{UAH} WHEN KASIRYE GWANGA SPIED FOR MUSEVENI ON BUGANDA NATIONALISM

WHEN KASIRYE GWANGA SPIED FOR MUSEVENI ON BUGANDA NATIONALISM

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CHANGE OF GUARDS - As stipulated in its National Anthem, Buganda nationalism (Ekitiibwa Kya Buganda) dates far back from the precolonial period to the present day. Buganda had out-rightly rejected the East African Federation, the introduction of Kiswahili and had attempted its own independence. The 1966 crisis that saw the abolition of Kingdoms hurt Buganda the most. When Iddi Amin overthrew the First Obote government in 1971, Baganda wholeheartedly embraced the change.  This did not go well with the forces who were fighting the Iddi Amin government. During the process of overthrowing Iddi Amin regime in 1979 by the forces that were coming from Tanzania, the question of Buganda's position in the post Iddi Amin Uganda proved a bitter pill to swallow.

To resolve the impasse, former President Obote was initially kept out of the liberation picture and, instead, two Baganda were put forward in succession as Presidents of the initial Post Iddi Amin government. First it was Prof. Yusuf Lule who led the country for only 68 days before he was overthrown and replaced by Godfrey Binaisa who ruled for slightly over one year. The powerful Military Commission that was deputised by Museveni, who held strong opposition to Buganda's nationalism took over power before handing over to Milton Obote in 1981. When Prof. Lule was overthrown, Baganda vehemently protested in the infamous Twagala Lule (We Want Lule) protests.  Museveni, who was the then Minister of Defence, brutally suppressed the riots with many rounded up and detained. Many more went underground giving rise to the formation of Buganda nationalistic guerrilla groupings - UFF under Prof. Lule and UFM under Dr. Andrew Kayiira.

When Museveni opted for his sectarian guerrilla Bush War in early 1981, he swiftly moved to neutralize the said Buganda nationalistic fighting groups. He tactfully allied with the Prof. Lule group giving rise to the NRA. Museveni tactfully positioned Prof. Lule as the Chairman of the insignificant  political wing, the NRM while Museveni took up the chairmanship of the strategic fighting wing,  NRA High Command. The alliance exploited and neutralized the strategically strong External Services team that had been set up by the Prof. Lule group for both logistical and diplomatic mobilisation. With Prof. Lule at the helm, Baganda peasants and fighters unreservedly sacrificed their energy and blood for the NRA. Despite almost sharing operational bases, the Andrew Kayiira group, the UFM opted to operate separately from Museveni's NRA. In return, Museveni treated UFM as enemies.

When Iddi Amin was overthrown, the defeated Uganda Army soldiers were mistreated by the victorious 'liberators'.  While the majority of those who have died from his West Nile region safely sneaked to Congo and Sudan, those hailing from Buganda and a few others who were caught up in Kampala suffered the brunt. They were tricked into surrendering before they were rounded up and ferried to Tanzania for detention. Two years later when they returned, they were eventually set free on October 1, 1981 when the country was facing a rebellion in Buganda and another in West Nile. Most of them had a dislike for Museveni, whom having been the Minister of Defence at the time they were detained, they accused him of having been the brain behind their woes.  A number of them shunned Museveni's NRA in preference for Andrew Kayiira's UFM. That is how even the likes of now Generals Hussein Adda, Mark Kodil and others who hailed from the West Nile region ended up in UFM.  Even, a Munyarwanda, then Maj. Lt.  Stephen Ndugutse a.k.a Kalisoliso rejected joining his kin in the NRA and went for UFM.

Andrew Kayiira and his UFM had been the first to make contact with Libya and received big caches of arms. A series of actions, both overt and covert, were initiated by Museveni to undermine the UFM. When the two groups agreed on a joint attack on the government garrison at Lubiri Barracks in February 1982, the NRA did not show up at the last hour. UFM went ahead and carried out the daring attack but on retreating to their bases, they fell into an NRA ambush that took their truckload of the arms. Then UFM's Ssonko Lutaaya who was driving the truck became a member of the NRA. With this setback coupled by a series of successive government forces offensives against their positions, it was a matter of time before the UFM would collapse. It was amidst this uncertainty in the UFM camp that one of the released former Uganda Army soldier, Staff Sergeant Kasirye Gwanga, a.k.a Fog, joined hands with the UFM at Bujuuko.

Shortly after, in August 1982, the leader of UFM. Andrew Kayiira left his fighters for Nairobi and was never to return. The UFM suffered a leadership crisis that greatly affected the command and control of the fighters leading to desertions and disintegration. UFM's disintegration gave Museveni exclusive leverage in exploiting the traditional  hostility of Baganda against UPC and Obote in particular.  Kasirye Gwanga also sneaked to Nairobi where he made contact with Museveni's predominantly Baganda External Wing. He claims that they gave him a 'special message' which he delivered to Museveni in Luwero. He personally met Museveni and spent two weeks at the NRA High Command sharing a tent with Saleh and Rwigyema. Thereafter, Kasirye Gwanga left and resumed the reorganisation of the UFM which was in disarray. During Museveni's Bush War it was not easy for an outsider to sneak into the NRA camp uninvited but Kasirye Gwanga claims to have done it!!!  Meeting Museveni was not easy even by many NRA commanders who could not even come near the tightly guarded High Command post but Kasirye Gwanga spent there two weeks!!!

In 1984, former UFM's Capt. George Nkwanga rejoined the Kasirye group and took over leadership.  The group was renamed Federal Democratic Movement but unknown by UFM, Kasirye Gwanga had maintained contact with the NRA. When Obote was overthrown in July 1985, the Okellos invited the fighting groups to join government. Former Obote's Vice President, Paulo Muwanga, who had built a strong force within the UPC state machinery, boosted his following by welcoming the FEDEMO group. Kasirye Gwanga secretly consulted with NRA's Saleh who gave him a go-ahead to join the Okellos;
   "Go in there and try to look around."
Museveni's NRA outrightly rejected joining the Okello junta.

Indeed, once in Kampala, Kasirye Gwanga embarked on 'looking around' but was soon suspected and detained at Nile Mansions. Three days after he was released, he was again arrested and detained in Lubiri Barracks. He was only released with the help of UFM's Maj. Fred Mpiso. Realizing that his secret NRA mission had been busted, Kasirye Gwanga consulted NRA's Saleh and the latter advised Gwanga to flee to the NRA. With only his driver, around August 1985, Gwanga reported to an NRA detachment in Mityana where he was received by John Kazoora. From Mityana he was sent to Masaka where a few of his fellow FEDEMO fighters also joined the NRA.

With Museveni's NRA, the Baganda fighters bitterly complained of being made to do much of the donkey work for Museveni's Banyankole who dominated key command positions. The gallant top Baganda Commanders like Kagwa, Mutebi, Musisi, Mawanda and others had mysteriously died in combat. Earlier, even the NRM's 2nd Vice Chairman, Moses Kigongo had attempted to defect before he was embarrassingly exposed by Museveni's spy network that had been planted on him. To make matters worse, the predominantly Baganda DP, Paulo Muwanga UPC group, UFM and FEDEMO had joined hands with the Okellos Junta in Kampala. To resolve the impasse, Museveni sought the help of the Prince Ronald Mutebi. Mutebi was sneaked in from exile in London via Nairobi and Kigali to the NRA Liberated Zone in Western Uganda where his tour of NRA camps around late 1985 reassured the Baganda fighters. With this success, Museveni was now sure of capturing power. The role of Prof. Lule as Chairman of NRM had outlived its usefulness thus he died leaving Museveni as Chairman.

To appreciate the contribution of his secret mission in the UFM/FEDEMO, Museveni rewarded Sgt Kasirye Gwanga with the then very rare rank of  Senior Officer. During the final push for Kampala around January 1986, he was placed under the ragtag Artillery Unit that was commanded by Mzee Barihona. Following the capture of Kampala in January 1986, the enemy was no longer the 'Northerners' dominated UNLF soldiers and the UPC but the Baganda and their UFM and FEDEMO fighters. The Baganda political leaders of UFM and FEDEMO were given ministerial positions in a broad-based arrangement. However, their fighting groups that had been integrated into the NRA were deliberately deployed away from Kampala to distant places like Fort Portal, Kitgum, Lira and Tororo.

Discrimination and contemptuous treatment of former UFM and FEDEMO fighters in the NRA was an open secret. Around August 1986, then Buganda's Prince Ronald Mutebi returned from London causing excitement amongst the Baganda who anticipated the restoration of their earlier abolished Kingdom. His return coincided with the climax of the purge of UFM and FEDEMO fighters in the NRA. Around September 1986, the NRA claimed to have busted a coup plot masterminded by Baganda politicians and former UFM and FEDEMO soldiers within the NRA.The entire NRA's 35 Battalion that was exclusively comprised of former UFM and FEDEMO fighters was accused of links with the Acholi rebels based in Sudan before being disarmed and disbanded. Kasirye Gwanga was at hand as the key state witness claiming to have been spying on the plotters upon approval of the NRA High Command.

Former Obote Vice President Paulo Muwanga, UFM Chairman and Minister of Energy Andrew Kayiira, FEDEMO Chairman and Minister of Environment  David Livingstone Lwanga, Cabinet Minister Evaristo Nyanzi, Editor of the Citizen Newspaper Anthony Sekweyama, UFM Vice Chairman Francis Bwengye, Dr. Lwanga of Rubaga Hospital and others were arrested and detained.  Several former UFM and FEDEMO combatants in the NRA were brutally rounded up and detained.  Maj. Aloysius Ndibowa, Maj. Fred Kiberu Mpiso, Maj. Nsubuga, Capt. Davis Ssozi Ntambi,  Capt. Paulo Kavuma, Capt. Godfrey Nsereko, Capt. Kamya Nkima, Lt. Nansera Lubega, Comdr. Mucwa, Sgt. Muhammad Kanyike, WOII Denis Ssebugwawo, Sgt. Denis Kyabagu, Sgt. Rajab Kasozi and others fell victim. The purge sent many former UFM and FEDEMO fighters into hiding both within and outside the country.

Around February 1987, court exonerated some of the accused including Dr. Kayiira and were set free. However, just within less than a week, Dr. Andrew Kayiira was gunned down by unknown assailants whose identities have never been formally known. It's only recently that Gen. Ssejusa pointed a finger at Museveni having had a hand in the assassination. The incident led to further purge and resultant desertion of former UFM and FEDEMO combatants throughout the late 1980s. In 1988, court acquitted Evaristo Nyanzi, Maj. Fred Mpiso, Anthony Ssekweyama and Dr. Lwanga.  However, the NRA immediately abducted Maj. Mpiso from within court premises and returned him to Luzira Prison where he remained without trial until September 1990 when he was set free. Maj. Aloysius Ndibowa, Capt. Davis Ssozi and a one Mubiru were convicted.

With the total neutralization of the UFM and FEDEMO in the NRA, focus was now set on the systematic containment of the  Baganda original NRAs. During the 1995 Constitution making process, the issue of Buganda's much cherished federalism became contentious. Maj. Herbert Itongwa deserted and formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) armed rebel group. The NRA panicked and deployed all the resources to neutralize the group before Maj. Itongwa fled to Europe via Kenya. Most worrying within the NRA ranks was the fact that the NDA intercepted and hacked to death the South Western regional Police Commander, Karakire a Munyankole but spared the  Muganda, Dr. James Makumbi after days in captivity. It was alleged that former UFM's Maj. Fred Mpiso had joined hands with Itongwa's NDA. Years later, then Vice President, Gilbert Bukenya attempted to push his son, Brian Bukenya into the army but Brian died in a mysterious road accident a few days to graduation from the Officer Cadet Academy in 2009. Five years later, Prof. Bukenya cried fowl;
    "What surprises me is that these people [the killers] are in our capital city moving freely and if police do not arrest them, I will name their identities in a few days to come," Bukenya said.

Over the years, Baganda have disappeared from the strategic command positions of the NRA/UPDF.
A summary roll call confirms this argument;
Moses Kanaabi, Ssebatta, Bruce Muwanga, Sserwanga Lwanga,  Andrew Lutaaya, George Gyagenda Kibirango, Jacob Musajjawaza,  Herber Itongwa, Lt. Col. matovu, Kamoomo, Katerega, James Kalanzi, Ssebagala,  Moses Kigongo, Laurence Bisaso, Musoke Katerega, Nsobya, Magala Proof, Ronald Kawuma, Paddy Gitta,  Drago Nyanzi, Kangave, Smarts Kigundu, J.B Mulindwa, Mbugga Kojja, Eric Mukasa, Sam Waswa Balikalege, Fred Bogere, Elly Kayanja, Vincent Ssesanga, Capt. Zzizinga, Janer Mukwaya, Getrude Njuba, Mukuye, Hajji Naduli, Ddiba Sentongo, Hudson Mukasa, Elly Kayanja, Sonko Lutaaya, Lukyamuzi, Kalyesubula, Kiyengo and several others are missing in action.

Kasirye Gwanga never held any command position but had the privilege of attending military courses abroad and rising in promotions. During the initial fall out with Rwanda, he was at hand feeding the then CMI, Brig. Mayombo whatever he would secretly discuss with the then Rwanda's head of External Intelligence, Col. Karegeya and other Ugandan senior army officers who had fled to Rwanda. Museveni appointed Gwanga Senior Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs in Buganda - a position designed to hoodwink him and Baganda.

In his last days, Gwanga had come to terms with the fact that the Museveni regime was running a scheme of destroying Buganda. That is why he was at the forefront of environmental protection and urging Baganda to value land accusing 'outsiders' of destruction. In the same regard, he was quietly subscribing to the new Buganda nationalism dubbed People Power. He was under close watch by Museveni's intelligence outfits. No wonder, he made his last public statement while in military detention;
    "Tell people, the public, that Kasirye Gwanga has been detained in Mbuya. I asked them why they sent me military guards but they insisted they had to protect me. I told them I don't want security, I have my dogs, I retired from the army, I have nothing to do with you guys. They refused to take them away.  I have driven them back to the barracks from Mityana, that's the argument. I am waiting for their decision but I am not taking back guards. I have my dogs, they are better than humans."
Why didn't Kasirye Gwanga want Museveni's soldiers around him yet he has been eulogized as an ardent admirer of soldering!!!  In the same regard, why didn't he push any of his children into military service as is the fashion amongst his peers!!!!  The spy was eventually neutralised.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM

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Rehema
Patriot in Kampala,East Africa:Assalamu Alaikum

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