Bualnge

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Moments after the Kabaka (last Wednesday) toured the charred Kasubi tombs and publicly broke down on seeing the extent of the devastation, fourteen of his very senior aides and officials held a secret meeting in Bulange. Among them was deputy Katikkiro Nsubuga Nsambu, who was disappointed after the media shied away from sufficiently publicising the contents of a strongly worded dossier he released after fire gutted the royal tombs, whose custody directly falls under his docket. Others were some of the militant clan heads, elders (abataka), Lukiiko members, county chiefs and one Buganda cabinet minister.

DETAILS
The meeting discussed a number of things, including what should be done to preserve the supremacy and prestige of the Kabakaship (otherwise called Namulondo) especially after the Kabaka, who is supposed to be the strongest man in Buganda, publicly broke down and wept.

The meeting also discussed what should be done to ensure malicious arsonists don’t catch Mengo off guard again in future by masterminding attacks similar to what occurred at Kasubi. The meeting reflected on the 2008 fire at Buddo Junior School, another at Seeta High School and now Kasubi tombs, to conclude that Buganda was being targeted. It was argued, like Kasubi royal tombs, the two burnt schools have close attachment to the Kabaka and Buganda kingdom as a whole.

Whereas Buddo was started to educate children from privileged families of Kabaka’s officials, Seeta High belongs to Owek. J.C. Muyingo, a close aide and confidant to the Kabaka. The meeting also reflected on recent efforts to influence some of the consultants overseeing the construction of Muganzilwaza (Kabaka’s shopping mall) in Katwe to tamper with the site so the building’s not durable.

BULANGE SCARE
The meeting also reflected on whether it was safe for Kabaka’s officials to continue operating in Bulange where all kingdom administrators have offices. These include the marketing, administrative and operational offices of the now closed CBS radio. Others are for the Katikkiro and his cabinet ministers, Buganda Land Board (BLB) which keeps all Kabaka’s land titles, as well as most of the Kabaka’s aides.

The meeting resolved to urgently ask the Kabaka to decree that the Bulange building be vacated immediately for fear of the unknown. The fears were that if arsonists or terrorists could target least expected installations like the Kasubi tombs, Bulange’s security could not be guaranteed.

Indeed appearing on a radio programme last Wednesday evening, Buganda publicist Peter Mayiga hinted on the possibility of terrorists and anti-NRM elements torching the royal tombs in he hope that such actions could discredit the NRM and scare away would-be tourists from Uganda.
He went on to exonerate the government, saying torching the tombs wouldn’t bring them any strength.

“I don’t think or believe they were behind it though I have heard people having suspicions,” argued Mayiga, who was hosted along with NRM eastern region vice president, Capt, Mike Mukula.
The Bulange meeting proposed, as a temporary precautionary measure, the Kabaka asks ministers and his other officials to vacate Bulange and individually find where to operate from. Some of them have private business premises which they could use as offices to execute Buganda’s assignments as well.

“If it [Bulange] could be targeted by arsonists in the late 1980s when the army was still there, how about today when it’s being guarded by ordinary guards with just arrows?” a member reportedly wondered during the meeting.

It was also proposed that Mengo lobbies a number of Baganda tycoons in the city to secretly contribute cash to obtain alternative premises in Kampala.

CALM
The meeting also proposed the Katikkiro regularly issues public announcements calling for calmness on grounds that continued confrontation with central government might anger the UPDF Generals to pressurise President Museveni ban the Kabakaship. The Wednesday confrontation, which saw angry youths verbally attack the president, was cited as an example of stand-offs that could provoke other tribes to support the proposal to ban the institution the way Obote did in 1967.

ESPIONAGE FEARS
The meeting also resolved to ask the Kabaka suspend one of his ministers who has made it a habit to spy for the central government. The minister was accused of clandestinely mobilising Baganda youths to publicly engage and ask the Kabaka to accept cash from government towards the tombs’ rebuilding.

All the fourteen at the Bulange meeting proposed that, whatever contribution government makes towards the tombs’ rebuilding should be categorized as part payment of the over Shs30bn rental arrears Buganda is demanding from central government. The minister, who always takes hard line stands, acted differently this time round, calling upon Baganda youth to be calm.
“He had met these people and they gave him sacks of money to do some work for security and we know it. His work is to spy on whatever is discussed and report back,” a member was quoted as arguing during the Bulange meeting.

The Minister was accused of deploying young men with recorders and other audio and visual equipment to record his colleagues’ proceedings during Mengo/Kabaka’s public engagements. It was not readily clear how soon the Kabaka would respond to the advice by his senior officials, as per the Bulange meeting, but our sources confirmed the members’ concerns had been communicated to him in writing.

KABAKA FOR MASIRO PRAYERS
Meanwhile, the Kabaka will grace a public function at Kasubi royal tombs on Friday meant to pray for the kingdom and members of the royal family in the aftermath of last week’s inferno that left ‘Muzibu Azaala Mpanga’ burnt to ashes.

It will be a moment for inter-denominational prayers with catholic Arch-Bishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga as the chief celebrant. He will be joined by Ps Alex Mitala (Pentecostals), Anglican Church’s Kityo Luwalira, Supreme Mufti leader, Zubair Kayongo and Orthodox Church’s Jonan Lwanga.
Kingdom spokesperson, Charles Peter Mayiga, used yesterday’s Lukiiko session to mobilise Baganda to turn up in big numbers.

Saying the day must be used to showcase Buganda’s might and their numeric strength as a tribe; he asked them to have visible peaceful processions by carrying tree branches, Buganda’s flags and don t-shirts with Kabaka’s portraits, which organisers have printed for that day. He also asked those who can afford to put on Kanzu. “I’m a lawyer and I’m telling you all that is legal. Go and do any of those and nobody will arrest you for anything,” he said.

“However, be warned that Buganda’s enemies will be out to provoke you to get an excuse to harass our people but please engage in self restraint. Walk on the right hand side of the road so that you can see whoever drives from behind with intention to knock you down.” He cautioned against attacking fellow Baganda who support the NRM government, saying Mengo needs everybody, including none Baganda who genuinely support Buganda’s cause to accumulate the strength they currently need.

After prayers, there will be speeches from the Katikkiro and Clan Council head, Allan Nakirembeka Waliggo. “We shall find out in the due course of time if the Kabaka will address the gathering also. We shall consult upon that with the Katikkiro and the Kabaka to come to a position,” Mayiga said, urging subjects against becoming over excited when the Kabaka arrives, to the extent of fluking free rides in his convoy like some rowdy youths did last Wednesday when the monarch briefly visited the Masiro. Mayiga announced to the excited Lukiiko, Col. Kizza Besigye’s FDC had offered to provide all the logistics (food and drinks) during the Friday function. A discomforted Speaker Kaddu Serunkuma put a disclaimer, saying Mayiga made the FDC announcement in his capacity as information minister and not a Lukiiko member.