Netters
Some times there is a point where some arguments cause people to wonder. For
some time there has been people including my self who have gone out of our
way to post some historical facts about Uganda. Why did I personally decide
to post them? For we have been told all along that Uganda's problem has been
only one person President Obote. But Obote was a president of Uganda that is
a fact, but how did he play alone in our history? You see fellas, we have a
right to hate leaders, but facts will remain fact always. I will not forget
how kasangwawo took the argument a step further and he denounced the Uganda
Historical writers, In fact he was attacking Hankock if my memory is right,
he stated "Those writers who are not even Ugandans were and are working for
Obote and UPC, they are wrong and we must start to write our own History"
Then I asked my self where is the brain in that head? You see at every
point, any body brings in discussing Uganda issues as related to Buganda,
Buganda has never been at fault, and Obote and UPC is always at fault. In
fact any body who tries to post any point contrally to the belief of the
Buganda supporters the answer comes back "You are working for Obote and UPC"
Just how much money does Obote and UPC have to employ all of us?
Now here we are with Dambisya posting the writings of Kanyeihamba.
Kanyeihamba as by Dambisya's posting is the third person to post the same
account. He is a Ugandan and he is not a UPC member. In fact let record show
that Kanyeihamba was one of the people who started NRM and that is why he
was one of the first people to be appointed by Museveni. Is Kanyeihamba
working for UPC and Obote as well?
What frustrates in his whole exchange, is that the people who have decided
to make their ears deaf, fight for Buganda but with out facts. One has sent
me a note that Obote has been doing his politics though violence, please let
us have the dates and times, he continues Obote threw out a constitution,
Yes but how could obote throw out a constitution with out throwing him self
out? For he was a President by that same constitution. Now when the other
side brings postings with facts and dates to back them, then the old claim
comes up, You are all anti Buganda and you are working for Obote and UPC.
Can you imagine if the other side would as well state that you are all
working for Ssabasajja Mutebi and you are all against Uganda as a state?
We live in very strange days indeed. Don't we!!!!
Em
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
----- Original Message -----
From: "YOSWA DAMBISYA" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "YOSWA DAMBISYA"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 10:20 AM
Subject: ugnet_: Kanyeihamba on the Phantom Arms ofthe1960s, Ibingira and
theConspiracies
Omw Ssemakula,
As I await the evidence which you expect me to dispute in defense of Milton
Obote and his part in the 1960s developments, I have been reading "Justice
Prof Dr GW Kanyeihamba; LLB, LLM, PhD, JSC, SC" 's recently released book:
Constitutional and Political History of Uganda: From 1984 to the Present.
I found a section on what he refers to as the "Dramatic Years, 1962-1966"
and "The Conspiracies" therein particularly relevant to the issue of the
phantom arms. I have attempted to reproduce sections of the book for the
edification of those who may not have got hold of the book yet. I apologise
for any mistakes that I may have made in the process but are willing to
correct them as the discussions proceed. The quotes are taken from pages
88-94.
".......By 1965, the divisionist and traditionalist elements had penetrated
the party, and acquired active supporters within the rank and file of the
party followers**. The party was torn by confusion because many of those
voices belonged to some of the most influential leaders of the party* After
the successful referendum and successful transfer of the two "Lost Counties"
to Bunyoro in 1964, the animosity of Buganda towards the Obote government
and UPC escalated. Buganda traditionalists at Mengo **** begun to exploit
all possible political angles with the aim of undermining and eventually
removing Obote from power. A political alliance between the Kabaka, his
ministers and disgruntled elements within UPC was reached. The latter
included and was led by the then Minister of Justice, Grace Ibingira, who
was at the same time, the Secretary General of UPC. He had ******Balaki
Kirya, George Magezi and Dr Emmanuel Lumu, who were also Cabinet Ministers
in Obote's government*****..
" In conjunction with the Mengo traditionalists and with the consent of the
President, Edward Mutesa II, the King of Buganda, the conspirators approved
the contents of a letter which was sent to Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, the
Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, requesting her
government to supply them with guns so that they could fight and overthrow
Milton Obote***.. Her Majesty declined the request.
" The conspirators next turned to the British High Commission in Uganda and
requested it to get in touch with British private firms of gun manufacturers
and ask them to supply guns. Gailey and Roberts**.. were contacted but they
too declined to assist the conspiracy, but somehow through some other means,
which have not been revealed by anyone, the conspirators managed to get hold
of some guns and ammunition. This first part of the conspiracy, which was
purely military was then truly set.
" The next stage of the conspiracy was political. King Mutesa and the first
group of conspirators began to persuade others from Central Government,
Parliament and the opposition groups to join them in the mission of
overthrowing the Obote government. Part of the plans to discredit that
Government was for the Opposition group in Parliament to bring charges and
allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Obote and his close
associates so as to debate a motion of a Vote of No Confidence in Obote and
pass it in Parliament. An interesting phenomenon developed*** People who had
been entrusted with maintenance of the Westminster model of democracy in
Uganda were now dissenting from their own party policies****..They would eat
their cake and have it a the same time****. They kept their ministerial
portfolios thus flattering the Prime Minister, while at the same time
working secretly for his downfall.
" The feudalists and traditionalists who joined the conspiracy had thought
that they had lost so much under Obote. The dignity and grandeur of
traditionalism required a government that respected the rulers, chiefs and
the proprietary rights of the privileged few in the country. The Obote
Government was radical; at least it claimed to be***..the Obote Government
was putting common people above the traditional rulers and their henchmen.
This trend had to be stopped by the creation of a government which would owe
allegiance to the country's traditional groups rather than to the masses.
" The third conspiracy was supposed to be inspired and led by the Prime
Minister himself. According to his accusers, who included Mutesa himself,
this group had as their motives, the destruction of the Independence
Constitution, the establishment of a leftist dictatorship, the undermining
of Uganda's ancient traditions and customs and the take-over by the state of
personal property which had been built through individual private
enterprise.
" A study of the events at that time reveals sufficient evidence to suggest
that the first and second conspiracies existed in one form or another. We
shall discuss the third conspiracy first. There is no doubt that the UPC
always claimed to be radical and socialist**the party claimed to represent
the masses of Uganda rather than one region****.Government talked in terms
of nation building and development that required the feeling of oneness,
throughout the county****The development of the country required new
attitudes towards the country's traditions and customs****Consequently, if
Obote and his Government intended to carry out these changes, it was
inevitable that the constitution would change.
" However, was this a conspiracy?........this was no more a conspiracy than
the act when government changed the constitution whereby Uganda ceased to
form part of Her Majesty's dominions, or when the Governorship was abolished
to be replaced by a Ugandan President, or when the powers of the traditional
rulers were altered****.Conspirators are secretive by trade. They discuss in
whispers and plot by night**By contrast**Obote and his colleagues in the UPC
did not hide their ideas**they debated them in public places, shouted them
at public rallies and published them in the press and magazines. ***..A
government can sometimes be wrong*****.but it cannot be said that anyone who
advocates change of an established institution, however unpopular that
change may be, is a conspirator. On this account alone, Obote was not
conspiring to overthrow the government of which he was the political head.
" However, an examination of available evidence on the first two
conspiracies suggests that they did exist****At the Gulu Party Conference,
for example, no less a person than the Secretary-General of the party, Grace
Ibingira, participated in a move to expel one of the party's leading
radicals, John Kakonge from top leadership****..Apparently, sympathizers
with these elements were carefully selected and recruited in the armed
forces and arms and ammunitions began to arrive in the country without the
knowledge of the Government. There can be no doubt that these were the acts
in a conspiracy***."
The arms, at least according to another trained lawyer, were real, and so
were the attempts to remove Obote et al "by all means". Ibingira does not
come out in such good light, unfortunately, but I need not apologise for
Justice Kanyeihamba since at many points he cites private conversations with
Ibingira himself.
Over to you, Nduggu Ssemakula.
Best regards,
Yoswa.
