SCARS EVER FADE?

http://freedocumentaries.org/theatre.php?filmid=116&id=876&wh=1000×720

Violence is not the option

This latest events surrounding Buganda have left me thinking of the riots in Zimbabwe against Colonial Settlers and even in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising.That is how these young rioters percieve the status quo in the era of fast paced globalization.

These are the guys who wash the expensive cars, their owners totting the latest most expensive technologies like phones, etc. These are the taxi drivers and conductors and motor bike boda boda drivers, the market vendors etc who have not had the chance for a better education. They have seen it all.

The global realities of the gap beteeen the rich and poor cannot be hidden any longer.And these youth feel threatened to extinction. It is not only in Buganda. The same realities drove like minded youth into rebellion in the North because they could not bear the truth that a ‘foreigner’ (Museveni) had come to rule them! So it was a war founded on egoism. And the results triggered were sad but inevitable.

Looking at the aggressive nature and the stubborn look in the faces of these shabby, dirty, scrubby, poor, hungry, unemployed, uneducated youth  left my heart feeling hollow. I felt that perhaps we have betrayed  this particular generation? What have we done wrong to merit this outburst of anger and suicidal behaviour?

It is clear there has been a build up to this happening.And I believe that, Yes we can build back moral trust and confidence in this group.

However, the Kabaka (King) of Buganda has a high stake in this. The youth are looking up to him as their leader and Director. This is time that the true statesmanship in Ronald Muwenda Mutebi is tested.
This is the time for Queen Sylvia Naginda to spend some sleepless nights working hard like Florence Nightingale to tell her children that violence is not the only option.

This is the time for her to prove that women the world over do not support violent conflict, and this is her role as mother and wife to the King,no matter what the justifications may be.

The women in Northern Uganda stood as one united voice and condemned the conflict in a stand of nuetrality, and I tell you, their voices have been crucial in the peace and stability process.

Otherwise I see that this Baruuli Banyala question can very well be handled to its logical conclusion through dialogue and a spirit of peaceful coexistence.

Linda Akullo Mukisa
Kampala

More photos of 11th sep 09 riots

Ugandan people deserve a sound minded real president

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the Ugandan public.”

Various radio stations have been closed, newsmen and media warned/captured and ministers of Buganda captured, so far on record only 640 suspected people in Buganda regions have been arrested and many people are going to be silenced in all ways possible to have a real dictatorial govt

So how will Uganda have a real sensible president who has the brains to know that not all people will always subscribe to his good nor inept ideas?

Mayiko Makula

Kampala

video of riots

Bugerere is one of Bunyoro-Kitara’s lost counties, donated to Buganda by Capt Colville in 1894

The best, and most honest source of information on, Bugerere, and the seven lost counties,Buyaga, Bugangaizi, Buheekura, Rugonjo (Singo), Bulemeezi, Buruuli, Bugerere(Bunyala) are the official British Archives availlble to the public in London, free of charge..

The then British military commanders, Cpt. Henry Coville, Fredrick Lugard, Maj. Gerald Portal, Ternin, Thruston, Macknon, etc. were all, by order from London, to record and dispatch their daily military records of the invasion of Bunyoro-Kitaraby the Anglo-Ganda army.

Their records , in writing, are meticulously preserved. Bunyoro-Kitara sent the Principal Private Secretary of the Omukama, Mr. Yolaamu Nsamba to London and he spent six months there recording and photocpying these records.

Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom, has over five volumes of these records.  I personally went to London in June-July, this year, and verified what Yolaamu Nsamba recorded.

Indeed, Cpt. Henry Coville wrote a book where he reproduced his military records.

Cpt Coville clearly states that in 1894 he addressed the Buganda Lukiiko and donated all the Bunyoro lands south of River Kafo to Buganda as a reward for Buganda’s assistance to fight Omukama Kabaleega’s Abarusuura army.

This act was snot officially communicated to the London Home Office at that time. Because he knew it was illegal.. Hence it was not divulged until 1899 in London and by that time the Home office said it was too late to reverse. Hence the then Governor who concluded the 1900 Anglo-Ganda Agreement had no alternative but to legalise the annexation of those seven lost counties to Buganda. Remember the agreement was signed by British colonialists and  Baganda alone. No other Ugandas participated. Hence it was imposed on Ugandans. That is why we say it is a kicupuli agreement. We might as well call for its revision where all Ugandans will participate.

The Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, Kaarukara Kiteehibwa protested so strongly that in 1903 he abdicated the throne in protest over the illegal annexation of the lost counties to Buganda. In protest also were two  British administration officials by the names Foster and Pulteny.

The indigenous Banyoro in the lost counties formed THE MUBENDE BANYORO COMMITTEE by representatives from the seven lost counties.
From 1951 when the leadership of Mubende Banyoro Committee was taken over by my father,the late  Joseph Mujoobe Kazairwe, he frequently toured those seven lost counties on his bicycle. I was a young man at that time and I used to accompany him to meet the late Fenekansi, the heir to the Nyamuyonjo who died two years ago.

I can give you more historical background material if you ask for it.

Henry Ford Miirima

Press Secretary of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitasra

Let us all research about the lost counties issue and write Buganda’s history

Dear all,

There are details about the lost counties in some history books such as S. R. Karugire’s book (see attachments) – seemingly biased towards UPC and grossly anti-Buganda and anti-Kabaka. My first impression is that the bias did Karugire’s academic credentials some injustice. For example, on page 117, Karugire claims that the Kabaka was autocratic! Yet, people rioted when Muteesa II was forced into exile by the British.

My understanding is that Bunyoro is seeking boundaries as they stood before the 1900 agreement. However, Bunyoro does not provide a map to show its boundaries during that period (of Kabarega and Mwanga), bearing in mind that the British bafuruki found Muteesa I and Mwanga at war against Bunyoro already. I.e., the war between Buganda and Bunyoro was not started by Wazungu – Wazungu could have helped Buganda though, but probably not to a great extent as exaggrated, seeing that Mwanga started to chase Wazungu from Buganda, which led to his deportation together with his erstwhile archenemy, Kabarega. Furthermore, at that time, Buganda had her own internal squabbles, some of which were inter-religious. No where is it factually established that the British donated counties to Buganda for collaboration, although there are heresay statements in Karugire’s book; many are quotations of the colonialists’ opinions. Instead, it seems, the British stopped the expansion of Buganda by Mwanga, and forced Buganda into a state with the neighbouring territories. The British wanted even to form an East African protectorate if Buganda had not refused.

Nonetheless, firstly, Bunyoro’s claims for Bugerere and other counties are pressed by Banyoro only. By independence in 1962, the agreement was to hold a referendum for Buyaga and Bugangazzi, and not any other counties. Bunyoro indeed repossessed Buyaga and Bugangazzi.
Furthermore, it appears, from article 2 of the 1900 agreement that Buganda forfeited some territory outside today’s boundaries, besides Buyaga and Bugangazzi. In the Uganda Agreement of 1900, article 2 states: “The Kabaka and chiefs of Uganda hereby agree henceforth to renounce in favour of Her Majesty the Queen any claims to tribute they may have had on the adjoining provinces of the Uganda Protectorate”.
My hypothesis is additionally supported in Karugire, pages 220 -221. The Banyoro petitioned Buganda and the British for the return of the ‘lost counties’ (Karugire, page 220). In response, Kabaka’s communiqué to the British Governor dated the 18th June 1960, .Item 3 states:  “If it were decided, largely on historical grounds, to alter boundaries which have remained unchanged for more than 60 years, it would be inequitable that revision should be confined to the Territories referred in the Petition. My government might well decide to put forward claims to any or all of the lands which formed part of the ancient Kingdom of Buganda” (Karugire, page 221).
The short of it is that it is difficult to know who, between Bunyoro and Buganda, controlled which areasprecisely before 1900, as the two protagonists were at war winning and losing some. Wazungu came after Bunyoro had lost much of its territory partly due to mismanagement and over-expansion. Indeed other history references indicate that some territories seceded from Bunyoro (I think Koki is one example). Kabarega was notably ruthless for some of his territories.
The fact that Banyoro are interested in the lost counties, only in Buganda, is an indication of ulterior forces driving their demand. Toro, as an example, was part of Bunyoro – they should reclaim Toro and Kigezi. Taking Bugerere to Bunyoro will dictate that Buganda also asks for its own lost counties she controlled before 1900. Also note that the British bafuruki used the agreement of 1900 to stop Buganda from seceding and to from forming an independent state. It is as if revoking the 1900 agreement allows Buganda (as well as other regions) to renegotiate her status. If the 1900 agreement is invalid, current Uganda, Buganda, Bunyoro, etc boundaries are also invalid. This implies that Uganda has to be re-constituted. I.e., another constitution has to be written.  It would seem that Bunyoro is trying to resurrect old wars, at least considering statements made by Isabanyala.
Finally, Buganda has to write her own view of history.

Dr.Johnie Muwanga-Zake

UAH forumist

M7’s kichupulistic foundation- 27-or 40 men?

People you can now hear that m7
And his mustard seed book have always been co-authored by Ssebagala’s tricks “kichupuli” You can now hear that M7’s 27 men were not a fact of any truth, we hear they were 40 people, many of them Baganda who disappeared so early that people still believed up to this day that they were actually only 27. The Baganda chapter  was erased, after things seemed going in the right direction, those who managed to stay like Seguya who they claim was their first NRA army commander/a laughing stock, were only stayed but for a short time, tried to serve diligently for these killers so that may be his life would be spared.

The other Baganda were so dead and m7’s other trusted tribes came out with purple heart inflictions that could not have killed them. For its so evident that the chap is a pure un-mixed munyarwanda who came with his mother, why else was he living in Byanyima’s house if he had a living father and its a prestige among the Bunyankore men to have all their children under the same roof however poor they may be. Possibly the Kaguta man asked him out of his house for harboring substandard manners and the mother stayed behind and may be that’s why, the Winnie Byanyima threatened to say something and Besigye is now Scott free.

Surely m7 did not focus on his legacy for he never anticipated that it could last in any credibility to be accorded any honesty from the beginning. We can now all say that a foundation of anything is so important. But things folded in miraculous ways, thus the life presidency project and the silencing of anyone who dares to challenge him, so he is using this kavuyo to clandestinely arrest and kill anyone who has been in his bad books, when the whole thing withers down you will hear many who have died because of stray bullets that you know very well; wouldn’t possibly have been party to the riots and that there were other guns who were not in the police’s hands and that they are the very guns used to kill other people that police claims not to have killed.

Many of our credible people have been hoodwinked in serving in M7’s govt thinking that it was for the good of serving our Country, but the nasty foundation skeletons keeps cropping up, like in the days of Amin when people were obliged to serve, so have many others tried to serve with m7, but from now on we will hear people voluntarily resigning as their credibility crushes with the hoax president as in m7, we first got a member of parliament resigning because he was overwhelmed by the corruption and bribery that he never anticipated even when he came from the opposition, just imagine how much is involved if one is an n nrm/o MP.

Many political pundits have as m7 another educated Amin that has come back to Uganda in a modernized way, the word is still in your mouth just utter it “Dictator”

Mayiko Makula

Kayihura defends shooting civilians in riots which is against international law

Demonstrations in washington,Newyork,Boston and other cities

COME ONE, COME ALL TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR KING AND OUR CULTURE
 
WHEN: Saturday September 19, 2009 — at 10:30AM
WHERE: Federal Building, Wilshire Blvd, Westood
DURATION: 2 to 3 hours
DRESS CODE: Traditional garb preferred, i.e. Busuuti, Kanzu, Lubugo ~ bimyu, hats, etc
WHAT TO BRING: Placards & banners with huge writings
OTHER NECESSITIES:
        1. Water
        2. Flags of USA, Buganda & Uganda (a few Buganda hand flags will be available for sale on 1st come 1st served basis). USA flags avaialable at Home Depot, etc
        3. Drums, ndege, whistles (your local sports store), bullhorns (available at most equipment rental places), any noise makers
        4. Donation to contribute to fund of mabugo/mataaba for the dead, and for the injured, etc
        5. Buganda national anthem — download at www.buganda.com
 
You may contact Buganda Kingdom directly via her official website: www.buganda.or.ug/
 
Regardless of political affiliation and/or ethnicity or nationality, you are all invited and encouraged to participate.
 
The demonstration schedule and contacts are as follows:-
 
1. Los Angeles – Saturday Sept 19, 2009 at 10:30am, Federal Building, Wilshire Blvd. Contacts — Damiano Kigoye (dkigoye@yahoo.com) & James Ssemakula (james_ssemakula@yahoo.com).
 
2. New York – Wednesday September 23, 2009 at the United Nations. Contact — John Mayanja Buwembo (jmayanja@townisp.com). People from surrounding states are encouraged to attend.
3. Boston – Saturday September 26, 2009 at The Marriott Copley Place Hotel, at 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02116; i.e. the day and venue of the NRM Gala. Contact — John Mayanja Buwembo (jmayanja@townisp.com). People from all over USA are encouraged to attend.
 
4. Washington, D.C. – Date: Saturday 19, 2009 — To Be Confirmed or even changed.  Contact — James Kabonge (jkabonge@aol.com)
 
5. Other cities — information to be disseminated as it becomes available. To organize a protest demonstration in your town call your local police to find out if you need a permit. The sooner you do it the better, because some juridisctions may require a 5-day advance notice, depending on number of participants.
James Ssemakula
james_ssemakula@yahoo.com
 
Please circulate this note widely.

Buganda Crisis: Demonstration in Los Angeles

Dear Community Members, fellow Baganda, friends of Buganda and Uganda,

Buganda kingdom is in Crisis. Many of us lost our loved ones killed by the NRM government during last week’s riots, and many others are still languishing in pain in Hospitals.

Members of Parliament from opposition, Buganda Kingdom officials and Journalists are getting arrested and detained in ungazetted detentions.
 
In support of Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II ANd the Buganda Kingdom at this crisis moment, we the Baganda in California have organized a peaceful demonstration in Los Angeles to protest the killing of people in Buganda by President Museveni’ s NRM government.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place on September 19, 2009, at 10:00 am in city of Westwood, Los Angeles.

We will all assemble at 11600 Wilshire Blvd at Federal, where the demonstration will be flaged off marching eastwards along Wilshire Blvd to the Federal Building Lawns where we will be addressed by elders, community leaders, State and Federal leaders.

The event will be covered by all major media houses; ABC7, CNN, BBC, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, NPR, and many more.

We are all requested to honor our King and the kingdom by wearing traditionally: Men in Kanzu and Ladies in Busuuti.

More details will be communicated to you.

Thank you,

Ssabassajja Kabaka awangaale.

Damiano Kigoye
Ndi Muzukulu wa Nakigoye e Kyasa, mu Buddu.
Member, Organing Committee.

On the Issue of Kabaka not being Elected- Bothers m7-why?

On the issue of HH the Kabaka not being elected
That shows how m7 does not understand the cultures and norms in Uganda, “ebyensikirano n’ebye nonno”, have nothing to do with being subjected to elections. m7 has never been heir to any one in Uganda prominent as he thinks he is, simply because most probably he is not from Uganda and the issue that he is omunyankore is still a myth, even to the real Banyakore themselves though the chap is still alive and well in Uganda.

M7 refused the coronation of the Ankore Kingdom which is highly doubtable whether he hails from Ankore. Very soon m7 will have to preside over family issues where by if your grandfather/father/mother/uncle dies then you have to be elected by your family members in order to become a heir in this regard, especially where land and property is involved. Thats why he is fighting un-ethical simple wars and wants to give land to those who he thinks are like him, the squaters, which the baganda call the serwajja okwotas on people’s land, some of it of course came to them as in being passed on by those who have left us.

And the question still stands who elected m7 to become a minister in Lule’s Govt or Binaisa govt? and who elected him in 1986- up to 1990, we are not even sure that he was elected all this time but stealing the vote, thus being envious of the Kabaka, his Katikiros and Mengo officials and the wielding of what he calls political power, thats not political power its the love people embedded in their cultures and norms and can have their Kingdom and its leaders without question or doubt of the choices made by the King, Its the serwajja okwotas asking as to why the leaders and the KABAKA HIMSELF WHY THEY ARE NOT ELECTED. It is not the rigging or craftmanship of stealing votes and waging war that shows you have power, m7 use your btrains.

M7 is a typical example of what the Baganda call omukopi w’empisa, he thinks everything has to voted on, and when it comes to him, he has to dodge the vote and use dubious means to steal it, then the Sovereighn God and the devil should stand for elections, and guess what the devil will win since he has many people who think like m7, the majority in the world support the devil and his temporary gifts/powers that he has lent to many like m7 himself. And therefore Heaven will be taken over by the devil as Uganda is today.

If the people reject the idea of voting on the Kabaka then m7 will move the motion that muhoozi becomes president without elections too, since he thinks in his madness that he is a King of some sort, a sabagabe since he restored kingdoms in Uganda, his urgument is unintellectual that since he allowed this people the Kingships, then what is his title? isnt it sabagabe?, and why should he be subjected to elections when other people are not, like all the Kings we have in Uganda and elsewhere like england,

This is not ekanya land of comics mr., the reflection of all this check it out m7 has the greatest number of relatives in govt since independence in Uganda and most of them come from his wife’s side that he had never met before until he became the master rigger of the vote, so where are those from his side if they are not from a neighboring country?

Mayiko Makula

Kampala,Uganda

Agood Muganda is a dead one-Obote

A good Muganda is a dead one – Milton Obote?
By Timothy Kalyegira
The above statement will go down in Ugandan history as the most controversial and offensive ever made. Did the later former president Milton Obote ever make such a statement? If so where? If not, who did? The answer will surprise many Ugandans.

In this special report, never-before-published detail and analysis are presented into the origins of the most notorious statement in Ugandan history.

The statement, “A good Muganda is a dead one”, further stirred up great anger toward Obote among the Baganda and was a factor in rallying armed Baganda opposition to the second UPC government after 1980.

Obote consistently denied ever uttering or writing that statement. UPC officials have at various times issued challenges for anybody to provide proof that Obote made the statement and if so, where he might have made it.

Already Obote was a much-resented national figure in Buganda following the stand-off between the central government and the Buganda kingdom in May 1966.

After being overthrown in a military coup by the former army commander Major-General Idi Amin in January 1971, Obote re-located to Tanzania where he remained active in the anti-Amin exile struggle.

Several attempts, all foiled, were made to overthrow Amin’s regime. On February 5, 1977, state security agents arrived at the Kampala home of the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Janani Luwum.

They were there, to search for a cache of weapons that had reportedly been delivered to Luwum by Ugandan exiles in Tanzania as part of a coup that was to take place on January 25, 1977.

Contained in one of those crates of assault weapons and ammunition was a 25-page document titled Obote’s War Call to Langis and Acholis.

This document outlined the justification for an armed uprising against the Amin regime. When the government discovered it, hidden among the weapons, a public rally was called at the Nile Mansions Hotel in Kampala.

Religious leaders, foreign diplomats, senior government officials, military and intelligence officers and rank-and-file soldiers were summoned to witness the occasion. On that day, February 14, 1977, a number of Ugandans implicated in the alleged plot were made to read statements about their role in the coup that was to have taken place on January 25.

The document was reproduced almost in its entirety in the February 17, 1977 of the government-owned newspaper, the Voice of Uganda. It was in this document that the statement, “A good Muganda is a dead one”, first appeared and was first heard and then read by the Ugandan public.

The statement reads in part:

“Actually, the very fact that this memorandum will be handed to our trusted contact compatriots and discussed, though very carefully, with representatives of the enslaved masses is a most crucial proof that there is a desire and will amongst some people of Uganda to rise up one day in order to throw off the shackles of death and destruction which now bind them.

That desire and will constitute the strongest weapon against the regime. It follows, therefore, that all planning, organisation, and choice of what can and must be done in that name of Uganda, must have roots in the source of that desire and will. That source is the masses.

We must sway the masses away from the regime. For our plans to succeed we must use the masses and only get rid of them afterwards. We must hypnotise the masses so that they follow what we want. They must believe that they are oppressed; they must believe that they are deprived.

But once we have managed to sway the masses from the regime we can take care of the elite. It must be realised that the regime gains its momentum from masses. Any scheme based on the wishes of the masses has a far better chance of succeeding in overthrowing the regime following it with decency and respect for human lives, prosperity and food [sic, good] administration.

The masses are easy to deceive and they are easy to satisfy. We must not appear to be opportunistic and selfish. We must pretend not to be sectional and divisive.

Of course it is important to remove some faces from the present regime but this may not change the nature of rule which Uganda has experienced since January 1971.

Unfortunately, extensive killings have to be carefully planned. Fortunately, we have learnt by the mistakes of Amin. Removing Amin alone altogether with a few faces will not be enough. It is, however, necessary to plan so thoroughly that mass massacre must take place during the period of confusion while executing the plan.

Let us accept, the world knows that the regime has gained a political momentum of its own and it is essential that we at least should identify important elements in that momentum and then examine what resources we have and which we can use in order to remove the regime from circulation…
…On the face of it, the regime we are now considering seems to be a one man show. It is this element of the regime which many of our compatriots have constantly misread since 1971.

Soon after the coup in 1971, some opportunists among whom were Democratic Party and Kabaka Yekka, who lent their support for the regime were lured by being made minister or judges and ambassadors, into being the greatest mouthpieces of the regime.

It is now common knowledge that those opportunists, including some hopeless Langis and Acholis, saw the regime as a one man band which lead [sic, led] them to falsely think thay they would or could manoeuvre things in such a way as to replace Amin.

Nothing happened because these opportunists disregarded the fact that Amin at that time was a stooge of foreign powers particularly Israel. The more these people made statements denying extensive and rampant killings of Ugandans, the more happy were the foreign masters who actually devised the means of the killings and who carried out almost all the killings themselves…It is doubtful that Amin without the urging of the Israelis, DP and Kabaka Yekka would have staged a successful coup in 1971.

In a way it was our mistake because in 1970 the UPC government, through Akena Adoko, who had thoroughly confused the Muslims through NAAM, had made a plan to lure the Muslim money by pretending that Israel’s technical (personnel) aid to Uganda had to end.

Because we wanted the plan to be fool-proof, even the Israelis were not briefed. So they were given [not given] notice. The Israelis mistakenly interpreted this to mean a pro-Arab move. God forbid it was not…During the same period (1974 and 1975)…the policy of low profile succeeded and some of its successes can be cited here:
(a) It made the regime of Idi Amin in particular and our detratctors to regard us as a spent force. Accordingly, less and less was broadcast about us by Radio Uganda during the period. We, however, know that Amin is still very much aware of our existence. However, for him to keep shouting about us as he used to do in 1971 to 1973 he knows only serves our purposes and weakens his stronghold [sic, stranglehold] on Uganda and the very stronghold [stranglehold] on the armed forces…
…(b) The more the army and other supporters of the regime turn their attention away from us, the more it has been possible for leaders of our movement, activists, contacts and agents (both in the Northern region and other parts of the country) to strengthen and mobilize our movement and forces unlike in 1973 when much of our efforts were concentrated on gathering information, the past two years have witnessed considerable and positive work in creating an atmosphere of confusion, uncertainty and instability in the country and recruitment of a striking force.
(c) Because little attention was being paid to our activities, leaders of our movement including our headquarters personnel made useful and frequent contacts with one another. It was as a result of these contacts that views as to what can and should be done were discussed and assessed and assignments were given for additional work which would ensure the success of any operation to be undertaken by us.
(d) The low profile policy enabled our movement to throw off opportunists and other undesirable tribes who had by various means of deceit got into our movement and then sought to destroy the external wing of the movement as well as confuse the internal wing. These people I have indicated as being the Baganda and Basoga, the lazy westerners and it is true to state here that one of the true Ugandans in his book these days said that a good Muganda is a dead one and this statement is further confirmed during our low profile policy.

However, these opportunists and tribalists will be rid of by the law of elimination. This law is the governing element in the successful execution of our movement from the very start up to the end because it is these tribes that uncovered our underground and secret activities in 1972 unsuccessful attempt.”

Analysis

That line in section (d) of the narration in this document “Obote’s War Call to Langis and Acholis” is the first time the statement “A good Muganda is a dead one” ever appeared in print. In no other book was that statement ever written, even though this document appears to vaguely quote one such book.

Several clues to the author of the document are contained in it.

First, its title and the fact that it was included in one of the crates containing arms to overthrow Amin’s military government, suggests that Obote was part of the coup plot.

If so, it should strike the reader as odd that Obote would plan a coup and include his names in third person in the title of a document outlining his goals.

It would be strange, too, that Obote, a Lango by tribe, would describe his own tribesmen as Langis and their close relatives as “Acholis”, when the plural for a Lango is “Langi” and that of the people from Acholi as “Acholi.” (Some argue that a single person from Lango is a “Langi” as are several, “Langi”)

However, under no circumstances are there such descriptive terms as “Langis” or “Acholis”, which would be akin to saying “Bagandas” or “milks”.

Obote, born in Akokoro village in Lango, certainly would know that and would not have authorised a publication bearing such obviously erroneous grammer.

Secondly, the text itself does not read like Obote; it is not his writing style, does not reflect his political philosophy, and method of operation.

Obote, typically, wrote soaring articles and letters, always rhetorical and usually filled with questions directed at the reader, trying to engage the reader in debate and reflection.

If there was a moment that Obote would have needed to communicate effectively in arousing the Acholi and Langi to rise up against Amin, it surely would have been in this detailed 25-page document. His passion, his style, his beliefs, all would have come out most clearly. The author of this document, unlike Obote, discusses but his or her tone is one of lecturing the reader.

The error in describing the two tribesmen as “Langis” and “Acholis” rather than “Langi” and “Acholi” and yet makes no such error in describing the Baganda and Basoga, indicates that whoever authored that document was not from the northern part of Uganda but from among the southern Bantu tribes.

Also, the document recounts previous experiences, quoting dates, methods of work, setbacks and successes, writes with a good knowledge of the role the Israelis played in Uganda prior to the 1971 coup, and has a sense of strategy and perspective.

Therefore, the author of the document, at least as it is written, is clearly steeped in 1) the military 2) intelligence or has a good grasp of covert intelligence work 3) has a strong sense of history.

(Compare the contrasting writing styles in this document and that of Obote in his 1990 work Notes on concealment of genocide in Uganda at the UPC website upcparty.net)

Obote was also well-known to be a Ugandan nationalist. His political support was drawn from all corners of the country. Upon his return from exile in May 1980, he landed in Mbarara and drove on to Bushenyi, both places in Ankole in western Uganda.

His first cabinet in 1962 had ministers from all regions of Uganda. He believed to the end that the UPC was a popular government in all parts of Uganda and so were he to stage a coup against Amin, he would characteristically have appealed for support from “the people of Uganda” (a favourite expression of his.)

To appeal to only his tribesmen and their neighbours the Acholi, when he believed that most Ugandans were suffering under Amin, would have been untypical of Obote. Besides, even if he departed this once from his broad appeal to Ugandans, knowing or believing that the Acholi and Langi were Amin’s prime target for arrest or massacre, he would certainly not draw attention to them by publishing an appeal to them in this document.

Then too, Obote believed in his party, the Uganda People’s Congress or UPC. No major speech or document by Obote would have been complete without mention of the UPC and its achievements. The “Congress” was at the centre of Obote’s lexicon.

It is an odd document, therefore, that Obote would have written at such a momentous time as an impending coup without him once mentioning to the UPC members and branches all over Uganda to rise up against Amin and instead restrict himself to tribes.

After all, if Obote planned as risky a venture as a coup, why limit his appeal to the Acholi and Langi and not get all the support he could from as many supporters as he believed he had who were in large numbers in all tribes of Uganda with only the exception of the Baganda?

Finally and most revealing of all, seven times in the excerpt of the document so far, the author describes his or their organisation as “the movement”, never as the Congress as would be expected of Obote.

Was this Milton Obote? Or was it an impersonator assuming Obote’s identity? Why would Obote so consistently in this 1977 document make reference to “the movement” when his natural tendency was to say “the Congress”? And why would he explicitly call upon the Acholi and Langi to join him in rising against Amin but not once refer to the UPC in the document?

And which political leader in Ugandan history has been more inclined than any other to refer to his organisation as a “movement”? Which political party in Uganda alone came to bear a name that contains “movement” in it?

Toward the end, the document mentions Otema Allimadi as belonging to the Nairobi group (along with Yusufu Lule, Dr Aliker, Wilson Lutara, John Kazzora, Mr Ofwono of Foreign Affairs, ex-police officer Okot-Okullo “now renting a house in Ntinda area”, Apollo Lawoko, and John Olobo (or spelt correctly as Lalobo).

The document added that the Dar es Salaam group had a “training ground in Tabora. It is led by Obote whom they have chosen to be the president in case they successfully invade Uganda. The leading military personalities with them are Tito, Oyite Ojok and Nyero. This group draws its moral and financial support from Tanzania and Zambia. They purchase their arms at a subsidized rate from China under the cover of the Tanzanian government.
Activities: So far has on its record one activity against Uganda — that is the invasion of Uganda of 1972 was a Dar es Salaam group action. However, this group is not popular both internationally and locally. They are poorly financed and badly organised.”

At this point, it should be clear that this was not Milton Obote at all. How else can the inconsistencies in the document be explained?

With Obote planning a coup against Amin and trying to marshal support from the Acholi and Langi, would he in the same document he had authored criticise his own organisation, Kikosi Maluum based in Tanzania, describe his own organisation as “not popular both internationally and locally…poorly financed and badly organised”?

Taking all the parts together — the intimate knowledge of intelligence methods and covert action by the author of the 25-page document, the lecturing, condescending tone, the reference several times to a “movement”, the misstating the words “Langis” and “Acholis” and therefore betraying non-Nilotic origins of the author, the constant use of the Marxist term, “the masses”, the use of a familiar expression “it is true…”, the tendency to describe operational and future plans in detail — all offer compelling proof of who really wrote that 1977 document Obote’s War Call to Langis and Acholis.

It should further shed light on the arms that arrived in Uganda in January 1977, implicated Janani Luwum, and the document that cemented the hatred that millions of Baganda feel for Obote to this day. 

 

http://www.ugandarecord.co.ug/index.php?

Demonstrations at UN headquaters

COME ONE, COME ALL TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR KING AND OUR CULTURE, TO DENOUNCE MUSEVENI’S DICTATORSHIP OF UGANDA

WHEN: Wednesday September 23, 2009
TIME: 11.00am-3.00pm
WHERE: 1st Avenue and 47th Street
ASSEMBLE: Corner of 3rd Avenue and 47th Street at 11.00am, from there we will proceed to 1st Avenue under police escort – Be on time
If late approach 1st Avenue by walking along the NORTH sidewalk of 47th street from 3rd Av. to 1st Avenue towards GM position
BUSES: To park between 47th and 51st Street along 3rd Avenue  -  Drivers to stay with buses at all times
MARKINGS: Buses to have GGWANGA MUJJE PLACARDS OR MARKINGS IN order to park on 3rd Av.
NOT ALLOWED BY POLICE: Powered Loudspeakers, Sticks for posters (all posters to be worn)
DRESS CODE: Preferably Traditional garb preferred, i.e. Busuuti, Kanzu, Lubugo ~ bimyu, hats, etc
WHAT TO BRING: Placards & banners with huge writings
OTHER NECESSITIES:
1. Water
2. Flags of USA, Buganda & Uganda (a few Buganda hand flags will be available for sale on 1st come 1st served basis). USA flags avaialable at Home Depot, etc
3. Drums, ndege, whistles (your local sports store), bullhorns (available at most equipment rental places), any noise makers
4. Donation to contribute to fund of mabugo/mataaba for the dead, and for the injured, etc
5. Buganda national anthem — download at www.buganda.com
You may contact Buganda Kingdom directly via her official website: www.buganda.or.ug/

MORE POSTER WRITE-UPS

TO THE UN
WHO IS THE BIGGEST PURVEYOR OF GENOCIDE IN AFRICA?
MUSEVENI OF FAR  – EXPEL FROM SECURITY COUNCIL

BAGANDA WILL NOT TOLERATE THE CONFISCATION OF THEIR LAND BY MUSEVENI UNDER THE GUISE OF LAW

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL BUGERERE IS PART BUGANDA – PERIOD
MUSEVENI BACK OFF

MUSEVENI HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR 23 YEARS YET UGANDA PRODUCES NOTHING OF VALUE 60% OF ITS BUDGET IS EXTERNALLY SUPPORTED
TIME FOR MUSEVENI TO GO

TO THE WEST
IN ORDER TO AVOID A RWANDA TYPE GENOCIDE IN UGANDA
MUSEVENI MUST GO

THE UN EXPEL UGANDA FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL
MUSEVENI IS THE BIGGEST SECURITY THREAT IN CENTRAL AFRICA

TO THE WEST
WHAT HAPPENED IN KENYA IS NOTHING TO WHAT IS LIKELY
TO HAPPEN IN UGANDA.  STOP IT BEFORE IT IS TO LATE
KICK YOUR SURROGATE, MUSEVENI OUT

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MUGABE & MUSEVENI?  Nothing.
Both came to power by the gun
Both rule by the gun
Both preside over military dictatorship
Both changed their constitution in order to stay in power
Both have been in power for over 23 years
Both are land grabbers
Both are very, very, very, very……. Nepotic
Both are the most corrupt regimes in Africa
Britain was stupid enough to grant both CHOGM

IT IS TIME FOR THE WEST TO TREAT MUSEVENI AS MUGABE, Both are rubbish

Who are the cultural leaders of Bugerere and Buluuri

The cultural leader of Bugerere is Omutaka Namuyonjo. A son of Omukama Wunyi l from Kibulala in Singo. Pricess Nang’oma , the cultural leader of Buluuli, is a daughter of Omukama Wunyi l of Kibulala in Singo. Those are the cultural leaders worth their names. But this alliws of yours Mr. Mirima are bakopi ( commoners) not royals (Babiito or Balangira). If Kimeze and Mwogezi Butamanya, want leadership, let them stand for elective political offices, or let them become clerics, or let them become very rich, or let they become grow too old, or let they be elected Katikkiros of Nangg’oma and Namuyonjo.

The offices of Princess Nang’oma or Nyangoma and Namuyonjo or Nyamuyonjo, are hereditary, and the Omukama does not have powers to sack incumbents or abolish them.

Secondly, the office of Nang’oma is no longer under Omukama of Bunyoro but under the Kabaka of Buganda after Buluuli (Southern Buluulu) fell from Bunyoro to Buganda in the second half of the 19th century. However Omukama may install a Nyangoma of North Buluuli now in Masindi District. As for Namuyonjo, the office is under Kabaka of Buganda after North Bugerere fell to Buganda and even in recent years, the late Sir Edward Muteesa ll have one sq.maile Mailo Estate to the family at Galiraaya. Both discendents of Namuyonjo and Nang’oma gather annually at Kibulala in Singo, for the annual gathering of all decedents of Winyi. Many come from Buddu, other parts of Singo, Busujju, Butambala, Bugerere, even Bulemeezi. They are led by a ssaababiito b’e Kibulala, who is answerable to Ssaabalangira of Buganda and Kabaka of Buganda. They are different from Babiito of Kooki who also have their own Ssaababiito. There are also Ababiito b’e Sanje, one branch in Kiziba, Tanzania, where Princess Maria Lubega Mutagamba belongs. There are also Abamooli of Bwera now Mawogola who are affiliated to Ngabo clan. The Bunyoro Babiito (even Kooki Babiito) have Ngabi as their totems.

So while Bunyoro-Kitara  is the cradle of centralized states in the Great lakes Region , other powerful kingdoms like Buganda emerged and cut that umbilical code. However we should all be proud of the Great Lakes region’s linkages. But Omukama should not interfere in buganda affairs so is vice versa.

---

Ahmed Katerega

The cultural institutions of Buruuli and Bunyalaget their cultural powers from Ababiito royals

My Brother Ahamedi Kateregga;

The cultural institutions of Buruuli and Bunyala you talk about get their cultural powers from the cultural leader of all Ababiito royals in Uganda, the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, who today is Solomon Gafaabusa Iguru.

I have in the past given you documents showing how the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara has the cultural responsibility, from God, of appointing these people. I even sent you a document the Omukama issued on October 1, 2008 when the Isaabaruuli and Isaabanyala went to Hoima Palace to declare their discovery of their ancestral origins and to get cultural blessings from the only source of culture in Uganda kings, the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara.

Briefly, the cultural posts of Buruuli bwa Nyangoma, now Isaabaruuli and Isaabanyala, are not hereditary. They are either created or maintained at the will of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara.

Get this very clearly, no person can become cultural leader in Buruuli and Bunyala unless he/she has got the cultural blessings from the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara. Hence, Mwogezi Butamanya Isaabarongo Mubwijwa, and Capt Becka Kimeze Byarufu, transported their entire cultural leadership in October 2008,and went to Bunyoro-Kitara to get these cultural blessings. And they were blessed in front of the Uganda press. I will give a vedeo recording of this ceremony if you desire it.

The Nyamuyono you are talking about, is supposed to be the heir to Omubiito Nyamuyonjo who in 1894 rebelled against Omukama Kabaleega and was stripped of his office.  Hence the present heir you are talking about does not have cultural authority from the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara.

Indeed, in 2002 I introduced the topic of forgiving Nyamuyonjo by the Omukama. He kept quiet and later told me the royals were still considering my request. Unfortunately the then Nyamuyonjo, Fenekansi, died of old age two years ago before the Omukama lifted the ban on him. So Fenekansi’s heir cannot today claim cultural powers you are trying to givehim

I am still in the USA for another two months. When I return to Uganda I will give you those documents to remind you how the cultural posts of Buruuli and Bunyala are created and maintained.

You want to be recognized as an authority on Bunyoro-Buganda culture. You will never achieve that feat as long as you do not adhere to true culture.

You suggest that the cultural powers to appoint Buruuli bwa Nyangoma, and powers of Nyamuyonjo, recognition of Buruuli and Bunyala cutural leaders, have shifted from Bunyoro to Buganda.  No, that cannot happen. Because these things are inherited from the days of the Abacwezi up to today. The line has not been broken as you it to be .

That is why a prince of Buganda can never become kabaka until he has gone, physically, to his ancestors in Bunyoro-Kitara to get those blessings from the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara.

I can see you trying to ask me whether Kabaka Ronld Muwenda Mutebi went to Hoima before he was crowned Kabaka of Buganda. I advise you to ask Ssabsajja himself.  He will give you an answer.

That is why Princess Nsungwa now residing  in Kawempe, when she wanted to be Buruuli bwa Nyangoma in 2002, she asked me to  introduce her to the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara. I did my part and brought up the topic to the Omukama. But he delined to appoint her because she had earlier on aligned herself with Buganda royals who, abusively, claimed they taken away Omukama’s powers.

When the Baruuli learned that the Omukama had refused to annoint Nsungwa, they also refused to recognse her. Hence the adoption of a new type of cultural leadership, that of Isaabaruuli, which the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara recognised. This recognition was confirmed when the Isaabauruuli and Isaabanyala went to Hoima in 2008 to receive these cultural powers.

You are now ignorantly accusing the Omukama of interefering into the internaal affairs of Buganda.  No. These cultural affairs are not transferred just like that.

Mwogezi Butamanya and Capt. Becka Kimeze Byarufu, know better than you Baganda that the source of cultural power is in Hoima and thats why they went there to get it.

However, the Kabaka as Ssabataka in Buganda had powers to change the Nnaku culture when it was announced that the Nnaku young girl will never see another man in her life. FIDA stepped in, made representation to him, and he changed that ritual. Now that girl can see another man after Kabaka Mutebi adjusted the ritual

Herry Ford Miirima

Press Secretary of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara

UAH forumist

Engabo Emmooli is one of the clans in Buganda

Engabo Emmooli is one of the clans in Buganda. It is the ruling dynasity of Bwera now Mawogola. It broke away from Bunyoro’s Babiito. It was integrated in the Ngabi clan of Baganda. Its leasder was one of the kabka’s loyal chiefs that got Mailo under 1900. The Bannawera, his subjects, native of Mawogola are integrated in Buganda. However Muntu , their cultural leader compailns that Mmengo ignores him. l had ever advised Katikkiro Joesph Mulwanyyamuli and even J.B. Walusiombi and Owek.Kabuuza Mukasa but they did not take my advice. The worse t is this Local Government minister of mengo, who dropped Kalibbala, a Munnabwera, a Sza Chief and replaced him with Peter Kuwatanya, a business man.

Next week, Bukedde will come out with all the details about Engabo Emmooli, Abannabwera, who are different from Abalondoganyi, the natives of North Bugerere or Baale. l disagree with Baingana on some issues.

in Saturday Bukedde of today, one Baingana, a trade unionist, in collaboration with former security minister, Muluuli Mukasa, is claiming that the Kabaka can not visit Mubende on October 8th, unless he is permitted by a Ssaabamooli.

Fortunately, l come from Mawogola where my great grandfater aqcuired a Mailo and was a chief until he died in 1939. He married from the Bamooli royalists and they are therefore my step relatives. l am one of a few people that are very close to Omutaka Muntu Frank Museveni the head of Abengabo Emmooli clan and cultural leader of Bannabwera, the natives of Mawogola. But baingana claims that Bamooli ( a dynasity that broke away from Ababiito of Bunyoro) inhabits the entire cattle corridor and that they want to install a Ssaamoli. Baingana seems to want to be installed so, if not, may be Muluuli mukasa.

The true Muntu (the tittle for the head of Abengabi Emooli clan and culytural leader of Bannawera) is Frank Museveni. He njoys his mailo estates his grandfather got in 1900 as one of the Kabaka’s loyal subjects. He grew up in the Kabaka’s palace. However Mmengo has neglected him despite his numerous compaints. The Kabaka has visited Mawogola several times, but he has never given him a vist or inviting him.

Anti baabo: Ssaabamori avuddeyo

People, Dear Countrymen,

Executive Summary: This post has 10 ‘bullets’ on 4XA4 page equivalents inline after the ‘summary’.

(a). I must admit that since some of my ‘macabre predictions’ made a few years back came to pass [e.g. future closure of CBS] and after the actualisation of “state terrorism” in the wake of the Bugerere debacle, I imposed a 40-day mourning period and a ‘network’ embargo on my self but when it comes to another ‘mushroom’ coming up on Buganda soil, I have broken the self-imposed ban to shed light on the ‘chief-advocate’ of the so-called “Abamoori” movement, who now claim the “cattle corridor {savanna grassland}” from Northern Burundi via Karagwe in northern Tanzania/Mutala plains in northen Rwanda, to Nyabushozi in Ankole, Sembabule in Buganda to Bululi in Buganda/Bunyoro to Kyoga in Apach, on to Kaberamaido then to north Teso and Southern Karamoja –  hoping  they won’t claim Masai-Mara in Tanzania or other grazing plains in E. Africa. Masisi area in Eastern Zaire is already theirs.

(b) This post, besides shedding light on who Mr. Baingana Emmanuel is/could be and while he may actually be a man with the “master’s voice”, should/will provoke the mind of the ‘forumist’ into realizing what, in his mind, Mr. Museveni is actually up-to. It helps people understand that M7 is not just a “nostalgist” [a term Pro. Mazrui uses in his Monitor of Saturday 26^th] but in fact a man with a grand plan to resurrect and spread what he believes [wrongly, in my view] to be a ‘dynasty’ threading from the Pharaoh’s of Egypt to the Chwezi…to “Kaguta lineage” just established. The Kagame’s and the Banyamulenge are just links in a long chain. Ugandans may justifiably be awed. Uganda today may just be a ‘fertile womb’ that “God put in place” to fulfill a certain agenda, at least a la Museveni, in which case, Buganda is a nuisance on this long ‘missionary-journey’, a nuisance that must either conform or disappear.

(c) Emmanuel Baingana could not have talked thus, unless, like Kimeze of Bunyala in north Bugerere, he was given a nod. So, who is this Baingana that has become a ‘pawn’ in this grand design? Why does he address his claims to Mmengo, not to Hoima?

1. Emmanuel Baingana first appears as a ‘noisy’ student in the early 1960’s at St. Andrew’s SSS Bukuumi [in Kakumiro town], at the south-eastern edge of current Kibaale district, near the border with Mubende district. He school is of the “Brothers of Christian Instruction” foundation and management, like SMACK (St. Mary’s College, Kisubi) St. Henry’s, Kitovu in Masaka, St. Paul’s SSS Mutolere in Kisoro, etc]

2. Though he was good at history and was good at English debate, he did not make the grade(s) for an HSC scholarship as was the norm then.

3. After engagements here and there, he gravitated to “trade unionism” and was a self-declared socialist, like the activists of his age in the late 60’s/early 70’s. He really hated kingdoms and any semblance of “order/governance”.

4. Since he was not in formal employment and could therefore not be unionized [belong to a union], he ended up being appointed the “Education Secretary” of the then POSTAL Union [That catered for the workers of the then East African Posts and telecommunications Corporation in Uganda  Region] (This, together with the Railway union, were once Uganda’s most feared workers bodies. During the Obote-Lutwa transition in 1985, Mr. Baingana is among those union leaders that were incase rated for disrupting vital communication, during the ‘Nairobi peace’ talks).

5. And mobelise, he could man. He wrote many articles and published magazines for now so called “Communication Union” and soon became the “god father” during Worker-MP elections [he is, up to now, no a union member per say, since he has never ‘worked’ and so cannot become a Workers’ MP]. He got labour education from, at first, Trade Union/labour centres in Eastern Europe before the collapse of European communism] and later, up to today, from the Scandinavia labour centres. He never misses any ILO [International labour Organization – in Geneva] seminar in Uganda and in the region. He is a formidable mobeliser, therefore.

6. Effect of privatization: With the disentanglement of the powerful post and telecom industry and the collapse of communism, the labour/Union movement in Uganda, like else where has either been weakened nr is non-existent. However, there is a catch here too. The Communication Workers union and NOTU [at national level] have lost membership but have in fact never been wound down legally. So, the secretariat that Mr. Baingana mans is still in existence and still enjoys the benefits of securing contributions from Social-democratic unions and parties from Europe, is able to benefit from ILO allocations for ‘worker education, etc, and most important, remains a “king maker” in Ugandan labour matters. Of late, he has been the vanguard of the “anti-Lyomoki” crusade [for those who may not be updated, NOTU, founded in the 1960’s under UPTC has been active mainly in the semi-skilled and ‘hard labour’ groups in the Tea/sugar industry, building industries, road works, etc]. With the opening of Unionism t the ‘educated classes [University lecturers, and teachers, doctors, engineers, etc], and with the possibility of one becoming an MP plus possibility of sitting ob the boards of bodies like the NSSF, some saw the NOTU leadership and ‘backward’ and formed their own trade-union centre, CFTU-The confederation of Free Trade Unions [which, by cold-war standards would be western-leaning].It is this liberalisation of the Workers movement in Uganda that has made Baingana, a sort of ‘socialist-turned-conservative” in these matters, very prominent, especially when he took an openly NRM stand, even when the workers’ interest became compromised.

7. Where this reduction in the levels of worker’s membership in the Communications union and therefore in NOTU [described above in (6), leave the union leaders of moribund/pseudo-labour organizations [call them paper unions) leaves the likes of Baingana. VERY interesting indeed but the following is obvious:

a. These unions have no members and therefore have reduced or no members contributions to depend on. The leaders therefore depend of ‘foreign solidarity’ donations.

b. Since membership is down this means these leaders have no one to give accountability to, as there are no elections held. They are now personal/elitist organizations.

c. That they have no members means that the PROPERTIES OF THESE [former] WORKERS’ BODIES are now possibly in the leaders’ own names. The Postal union is said to have lost its training complex in Mbarara and another building in Mbale. The cooperative wing lost property in Mityana. The title-deeds of their office blocks/houses in old Kampala’s “Delhi Gardens”, where Baingana sits cannot be traced.

d. Un-Employed? Finally, the weathering away of the UNION activities, at least in the case of Mr. Emmanuel Baingana, leads them to gravitate to other areas of activity, to earn a leaving OR, MAY BE, the ship has sank and these ‘activists’ are abandoning ship. [Watch this page – should the Ministry of labour interest itself in the audits if these unions].

8. FINALLY: Is Baingana domiciled in Buganda? Baingana, like any citizen of Uganda with activities in Kampala lives in Kampala. But, does he have a right to lodge claims for throne-recognition with Mmengo?  Well, the answer is NO and the reason is given bellow.

a. While is not known as to where Mr. Baingana originates from, the fact is that he is domiciled in the KIGUMBA area of Masindi District, Bunyoro Kitara kingdom is an established fact. That is where he and his family have been known to live for the last 40-50 or so years. He has a home there and his herds are there.  So, any claims for recognition this man has [as an individual] should really be addressed to the KAUZIIKA, at Hoima, not to the TWEKOBE a Mmengo.

b. May be, one should not personalize Baingana’s claims since he claims to represent the “cattle corridor “ people. Since this corridor meanders all over east and central Africa and they claim it is theirs’ [on whatever basis?], the claims for recognition should not only be lodged with Mmengo but also with the “Omukama” (King) of Bunyoro,  with Papa Osuban {Emumur} of Teso, the Ankole District councils /Principality,  (of John Barigye), with Kaberamaido district council and even, with Amulatar and Apach district councils.

9. Buganda target: unless the above [in 8(b) above happens], the thought on the back of the minds of many that this new creation is another tool in the anti-Gganda crusade will not go away. You heard the “master’s voice clearly the other day in Parliament, “..Those promoting chauvinism..Will be dealt with..” or something near that. So, fight against chauvinism should start with Capt. Kimeze and Emmanuel Baingana [plus his boss, the quite Museveni Muntu, mbu {one hears}].

10. CONCLUSION: instead of the country’s efforts and resources being wasted on ‘revanchism and nostalgic machinations’, only based on hunger for revenge and revisionism, let everyone engage in what may propel the so called ‘nation’ forward for even he exploiter, needs a stable environment to secure his loot, unless this is already in Geneva. And, Baingana will not be the last. Yesterday it was Butamanya in Bululi, then Capt. Kimeze, today it is Baingana all the way from Kigumba, tomorrow it may be a ‘pure Muganda’, may be a Bukenya, wanting to tear Buganda apart because, as Mirundi put it on BEAT Fm radio on 17^th Sept. 09, “what matters/will matter in Buganda.. ..is money”. And M7 and his tools are not short of this.

Christopher Muwanga,

Nakasero, Kampala.

Baganda say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

Baganda say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

As committed Baganda we say ‘NO’ to Kabaka and Museveni meeting.  This is the wrong time, the wrong place and under the wrong circumstances for the 2 men to meet.

If this meeting goes ahead, then it will be a major victory for the forces oppression in Uganda and occupation in Buganda.  A meeting of this magnitude at this time will only strengthen the State, confirm the occupation of Buganda and look like a slap in the face for those who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of Buganda.  Funerals of Baganda shot dead by the occupying forces are still taking place in Buganda.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

Since the crisis began over 2 weeks ago, 21 unarmed Baganda have been gunned down by government security forces, hundreds are still in prison and the crackdown in Buganda is still continuing with thousands being abducted at night and taken to secret jails.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

Many of the arrested are being charged with politically motivated terrorism charges.  Kampala area MP Erias Lukwago has been arrested and is facing terrorism charges.  Betty Nambozze, the DP Spokesperson and Chairperson of Buganda’s Central Civic Education Committee are facing arrest.  The Kingdoms’s Spokesman Medard Lubega has been arrested and is facing terrorism charges.  And the President is not done yet; he has promised a “merciless” police response of more killings of people fighting for their rights.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

The Kabaka himself might be lucky to get to Entebbe before another King, with the support of the President, announces their presence somewhere in Buganda and seeks independence from Mengo.  This scheme of creating fiefdoms within Bugnada is a master plan to destroy Buganda by the President.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

Buganda is owed sh.10 billion from rent arrears owed for government use of her properties.  Government has refused to publish the list of people occupying Buganda’s 9000 sq. Miles (Akenda) and is not showing any intention to give back this land to Buganda Land Board.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

The President has made it clear that he will not discuss Federalism as a system of government for Bugnada and Uganda.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

The Land and Kampala Bills which will take away land from Baganda are before parliament with the President promising more legislation to curb the authority of the Kabaka.

With rumours of a ‘witchcraft plot to transfer power from the Kabaka to Museveni, this meeting could be a trap and the setting for the end of Buganda as we know. Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

We are determined to ensure that there will never be a meeting between the President and the Kabaka as long as there’s no good intention from the President and as long as our demands have not been made.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

Besides, such a meeting will be disappointing to a majority of NONE Baganda who want the hugely populated Buganda to stand up to the Ugandan President.  Buganda needs allies but this meeting, given the prevailing circumstances will not create any.  In fact it will create many more enemies from the rest of Uganda.  Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

To secure this meeting, the president does need to first meet the Kabaka, he simply has to put right what he has failed to do over the last 23 years.  The ghosts of Luwero also Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

The Kabaka should not be forced into meetings that are not in the interest of the ordinary people of Buganda.  We are the ordinary people of Buganda and we are saying:  ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting – Until all our demands are met including our return of our land.

Please forward this message to your friends and text this message below:

Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting until all Buganda’s demands are met”.

We must stand by our demands even if CBS remains closed indefinitely, the Kingdom is fully conquered and the Kabaka forced into exile.

Please add your comments as reply to this email in time so this petition is forwarded to the Kabaka by 6pm Uganda time on Tues.  29^th Sept, 2009.  We want 100 pages of your views.

Thank you and: “Say ‘NO’ to Kabaka / Museveni meeting.

LOUD, LOUDER  NO, NO, No, No, No, Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ffe Abaganda.

Yes,Kabaka shouldn’t meet Museveni

I agree with Michael Senyonjo that Kabaka should not meet Kaguta. Our Kabaka was blindly convinced to join the war in Luwero which NRA was loosing. Kabaka mobilized the rest of Baganda to increase their support for that war efforts. Had support drifted to any other fighting group, say UFM, again victory would have gone to that other group – not NRA.

However, since NRM came to power, how many prominent Baganda have been killed in mysterious circumstances? Did the restoration of the Kingdom came on a silver plate? Even to allow playing “Bika” football tournament was a tug of war!

Whoever wanted to set up FM radio stations did it easily but was it easy for Buganda? Schools have been burnt with no proper investigations being carried out to compensate the loss of lives and properties.

It is only Buganda in the whole of Uganda which is begging for its future existence. The Government is increasingly embarked on clandestine sinister plans to destroy Buganda. Which other region is threatened like Buganda?  Which other areas are threatened by “ssabamoris”?

For 23years Buganda is engaged in negotiations with the Govt. but what has it achieved? All the time is only harvesting hatred and isolation from the rest of the country. It is always seen as an opportunistic region which craves for a special status. It is only now that Buganda is extracting itself from the isolation that the Govt. wants to negotiation with the Kabaka badly!

The list of suspicions for Buganda goes on endlessly under the current NRM regime. The more the Kabaka negotiate with Museveni the more Buganda endures the suffering and sets the failures to achieve its goals to benefit Buganda and Uganda in general. I believe it will be unwise for our Kabaka to enter into such negotiations with Museveni without negotiators from other regions accompanying him.

Obote isolated Buganda by rigging DP votes outside Buganda and succeeded!! Museveni has done it in different ways for 23 years! Baganda are living in constant suspicion of NRM’s sinister plans against them. Every prominent Muganda is being keenly watched through that strategy. They are all being kept in a careful check.

If such a meeting is to take place with Museveni, other regions must be incorporated. Our Kabaka should stay away from that meeting.   Museveni is the one fomenting the creation of such a funny special status for Buganda. We should avoid to be accorded such a status.

Should such a meeting take place; people should anticipate a catastrophe to befall on Buganda. Buganda must stand with other regions if we are to a achieve sanity.

RONALD SENYONJO

Buganda Anthem in full text

Buganda’s Anthem
Ekiddibwamu:

Twesiimye nnyo, twesiimye nnyo
Olwa Buganda yaffe
Ekitiibwa kya Buganda kyava dda
Naffe tukikuumenga

1.
Okuva edda n’edda eryo lyonna
Eryo eggwanga Buganda
Nti lyamanyibwa nnyo eggwanga lyaffe
Okwetoloola ensi yonna

2.
Abazira ennyo abatusooka
Baalwana nnyo mu ntalo
Ne balyagala nnyo eggwanga lyaffe
Naffe tulyagalenga

3.
Ffe abaana ba leero ka tulwane
Okukuza Buganda
Nga tujjukira nnyo bajjajja baffe
Baafirira ensi yaffe

4.
Nze naayimba ntya ne sitenda
Ssaabasajja Kabaka
Asaanira afuge Obuganda bwonna
Naffe nga tumwesiga

5.
Katonda omulungi ow’ekisa
Otubeere Mukama
Otubundugguleko emikisa gyo era
Bbaffe omukuumenga

Merits of unitarism compared to federalism

Allow me to give you the merits of unitarism……..as I got them from S/Sgt Mwaipopo.

• It is a very effective and efficient form of government.  The central government is all-powerful, and as such, it can take any step to meet the situation before it and is particularly effective in new countries that are still lacking in socio-political integration between groups and regions, i.e., countries that are very low on the scale of nation building and state-making.
• It proves very successful in dealing with the conditions of emergency.
• It is a flexible government.  The constitution can be amended easily (yes!) by the central government according to the exigencies of the situation.  It may delegate some of its powers to local units, or take them back without any difficulty (yes!) in the light of the obtaining circumstances.
• It brings uniformity of administration and legislation.  Since there is only one national legislature and since all powers are vested in the central government, there is uniformity in the spheres of law making and its implementation.
• It is less expensive as compared to a federal system because there is no duality in the field of legislation, administration and adjudication.  In other words, there is no duplication of work at the regional levels.

Otto Patrick

What would Kabaka have said in Buwekula 60 years ago

Dear Ugandans at heart,

1/5 This is not a debaters’ beauty contest.  We are here to split the hideous atoms that for years have been swept under the carpet of our chequered history, if only to free you of your tedious phantoms.  We are here to give facts and figures.  We are here to scrutinise each others claims, and respond to them with logical counterclaims and not spite, ridicule, personal attack, smoke screens, red herrings and all the rest of the footsoldiers of the battalion of logical fallacies whose deployment has become your speciality.

2/5 Let us see what RM Mutebi would have said in Buwekula 60 years ago, if today, it is not cynicism that has taken the better of him; hence his references to “peaceful coexistence”, of all places in Buwekula.

3/5 Go today to any archive of your choice, look up the census results of 1948 published by the East African Statistical Department 1950 (Geographical and Tribal studies).  When you go to page 17, you see that the population of Banyoro in Mubende was 70% and the population of Baganda was 21%.  A decade later in 1959, the percentage of Banyoro in the whole of Mubende had dropped to 54% and that of Baganda had risen to 28%!

4/5 Below are the details figures giving the tragedy of the demographic decline of the Banyoro, and the real logical explanation of the quasihigh-minded pontification of peaceful coexistence 50 years down the line.    DEMOGRAPHIC DECLINE OF BANYORO IN MUBENDE (ETHNIC CLEANSING?)

GOMBOLOLA	ETHNIC GROUP	1948 %AGE	1959 %AGE
Mutuba II Singo	Banyoro	55	12
	Baganda	39	63
Munyoke Bugangaizi	Banyoro	89	88
	Baganda	9	9
Sabaddu	Banyoro	81	39
	Baganda	14	53
Sabagabo	Banyoro	90	79
	Baganda	6	12
Sabawali	Banyoro	85	84
	Baganda	11	12
Musale	Banyoro	87	86
	Baganda	9	8
Munyoke Buwekula	Banyoro	25	14
	Baganda	61	61
Sabaddu	Banyoro	27	2
	Baganda	68	91
Sabagabo	Banyoro	45	14
	Baganda	26	37
Sabawali	Banyoro	42	7
	Baganda	46	76
Musale	Banyoro	46	25
	Baganda	46.5	59

5/5 Then, we shall ask, when RM Mutebi makes reference to “unity”, is he not cracking funny jokes about ropes at the lumbe of a victim of hanging?  What are the referent objects of that new-found unity, or has it been said on instruction?

Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick (aka Joshua Kato, Major Sabiiti Mutengesa and all that….)

“THE SAME HEAT THAT MELTS THE BUTTER HARDENS THE EGG”

The enemy of Uganda is not Banyankole

Good People,
We need to re-focus ourselves and carefully id our enemy! The enemy of Uganda is not Banyankole; I repeat the enemy is widely scattered in all our ethinic groups. For those who are aiming at the South-westerners (Banyankole) here is a list I received by email; it lists the members of the Museveni inner class and power holders.It is almost impossible to tell what percentage they make in regards to the population of Banyankore;

Yoweri K. Museveni, Lt. Col. Muhoozi, Natasha Museveni, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, Janet Kataha Museveni, Ma j . Bright Rwamirama, Shedrack Nzeire, Miriam Karugaba, Faith Katana Mirembe, Amelia Kyambadde, Lt. Col. Muhoozi Keinerugaba, Gen. David Siryejjusa Tinyefunza, Ma j . Sabiiti Magyenyi, Col. Kateera, Division. Kateera, Lt. Allan Matsiko, Col. Tinkamanyire, Rosette Byengoma, Amelia Kyambadde, Ma j . Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Susan Muhwezi, Justus Karuhanga, Hussein Kashillingi,   John Wycliffe Karazaarwe, Sam K. Kutesa, Richard Butera, Brig. Henry Tumukunde,  Stella Tumukunde, Elly Rwakakooko, Moses Byaruhanga, Hope Nyakairu, Jolly Sabune,  Richard Kabonero, Natasha Museveni Karugire, Dr Joseph Ekwau, Alice Kaboyo, Richard Kabonero, Jimmy Karugaba, Edwin Karugire, Odrek Rwabwogo, Geoffrey Kamuntu, Bob Kabonero, Hannington Karuhanga; Don Nyakairu, Hope Nyakairu, Albert Muganga, Jovia Saleh, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, Kellen Kayonga, Kahinda Otafiire, Col. Mugeni, Col. Tinkamanyire, Col. Peter Kerim, Col. Kyakabale, Leo Kyanda, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile.

The court Jesters

Charles Mbire, Muhammed Alibhai, Albert Muganga, Hassan Basajjabalaba, Apollo Ntegamahe, Amos Nzeeyi, Eng. Ezekiel Balaba, Pastor Robert Kayanja, Pastor Gary Skinner, Sam Engola, Vice President Bukenya, Apolo Nsibambi, Hope Mwesigye, Cranimer Kalinda, Walter Ochola. Here you can include 80% of NRM Mps. The entire cabinet, and all RDCs.

Ssemagulu

A proud Muganda who Loves Uganda

Nobody brought (or can bring) unity and be generally regarded as a true nationalist

Dear Forumists

Colonialists, whether deliberately or not, merged different political/cultural systems into an entity called Uganda .  This inevitably enhanced those vast differences that were present.  With this in mind, I do not think that any Ugandan should be blamed for something that was forced on us.

As a result, it is very difficult for any Ugandan who, for example, firmly believes in kingdoms to convince a Ugandan who does not that having kings is the best way forward.  Equally, the reverse is also very true.

As we are all in a situation that is not of our making, we can at least try hard not to be insular in our thinking.  Instead, we must try hard to understand and respect the differences that exist between us and then try to find some common ground that can propel us peacefully into the future.

Nobody brought (or can bring) unity and be generally regarded as a true nationalist by simply imposing whatever they want on others.

Yusuf

Buganda emergency conference