If the Central Broadcasting Service had a case to answer, the government should have taken the radio station to court as soon as the September city riots ended. Instead President Museveni chose dialogue that initially came as a meeting with the Kabaka of Buganda after the September 11 riots. Majority of Baganda in the villages thought that the CBS fate would be resolved immediately after the Kabaka-Museveni meeting. But the elite Baganda rightly remained skeptical about the whole meeting.

Why was CBS closed?

I agree with journalist Kalundi Serumaga’s observation that the CBS closure was meant to cripple the finances of the Buganda kingdom administration at Mengo. Probably the strategy has worked. I reading some reports in the press where some people were wondering where Mengo gets money to sponsor activities like the Beti Nambooze Civic Education Committee and the endless Kabaka’s trips and functions. My guess is that CBS closure was just the beginning of targeting Mengo’s income generating sources.
Another hypothesis would be that CBS was closed as a tactic to shelve other Buganda demands or storing them in the freezer. This has also probably worked because since it happened, Baganda have mainly been making noise for CBS reopening other than demanding other things already known by the government. Mengo tried to beat this by organising a Buganda Conference whose theme was federalism on December 17, 2009 without CBS. However, the federo messages would have spread widely if CBS was operational at the time. As it happened, politicians only caught the federo fever just immediately before and after the conference and now almost all of them have switched their attention to CBS for votes. This means that Museveni sets the political agenda in Uganda and everyone jumps on it. The president is currently on his Buganda tour and the citizens everywhere he goes are demanding CBS reopening instead of the usual stuff like kingdom properties and federo.

Will CBS reopen?

I think it will be reopened though I don’t know the timeframe. It’s closure has already served its short time objectives which were passing the 2007 Land Bill into an Act without too much noise from Buganda and; testing Mengo’s finances. I’m still not sure whether President Museveni intends to pass the Regional Tier Bill too before he ends the CBS blackout. My inner feeling tells me that Museveni only caused the CBS closure to prove to the Kabaka of Buganda and Mengo administration that “I have got political powers and you don’t.”

As a politician at war with Buganda at the moment, he could also have used CBS as a bait to find out the Baganda who are loyal to his cause other than the Kabaka. It’s the George Bush doctrine of “You are either with us or with them” after the September 11 attacks on the New York towers. That’s how president Bush built what he called ‘the coalition of the willing’ to fight Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. Those who knew President Museveni’s intention on the CBS closure have already strengthened their ties with this “coalition of the willing.” Cadres like Vice President Gilbert Bukenya, Minister Janat Mukwaya and other NRM functionaries and ministers have joined the “coalition of the willing” to sort out the Buganda problem once and for all. They have given Museveni the energy to continue keeping CBS closed though he knows that it’s not in his best political interests.  Once Museveni tests this whole thing and finds that it’s killing him politically, he will order the immediate reopening of CBS regardless of the feelings of those in the coalition or his cabinet.

The conditions given to Mengo for the CBS reopening are meant to test how much they are being affected by the closure. If they are really desperate, Mengo will wrongly go ahead and apologise as demanded by the President and they will probably accept one or two more conditions. I can’t predict what will happen after this, but I know Museveni will consider himself the champion. Mengo, on the other hand, will appear weaker than before in the eyes of its subjects.

Will the coalition succeed?

The success of this coalition will depend on how the Mengo administration responds. Mengo apparently have got no political and financial clout. The CBS closure has affected their finances and therefore their mobilisation activities. All radio stations already on air are not ready to toe the line: they are not ready to cross President Museveni’s red line. Most  journalists and media outlets that have been sympathetic to Mengo are either out of job or are powerless now.

Mengo at this moment should find a way of building a coalition of its own. There is no shame in doing this. Mengo can secretly build alliances with opposition parties and candidates especially FDC and Kizza Besigye. They should also find a way of promoting and sponsoring candidates in regional elections (MPs) all over Uganda sympathetic to their cause. They should boldly form some understanding with ‘friendly’ kingdoms or cultural institutions. They should find a way of allaying suspicion among some Baganda in the Diaspora particularly in  Boston who  believe Besigye is another Museveni. Those Baganda in Boston running the ‘kiba kibe’ online radio programmes should come up with messages that build alliances rather than more enemies for Buganda. This business of scaring people away progressive candidates just because they were once part of NRM is very unfair and unreasonable. Baganda should try to forge some sort of solidarity probably like the way Jews and Indians have done in the United Kingdom.

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba is a Ugandan living in UK.

Comments (26)

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I CAN ONLY AGREE
written by Moses, February 17, 2010

Hi all, I can only agree with the comment made above, the fact that ''Master in thief '' is determined to hang on to power, He will employ whatever menas he can, militalised police, PGB and the rest of the security goons, I think Muntu was right when he said that ''Museveni has to choose how things will end'' if he chose to hang on to power by whatever means avaialble to him, of course Ugandans will not have any choice but to try and change things for the better. Change is well over due, I wish I had a chance to meet the man, i would ask him what future he desires for his children? does he believe in a properous Uganda? if yes, then he has to make way for change to be prosperous not destructive.

Son of Semuto

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Mengo is also to blame
written by Politi Fact, February 17, 2010

Mengo has often sold itself as a selfish tribalistic entity, minding the exclusive interests of Baganda. This is often interpreted by other Ugandans as anti-Uganda. That is why their call to other Ugandans to support Federo is viewed with so much suspision. Their common derogatory description of northerners as Badokolo is a case in point. Their recent reference to people with long noses as enemies is another. Even those who see M7 as an enemy find it difficult to form an alliance with Mengo. Where as it is very trendy to vilify M7 and NRM, the fact is that Mengo needs to begin to understand that they are part of Uganda and that Uganda is more important than Buganda. When they get that we will all move forward.

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...
written by Major Adam Kifaliso, February 18, 2010

Mengo is doing what all other ugandans ought to do ,the right for self determination , How do u view the idea that the Kojoings are under the colonial rule of the 1st lady of the Entebbe palace ? Why cant karamangos be helped to find a modern solution to their civil problems , do they need the lady to be flown in under guard and not fitting in the whole mold !

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Abbey come out in the light and be the man God made you to be
written by Twakoowa, February 18, 2010

One example of what goes on on this website; After the Buganda Conference in Dec 17 2009, the only article concerning the event was the lengthy "great MAO's speech." Nothing about the King's speech or the Katikkiro's or Lady Nagginda's. Maybe "Semuwemba" didn't know it was a Buganda Conference? Well, I've done this man a favour, I've just pulled off his mask. Now Abbey, you can come out in the light and be the man God made you to be. You are not fooling anyone but y0urself. You can go on spewing all the venom in you, but Buganda will outlive you and yours for many many centuries. Infact it will be around on the Good Lord's judgement day.

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Baganda Are Just Humans, They Bleed, Hurt And Feel Angry
written by Twakoowa, February 18, 2010

Unlike Politi Fact the "angel", who will see his family being violated and brutaly murdered but will keep on smiling playing nicey nicey with the perpeturators. The pain the Northerners caused to the Baganda in Buganda will take centuries to leave our minds, maybe longer, because your arrogance doesn't help, when you keep scratching our wounds open. And listen to your pathetic complaints, they called you Abadokolo! I thought Dokolo is a name of an area up North? Don't you understand that the way things have been and are, we don't want to move on with you? You are evil people in every way and all the time!

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THE KARAMANGOES DON'T NEED MODERN SOLUTIONS
written by Lakwena, February 18, 2010

Kifaliso, the Karamangoes as you want to refer to the Karamajongs, don't want nobody's liberation or modern solutions to what you/we perceive as their problems. They only wish they were left alone. Have you ever watched "The God's must be crazy"? And don't forget UWESO, the 1st Lady is a schemer, addicted to Aid and Aids money. So, opportunistically she chose to become the Minister for Karamoja. Why Karamoja? It is a hostile wilderness nobody will trail her. Only daredevil journalists can venture into the Kajong land to trail crooks. Didn't Dr. Kazibwe swindle Shs.3 billions for valley dam? To date, only sinners can't see the dams. She also swindle the 2.5 billion in the name of PhD in Harvard. Oh Uganda may God uphold thee!

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Thieving Buganda
written by Emperror, February 18, 2010

M7 closed CBS, and is REQUIRING it to delink with Mengo because CBS was neither set up by Buganda nor Mutebi in person. CBS (and the finance that set it up) is a private enterprise (not even Kaaya Kavuma's) which has to be returned to the rightful owner. Buganda (and Mutebi in particular) has refused to enter an agreement on compensation, which should no doubt include royalties covering the future periods. Unfortunately, this is not the first time the thieving lineage of Mutebi has attempted this, and no doubt the tears they shed yesteryear they will shed again tomorow.

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MR
written by Hamdan, February 19, 2010

Hi all, everything must have an ebnding, I this CBS closures should stop en lets kip our pace of development lets not allow some people show us their naiveness. These are jus political turmoils.

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...
written by Emperror, February 19, 2010

That was a rant that can only be attributed to some-one who has indeed carried out such acts! And who-ever lied to you that Buganda is "owned" by Baganda (and Mutebi?).

On a sober note, Mutebi WILL have to compensate the claimants, and CBS shall NEVER be operated under the shadows of Mengo (Mutebi and his pages included).

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We Will Only Sit Back When Buganda Is Free
written by Twakoowa, February 19, 2010

Politi Fact, we will only sit back when Buganda has it''s God given freedom. I see you are one of them who thinks you know where the Baganda came from more than they do. I'll say this again, we come straight from the Lord God Almighty. Now you can go on ranting about your twas and bahwezi and bahaha bahehe and all that bluhaha, but every one knows who would feels pain when people admit to being God's own. About who God gave Buganda to, that we are going to sort out. son enough. Make no mistake about that one. Uganda is white made, it they are your gods, go ahead and worship away.

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We Will Only Sit Back When Buganda Is Free 2
written by Twakoowa, February 19, 2010

What remains is to see who is greates, the Almighty's creations and the white mans creation - you and yours politi fact. We are ready to fight for what is ours. and don;t worry about us loosing miserably, because misery will be as has always been your first name. The Truth - Buganda Shall Prevail. FREEDOM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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God gave Buganda To Baganda
written by Twakoowa, February 19, 2010

Now in your view, if Buganda doesn't belong to Baganda, who does it belong to and who gave Buganda to that person or to those people? Does it belong to you? Who gave it to you and when? What did they say, we give you Buganda? Why did whoever gave it to you call it Buganda, which means the land of the Baganda? Problem with Ugandans like Emperror they have no self esteem, they hate themsleves, their tribes, their mothers, fathers, men, women, children and whole lineages and neighbors and the whole world. that's why you leave ypour homes to go murder people, hoping someone will come to revenge and kill all your people that you hate. Your evil is eating deep on your souls and it hurts.

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God gave Buganda To Baganda 2
written by Twakoowa, February 19, 2010

Don't count on us to take you out of your misery. Because misery is what is in your hearts, inevitably that's what comes out of your mouths. And it doesn't surprise at all that you are now trying to twist the truth, recent as it is, about your murderous yesterday, and today. Just remember, the truth is God, and it 's eternal. Now there is something that not even you with your very poisonous tongue can murder, however much you may try. We acknowledge that punishment is God's responsibility, that's why we won't take you out of your misery. But make no mistake about it, if you insist on occupying our land and killing our people, we are out now to defend uurselves. That too is a God given right.

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Emperror's Business Side Of the Argument
written by Twakoowa, February 19, 2010

I admit to not knowing the history of the formation of CBS, but I know that right from day one, those who were applying for the license were requested for it to be called Radio Buganda and it was denied, Radio Y'Obujjajja etc...and all names that would have identified it as a Buganda Radio were denied. Now there is one more ofr you, if Buganda was for Uganda, why would they deny that? USA cannot deny Newyork to name it's state radio after itself!!!! This is simple commonsense. Moreover CNN used to belong to Turner now it beloings to Time Warner. Who can deny that 51% holdings of the CBS belong to Kabaka Magulunyondo on behalf of the people of Buganda? Name names, we are curious.

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Cbs closure
written by mukasa, February 21, 2010

Cbs and Mengo are business men and women who use buganda/ baganda to fill their pockets. open ? closed? I DON'T CARE!!!!!!!. I feel sorry for the young men and women who demonstrate for their cause instead of finding ways to get school fees. Cbs and mengo kids are all the way in america achieving their dreams. stop using others in exchange for sweeti.

Museveni should think now of ways, that will move his personal property fast enough from state house to rwakitura and leave those clonies who are using buganda name.

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...
written by Dian Kenneth, February 25, 2010

The line of debate on this blog is unfortunate. I do not think this is what freedom of speech/expression should be. Unless the owners of this website intended to use it this way, I would like to suggest that they censure some of the contributions before it is too late.

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Ababaka.com
written by Zziwa K, February 26, 2010

Is there anyone out there who can update me about the US based Buganda Radio which was to be aired recently ? We are still waiting for it but why the delay ?. Please throw more light.

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cultural survival
written by moses, March 04, 2010

I personally have nothing with any tribe in Uganda,infact am pro ,a united Uganda,but lets not forget the fact that its a mixture of tribes juxstapposed upon each to make a country.Each tribe having its own history shd be left free to exercise there cultural rights,and thats wat the Baganda are aggitating for,this is where federo comes in,as its the only way each tribal grouping thats interested in staying in existance can survive.Buganda having a rich history of close to 2000 years,is not ready to let its culture get eroded in only 26 yrs of a brutal regime under the disguise of m7....m7 WHO????
CBS ebewo
awangale ayi sabasaja kabaka wa Uganda

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Myopic !
written by Juma kato, March 06, 2010

Let us use our heads here : Mengo / Buganda has NEVER called northerners " Badokolo "

Mengo / Buganda has NEVER said that " those with long noses " should be singled out and he harmed . Some of the Kabaka`s children have a mother with a " long nose"

True : some Baganda call northerners " badokolo " .
True : some baganda called westeterns " those with long noses " etc etc
True : some northermers call all westerners , particularaly the Bahima , " Nyarwandas"
True : most non-baganda refer to Baganda as " thieves "
True : some Ugandans call Toro women " s**ts " hence the saying " wegabula kitoro "
Fact is that batoro women make some of the best and most faithful wives in Uganda .
Also true : that Tinyefunza and Ofafiire dont speak for or resprent all Banyankore .

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Banter
written by Juma kato, March 06, 2010

One looses their intellectual percepective when one elevates all the above "cultural banter" to a level of state security .
There ought to be a clear distinction between what some people say and what the tribe they come from does . Buganda does not discrimane among Ugandans.

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kato add on
written by collin, March 07, 2010

kato add on that muteesa's mum was a muhima

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Muteesa II's Mother was Irene Namaganda
written by Twakoowa, March 08, 2010

I happen to know the family. They are Baganda from Masaka. Let's only speak of what we know for sure.

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Twakoowa
written by Timtom, March 08, 2010

Its b'se of people like Twakoowa that Buganda will never get the so called Ebyaabwe. I am yet to meet such a tribalistic individual.

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Yes she was !
written by Juma kato, March 08, 2010

Kabaka Mutesa`s mother was Irene Namaganda of the Ngabi clan . She was not a Muhima . But Mutesa had children with women from the west . Mutebi has children with a Munywarwanda . Mengo has Ministers that are not Baganda . This should mean that Mengo / Buganda Kingdom , and Buganda , as a tribe ,have nothing against people from the west .

Museveni and all the Bahima/ Banyankole Generals dont " mix " with other tribes . In fact , it is still a silent taboo for a Muhima girl to marry a Muiru or a Mukiga .
This should not the the tribe to teach Buganda how to live and let live .

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Timtom You are Not God
written by Twakoowa, March 08, 2010

God is the one who gave us the Baganda all that we have, because He wanted us and no one alse to have them. It's He who is telling us to fight for our freedom. You reaaly can't stop this, however much illwill fills your souyl at this moment. Buganda is going free whether you like it or not. And by the way this is not tribalism, this is nationalism. Buganda nationalism. And it's justice and it's fairness, and it's humanity. Whiule what you write is nothing but malice. Noit enough to change the signs of the times.
It's regretable that much time is spend responding to people like TImtom, and less to people who aspire to the truth like Juma Kato. But Juma, so many people from the west are supporting this system!

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I know .
written by Juma kato, March 09, 2010

Twakoowa , I know that most people from the West support this system . But remember that some "westerners " have been imprisoned or harrased for opposing the system . Samsom Mande , Antony Kyakabaale and others are in exile because the system wanted to "silence" them . Remember that not all Banyankole are Bahima . Remember that there was a time when we used to think that all northerners supported Obote .

As for Buagndas nationalism , its growing and will keep doing so as long as people of other tribes dont find something in their own tribes to be proud of . Even when you are a tomatoes seller in a local market , you should know that it is makes more sense to focus on selling your vegetable than to spend all day trying to stop your competitors from selling theirs .

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