*President of Uganda His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
17 June 2010*
Dear Mr Museveni
Re: *Demolition of Cemetery in Jinja*
We humbly plead for your kind intervention to halt the demolition of the Cemetery in Clive Road, Jinja.
We are very saddened to learn that our Cemetery at Clive Road, Jinja, which has been a resting place for our family members has been earmarked for demolition to make way for redevelopment of apartment blocks.
Our members who still consider Uganda as their indigenous country, are very distressed and concerned by this proposed course of action, particularly as their dear family members are buried on this land and which would be considered sacred by both Muslims and Christians. I am sure you appreciate the significance of the sanctity of the land which has graves on it.
Uganda is very dear to us and we still hold in high esteem our origins from there. We therefore humbly urge you as the highest authority in Uganda, to kindly intervene and halt the planned demolition with immediate effect.
We await a favourable decision.
Kind regards
*Dr Husein Jiwa President The Council of European Jamaats* Registered Charity No in UK.1096111 www.coej.org
Notes:
1.The Council of European Jamaats is a UK Registered Charity number 1096111 and our Constitution can be found on the Charity website www.coej.org .The Council of European Jamaats, 22 Estreham Road , London , SW165PQ T: 0845 330 6012 F: 0845 330 6014 E: secretariat@ coej.org
2. DONT DESTROY CEMETERIES IN CITIES FOR NEW BUILDINGS http://semuwemba.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/dont-destroy-cemeteries-in-cities-for-new-buildings/
On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 12:05 PM, Jude Mayanja wrote:
> Abbey, > > Expect more of such as the human race continues to exert pressure on the > land. Unfortunately I support it and soon we shall start to burn the bodies > and keep the ash in our houses as the sacred remains of our loved ones. > Burial grounds actually occupy alot of space especially on prime land. > > > *Jude m* > > > —————————— > *From:* abbey semuwemba > *To:* ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com > *Sent:* Tue, June 22, 2010 1:17:39 PM > *Subject:* Re: {UAH}: Jinja graveyard turns into building site??????????? > > More desecration, disrespect and disregard! More greed, greed, greed. Is > money more important than sacred ground…?? When the hell are we going to > stand up for OURSELVES and stop these things from happening..? When are we > going to learn that pieces of paper hardly ever bring results…?? ? > > Money, money, money, money, money!!! It’s slavery you know? > > On Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 3:41 PM, george okello wrote: > >> This is very interesting history about Bunyoro. I will have to re-read it. >> >> I can’t comment as of now, except to say historical injustices would have >> to be corrected. I would personally not allow any mailo land-owners in these >> disputed districts but instead restore the land to the peasant owners. The >> same as I would do in Buganda as well. The land has to belong to the >> tillers. But the Banyoro have to be tolerant of other immigrants. According >> to Henry Ford Mirima, the Press Secretary of the Bunyoro King, almost 30% of >> current immigrants of Bunyoro are immigrants. I think the King has to think >> carefully about the so-called Bafuruki and try to work a way out. The >> Bafuruki are Ugandans after all who are entitled to freedom of movement and >> settlement in any part of Uganda that they so wish to settle. The problem, >> in my view is the the so-called mailo land-owners. These are the curse >> because herein is where the problem starts. In the Philippines, where I have >> lived, the people are engaged in a life and death struggle with those they >> call semi-feudal land-lords (mailo land-owners). In most cases they expel >> them and even kill them because the ordinary people don’t want them in their >> villages and dont want to pay any taxes, tithes or rent to them. In fact >> they have a burning rage and fury against these so-called land-lords. Uganda >> is probably not yet ready fro this type of radical change, but the day has >> to come when we can declare to the mailo owners in Uganda that their time is >> up. The land has to revert to the tillers, and using maximum force if >> necessary. >> >> George O. Pacu-Otto >> >> >> On 6/2/10, rehemass@googlemail.com wrote: >>> >>> Is it true that the graveyard is shuttered off and no one is allowed >>> to go in because a new building is going to be built on the site. >>> >>> Does anyone have any facts about this news? If so, please email to >>> >>> On Oct 31 2009, 7:53 am, William Kituuka >>> wrote: >>> > If the likes of Prof. Mukiibi had to change their names to look like >>> they were Baganda, we need to re-think the strategies for co-existence in a >>> united Uganda. Read on >>> > Bakiga influx a reminder of Kibaale under Bbuganda >>> > >>> THE >>> > problem of Kibaale District, argue Banyoro elders Dr. Kasirivu Atwooki >>> > and Matia Kasaija, is injustice and violation of Banyoro’s rights. >>> > >>> > A lot has been said about Bunyoro and more so about Kibaale >>> > District. However, many of the people talking and writing about Bunyoro >>> > and Kibaale in particular lack a lot of information. Many of the >>> > presentations, most of which are critical, are subjective and not >>> > objective because of the lack of information. >>> > >>> > Surprisingly, all people say there is a problem in Bunyoro but they >>> > end at that. They neither state the problem, the magnitude of the >>> > problem nor give what they consider to be a solution. >>> > >>> > Here below is a brief account on Kibaale District: Kibaale is >>> > composed of Buyaga, Bugangaizi and Buyanja counties. Buyanja was curved >>> > out of Buyaga in the 1970s. >>> > >>> > Buyaga and Bugangaizi were among the seven counties of Bunyoro, >>> > which were annexed to Buganda in 1894 by Col. Colville. The rest were >>> > Buheekula, Buruuli, Bulemezi, Bunyara (Bugerere) and Singo (Rugonjo). >>> > >>> > The annexation was not as a result of Buganda defeating Omukama >>> > Kabalega and, therefore, conquering his territory. NO. This was >>> > Col.Colville’s unilateral action taking advantage of Omukama Kabalega’s >>> > retreat to Hoima from Mubende. >>> > >>> > cradle of bunyoro >>> > >>> > From history, it should be known that Buyaga, Bugangaizi and >>> > Buheekula were the cradle of Bunyoro-Kitara Empire. This is evidenced >>> > by the presence of many burial grounds of the kings and other cultural >>> > sites related to the kingdom’s rituals. >>> > >>> > Other important cultural sites include the Mubende hill at the >>> > Nyakahuma site where ALL coronation rituals for the kings of Bunyoro >>> > commence. Other royal activities that were centred in this area were >>> > the presence of blacksmiths to make hoes, spears, arrows and other >>> > equipment for domestic, commercial and military use. >>> > >>> > When in 1892, Col. Colville attacked Omukama Kabalega at Mubende >>> > where his capital was, Kabalega retreated to Hoima to reorganise >>> > himself and wage a guerilla war. The retreat of Kabalega gave Col. >>> > Colville an opportunity to put the Buyaga, Bugangaizi, and Buheekula >>> > among other counties of Bunyoro under his control and eventually pass >>> > them over to Buganda kingdom administration in 1894. In 1899, with the >>> > capture of Omukama Kabalega, Col. Colville officially handed over this >>> > cradle to Buganda and it was legitimised by the 1900 Buganda Agreement, >>> > which officially defined the boundaries of Buganda that included the >>> > seven counties that were annexed from the Bunyoro kingdom. >>> > >>> > genocide >>> > >>> > The period between 1892 and 1899, the British conducted a massive >>> > campaign to destroy all what could be destroyed in the seven counties >>> > and the rest of what is today Bunyoro. There is evidence that very many >>> > Banyoro lost their livestock (Banyoro were cattlekeepers) and other >>> > properties. It can only be summarised as a genocide. >>> > >>> > Buyaga, Bugangaizi and Buheekula formed Mubende District, the first >>> > district to be established by the colonialists. In the 1900 Buganda >>> > Agreement, land in Buyaga and Bugangaizi was allocated to the Kabaka of >>> > Buganda, a selection of Baganda royals and Baganda chiefs in square >>> > miles. The allocatees would identify the land, which they wished to >>> > acquire and the surveyor would then proceed to survey the land for >>> > them. >>> > >>> > It should be noted that the land that would be identified by the >>> > allocatees for survey was not empty but was occupied by the Banyoro. >>> > This was part of the punishment that was meted out to the Banyoro for >>> > resisting the British. The new landowners, now Mailo landlords, >>> > descended with vengeance on the Banyoro and herded them into nucleus >>> > villages so as to free the land. The Banyoro were forced to abandon >>> > their ancestral lands and move into these nucleus villages. The Banyoro >>> > were prohibited from constructing permanent houses and planting >>> > perennial crops. The Mailo landlords demanded Busuulu and Envujjo. >>> > Banyoro were prohibited from speaking Runyoro and those found doing so >>> > would be punished. See attached letters No. 26/33, dated August 18, >>> > 1933 and No. 44/1155/56, dated August 28, 1956 written by Kyambalango, >>> > the Buyaga Saza chief. This treatment was repulsive to the Banyoro. >>> > They organised themselves into a rebellion, the Nyangire Rebellion of >>> > 1907. >>> > >>> > Even after the genocide that was suffered by the Banyoro during the >>> > British military campaign, there was another round of suffering. The >>> > persecution of Banyoro intensified with the bringing by of Baganda >>> > chiefs by the British to occupy all administrative positions in the >>> > local government. The British were the district commissioners, district >>> > police and prisons commanders and they controlled the judiciary. From >>> > the county chief down to the smallest chief were Baganda. The British >>> > used the Baganda to fight their purported enemies, the Banyoro. The >>> > Banyoro were made to denounce anything pertaining to Kinyoro culture, >>> > including being prohibited from speaking Runyoro; those found speaking >>> > it, especially in public places were arrested and imprisoned. Banyoro >>> > were forced to adopt Kiganda names and Kiganda dances. >>> > >>> > No education institution was constructed in the “lost counties”. >>> > Banyoro were denied school bursaries or scholarships from Buganda >>> > kingdom government. Any Munyoro who wanted a scholarship to study in a >>> > secondary or higher school would have to adopt a Kiganda name. People >>> > like Prof. Joseph Mukiibi, and Architect Henry Sentoogo, etc are living >>> > testimonies. >>> > >>> > Other examples are late Prof. Senyonga, late Kirabokyamaria, and >>> > late Justice Sebugwawo Amooti among others. There are people like St. >>> > Andrea Kaahwa and St. Anatoli Kirigwaijo, the Uganda Martyrs who are >>> > Banyoro but they have since been given Kiganda names like Kaggwa >>> > instead of Kaahwa and Kirigwajjo instead of Kirigwaijo. These saints >>> > originated from Kibaale and were brought to Buganda as captives. >>> > >>> > The depriving of the Banyoro of their land and the use of Baganda >>> > chiefs to suppress the Banyoro caused bad blood between the two >>> > communities. We are sure this was calculated to create enmity, which >>> > unfortunately resurfaces occasionally. >>> > >>> > Around 1915, the British vaccinated cattle purportedly against >>> > rinderpest at Mpongo River and over 300,000 heads of cattle belonging >>> > to Banyoro perished. This was seen by the Banyoro as an attempt to >>> > impoverish them and further break their economic backbone. There was >>> > another round of vaccination in 1935, which killed the cattle that had >>> > remained. >>> > >>> > As a consequence, many Banyoro went or were forced to go into exile >>> > out of Mubende District. Examples such as late Yohana Nyakatura, late >>> > Rubuto Benua who were activists were exiled to Lake Katwe. Many people >>> > fled to areas such as Mityana, Hoima, Masindi, etc. The end result was >>> > the depopulation of the area. >>> > >>> > These harsh and other not mentioned mistreatments led to the >>> > formation of the Mubende Banyoro Committee (MBC) in 1918 with the >>> > following objectives: >>> > >>> > To fight for the return of Omukama Kabalega >>> > >>> > To recover Banyoro land from Buganda which was registered as Mailo, >>> Crown and Estates land. >>> > >>> > To reinstate socio-cultural freedom to Bunyoro society >>> > >>> > To resist non-Banyoro rule, exploitation and other forms of >>> subjugation. >>> > >>> > The MBC presented several petitions to the Governor and even to the >>> > Crown, but they didn’t get a positive response. With the arrival of the >>> > ex-service men from the Second World War, MBC went into another phase >>> > when they launched an armed guerrilla warfare from 1949. Naturally the >>> > Omukama’s government gave substantial backing to the MBC. >>> > In 1961 with the discussions at the Lancaster conference and >>> > during independence, there was a truce. The armed campaign nevertheless >>> > resumed in 1963 and 1964 up to when the referendum was held. >>> > >>> > Between 1962 and 1964, Mengo was involved in a series of campaigns, >>> > including the ferrying of thousands of people from Buganda to register >>> > as voters so that they could outnumber the Banyoro when the referendum >>> > was held. Kabaka Mutesa was himself involved and at one time was >>> > confronted at Karuguuza and he shot and killed an MBC leader called >>> > Ntogota in 1963. >>> > >>> > The central government countered this campaign by Mengo when they >>> > decided that only those on the 1961 voters register would participate >>> > in the referendum of 1964. The thousands who had been ferried into >>> > Buyaga and Bugangaizi never voted and the verdict was in favour of >>> > Buyaga and Bugangaizi who decided to returned to Bunyoro-Kitara >>> > kingdom. >>> > >>> > However, the Banyoro and MBC all along thought that the land had >>> > been returned to the Banyoro. Even the Mailoland owners initially >>> > thought they had lost the land because many tore their certificates of >>> > title after the results of the referendum were announced. >>> > >>> > It only dawned on the Banyoro later that the referendum was not >>> > explicit regarding ownership of land. Seventy per cent of the land in >>> > Kibaale is Mailoland and owned by now the famous absentee Mailoland >>> > owners. The 30% constitute the then Crown land, forest reserves, swamps >>> > and rivers. >>> > >>> > The bafuruki >>> > >>> > Over the years, the Bafuruki have come to settle in Kibaale >>> > District. In 1972, the Government established the Rutete Resettlement >>> > Scheme, which Bafuruki claim was sanctioned by Omukama Winyi, though >>> > those who were present at the time have disproved the claim and there >>> > is no documentary evidence to support the assertion. The second >>> > resettlement was in Bugangaizi in 1992, which is also disputed as not >>> > being legally established. These Bafuruki were welcome and many were >>> > voted into leadership positions at local government and even national >>> > level. There was co-existence and harmony among the many tribes in >>> > Kibaale District. However, with time, especially starting 1998, the >>> > Bafuruki have engaged in a campaign of ferrying into Kibaale District >>> > thousands of people, especially from the Kigezi sub-region. >>> > >>> > The following illustrates the above point: According to the 1991 >>> > population census there were 25,000 Bakiga in Kibaale. In 1992, the >>> > Government settled 35,000 Bakiga in Bugangaizi County. According to the >>> > 2002 Population Census, there were 126,000 Bakiga. >>> > >>> > There are two buses, which ply the Kabale-Kagadi route. These buses >>> > arrive when they are full and go back almost empty. There are several >>> > minibuses and lorries, which are bringing people from Kigezi >>> > sub-region. There are also people from Rwanda and refugee resettlement >>> > schemes, especially from Nakivale coming to settle in Bunyoro. >>> > >>> > It should be noted that the settlement of 35,000 Bakiga from Mpokya >>> > never had the blessing of the Kibaale Local Government. Actually the >>> > Kibaale District Council denounced it. The land on which these people >>> > were settled has claimants among the present absentee Mailoland owners >>> > and the Banyoro who owned and occupied it before it was allocated to >>> > the Mailoland owners. Today, we can only estimate that there are over >>> > 250,000 Bakiga in Kibaale District. >>> > >>> > According to the 2002 Census, Kibaale District had a population >>> > growth rate at 5.2% against the national average of 3.3% meaning >>> > Kibaale has the highest population growth rate among all Uganda’s >>> > districts. Today with the massive influx of people it is estimated that >>> > Kibaale District has a population growth of about 6 %. >>> > >>> > well-coordinated >>> > >>> > bakiga influx >>> > >>> > The influx of Bakiga into Kibaale is organised and well >>> > co-ordinated to increase their numbers in Kibaale District for voting >>> > purposes. They want to outvote the Banyoro and take all the available >>> > political posts. >>> > >>> > The above scenario only reminds us of what happened when Kibaale >>> > was under Buganda. There was no Munyoro in the Buganda Lukiiko and, >>> > therefore, the voices of Banyoro were never to be heard. In the Obote I >>> > government where Buganda nominated people to Parliament, Kibaale was >>> > represented by a Muganda called Jolly Joe Kiwanuka who belonged to the >>> > Kabaka Yekka party. He could never present the views of Banyoro. The >>> > tribal voting of the Bakiga in Kibaale seems to be making history >>> > repeat itself. >>> > >>> > One may ask, were the Banyoro of Kibaale born to be represented by >>> > other tribes or are they not entitled to represent themselves at >>> > national level? >>> > >>> > Is the tribal problem of the Bakiga limited to Kibaale alone? >>> > People need to study what is happening in Kabarole, Kyenjojo, >>> > Bunyaruguru and Buwekula to mention a few cases. >>> > >>> > In Bunyoro, many of these Bafuruki have invaded the forest reserves >>> > and swamps. There is also a lot of land fragmentation. The politics has >>> > been tribalised as the Bafuruki vote in blocks for their own people. >>> > Arrogance is at its peak with words such as “Abanyoro nabashema” >>> > (Banyoro are stupid), “Turabategyeka” (We shall rule you), >>> > “Turabanyaza” (we shall make you urinate), “Kuha akaruru Omunyoro >>> hakiri nkaha embwa enkiga” >>> > (Instead of voting for a Munyoro, one would rather vote for a dog >>> > native to Kigezi). Such remarks remind the Banyoro of the days when >>> > Buyaga and Bugangaizi were under the Baganda rule and it is reawakening >>> > the spirit of resistance. >>> > >>> > The Banyoro have over the years requested the Government, >>> > especially the NRM Government to live up to its Ten-point Programme as >>> > amended of “redressing the past historical errors”. The Bunyoro >>> > problem, especially the Kibaale issue is about injustice and the >>> > violation of the rights of Banyoro. It is good people say there is a >>> > problem, only that they don’t describe the problem. Before you redress >>> > an injustice you need, first of alls to know how the injustice was >>> > committed? You determine against whom it was committed. You determine >>> > the injury and its extent. Then you determine how to redress it? >>> > >>> > In our view, the violation of land rights has to be redressed by >>> > restituting to the Banyoro their rights to land in Freehold. Period. >>> > There is evidence on the ground, which proves the presence of ancestral >>> > lands of the Banyoro. >>> > >>> > Many villages are named after prominent Banyoro who lived in them. >>> > Names such as Kyarwita, Kyamukwege, Kyawakame, Kyakasimbazi, Kyakajoro, >>> > etc. There are surviving grandchildren who are claiming their ancestral >>> > lands. The Banyoro will only feel that the injustice against them has >>> > been redressed only when the government returns to them these ancestral >>> > lands them. >>> > The Bafuruki who claim they bought Bibanja from the Banyoro can sit >>> down with them and get leases. >>> > >>> > We agree that the Mailoland owners be compensated in accordance >>> > with Article 26. However, are the Banyoro liable for compensation >>> > because of the over a century-long violation of their rights to land? >>> > >>> > Secondly with the ever-increasing population of the Bakiga in >>> > Bunyoro and their voting on tribal basis, will Banyoro however good, >>> > ever be elected into leadership positions? However, lousy a Mukiga is, >>> > if he stands against a Munyoro, the Bakiga will vote for their person. >>> > Merit is not the issue. People might have observed that elections in >>> > Kigezi, are largely based on religion, but when they are outside >>> > Kigezi, their basis is tribe. >>> > >>> > Published on: Saturday, 5th >>> September, 2009 >>> > >>> > Email >>> this article to a friend. >>> > >>> > © Copyright The New Vision, 2000-2009. All rights >>> reserved. >>> >>> — >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the forum >>> “Ugandans at Heart”(UAH) with the motto:’Justice is when U get exactly what >>> you deserve”. >>> To post to this group, send email to Ugandans-at-Heart@googlegroups.com >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> Ugandans-at-Heart-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or >>> abbeysemuwemba@googlemail.com.For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/Ugandans-at-Heart?hl=en >>> Abusive language not accepted on this forum. Also visit the ‘UAH’ Blog >>> at: http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/ >> >> >> — >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the forum >> “Ugandans at Heart”(UAH) with the motto:’Justice is when U get exactly what >> you deserve”. >> To post to this group, send email to Ugandans-at-Heart@googlegroups.com >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> Ugandans-at-Heart-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or >> abbeysemuwemba@googlemail.com.For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/Ugandans-at-Heart?hl=en >> Abusive language not accepted on this forum. Also visit the ‘UAH’ Blog at: >> http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/ >> > > > > — > Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba > Blogs: > http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/ > http://semuwemba.wordpress.com/ > http://ekitibwakyabuganda.wordpress.com/ > > — > You received this message because you are subscribed to the forum “Ugandans > at Heart”(UAH) with the motto:’Justice is when U get exactly what you > deserve”. > To post to this group, send email to Ugandans-at-Heart@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > Ugandans-at-Heart-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or > abbeysemuwemba@googlemail.com.For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Ugandans-at-Heart?hl=en > Abusive language not accepted on this forum. Also visit the ‘UAH’ Blog at: > http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/ > > — > You received this message because you are subscribed to the forum “Ugandans > at Heart”(UAH) with the motto:’Justice is when U get exactly what you > deserve”. > To post to this group, send email to Ugandans-at-Heart@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > Ugandans-at-Heart-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or > abbeysemuwemba@googlemail.com.For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Ugandans-at-Heart?hl=en > Abusive language not accepted on this forum. Also visit the ‘UAH’ Blog at: > http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/ >
– Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba Blogs: http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/ http://semuwemba.wordpress.com/ http://ekitibwakyabuganda.wordpress.com/
– You received this message because you are subscribed to the forum “Ugandans at Heart”(UAH) with the motto:’Justice is when U get exactly what you deserve”. To post to this group, send email to Ugandans-at-Heart@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Ugandans-at-Heart-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or abbeysemuwemba@googlemail.com.For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Ugandans-at-Heart?hl=en Abusive language not accepted on this forum. Also visit the ‘UAH’ Blog at: http://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/
