Mr. Dambisya:
You seem to have gone off the deep-end here, judging from the uncharacteristic amount of fluff in your response.
Anyhow, if you re-read my reponse with respect to Kenneth Ingham (whom, for the record, I misremembered as Keith) you'll note that my emphasis was on his impartiality or objectivity as an observer of Uganda's politics by virtue of his being a foreigner.
I think it is important to dispell that mirage. By his own admission he is a card-carrying member of the UPC, and also member of the Legico. Thus he can hardly considered a disinterested party, one way or the other.
The relevant passage is (emphasis added):
>>>>4. Elsewhere, it has been suggested that Keith Ingham,
author/editor of books like: The making of modern Uganda (1958, 1983);
A History of East Africa (1967), The kingdom of Toro in Uganda (1975),
Obote: A Political Biography (1994), etc, was/is a foreigner and
therefore somehow an impartial observer of events in Uganda. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Ingham, a former lecturer at Makerere,
was also a member of the Uganda Legislative Council (a.k.a) in 1958 --
which is when he first met Obote with whom he formed a longlasting
friendship. Further, Ingham was/is also a card-carrying member of the
UPC -- a factor that probably excercebated his biblical naivety, and
upon which at least one reviewer of his rather incomplete biography of
Obote remarked.>>>>
As for Ssekabaka Muteesa II's comments on the London Constitution Conference, you are at liberty to construe whatever comes to your vivid imigination as it compares to what Ibingira wrote. However, the facts remain that: (1) Muteesa II pre-deceased the publication of Ibingira's books; and (2) iy you were to bother to check the original excerpt from Ibingira's book (African Upheavals Since Independence) that I posted, you'll probably see that Ibingira himself noted that Muteesa II recount of events was incomplete and he (GSI) gave reasons for this.
----Original Message Follows----
From: "YOSWA DAMBISYA" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: ugnet_: Re: [DPNet] Re: Kanyeihamba on the Phantom Armsofthe1960s,Ibingira andtheConspiracies
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:03:26 +0200
I thought I had said my last bit on Ndugu Ssemakula's responses to my
response, but find I need to add something here as well.
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/24/03 12:33AM >>>
>>>>>Addenda: 1. For what it is worth, I understand that it was
probably Toronto's Dr. Muniini who first described Mr. Kanyeihamba, as
"a pillar of the National Resistance Movement", and that this was in the
5th June, 2000 issue of the Monitor newspaper. >>>>>
That may well have been the case. This is how Kanyeihamba sees his role
in the NRM: "The author was a cadre during the years of the struggle
1980-1985. Was minister of Commerce 1986-9. Minister of Justice and
Attorney General (AG) 1989-91. First Senior presidential Adviser on
International and Human Rights Affairs, 1991-97. While AG the author
moved and steered the Bill through Parliament that extended the NRM
Administration for another five years. In Sept. 1997 became Justice of
the Supreme Court." Footnote on Page 222.
>>>>2. Mr. Kanyeihamba apparently also hails from Kigezi -- another
area that seriously bamboozled by the conniving Obote. >>>>
The context and relevance of no. 2 above is not so clear to me,
elaborate please.
>>>>3. In Gureme's review of the book in the June 23, 2003 issue of the
Monitor ( www.monitor.co.ug/archives/oped/2003/0623/op2.php ) he puts
the so-called 'Dramatic Years' in context. He said: "The book also
dissects the constitutional discussions: here and in Britain, where our
1962 Constitution was concluded. And through the absurdities of
electioneering, where the avail of symbols (e.g. the open hand) rather
than principles were debated! Kanyeihamba labels the years 1962 to 1966
as the "Dramatic Years," because of the theatricals culminating in
Milton Obote's home-brewed "Crisis" of 1966.>>>>>.
I have already apologised for giving the impression that the entire
book was the 2-3 pages I quoted on this forum! May be I should withdraw
the apology: should i have mentioned the constitutional talks when we
were looking at the "phantom arms of the 1960s"? Mine was not at attempt
to review Kanyeihamba's book!
>>>"Incidentally, Ibingira's recollection of those debates is also
illuminating. Obote, whom he accompanied was too busy sight-seeing and
gawking at red doubledecker buses of London to attend many of the
sessions.>>>..
And Ibingira, having been in full attendance (while Obote was
red-doubledecker buses of London-gawking) not only knew what the
absentee Obote was doing, but came back and supported the same
irresponsible Obote to lead his party to Independence! You know what,
that Obote man must have been quite something, for somehow he got to
take credit for what others did whilst he was gawking at red
doubledecker buses. Listen to what Sir Edward said of Obote's role in
those talks:
"THE TALKS WERE SUCCESSFUL FOR US. WITH OBOTE'S SUPPORT, WE OBTAINED A
GREAT DEAL OF WHAT WE WANTED AND LOOKED TO RECEIVE THE REST LATER. WE
WERE TO HAVE OUR OWN HIGH COURT...................." The Kabaka of
Buganda, Desecration of My Kingdom; Pages 161-162.
In 1967, Sir Edward did not have to give Obote credit where it was not
due, why did he attribute the "Ebyaffe" from those talks to the red
doubledecker gawking Obote instead of the erudite Ibingira?
>>>>> (Also, Ibingira accompanied Obote to Long Island, NY where a
small college gave him an honorary doctorate that Obote was to "wear" --
almost thread-bare, as though it were an earned doctorate, throught his
life.) >>>>
Now we want, even, to begrudge Obote of the honorary degree he was
awarded?
>>>>4. Elsewhere, it has been suggested that Keith Ingham,
author/editor of books like: The making of modern Uganda (1958, 1983);
A History of East Africa (1967), The kingdom of Toro in Uganda (1975),
Obote: A Political Biography (1994), etc, was/is a foreigner and
therefore somehow an impartial observer of events in Uganda. Nothing
could be further from the truth.Ingham, a former lecturer at Makerere,
was also a member of the Uganda Legislative Council (a.k.a) in 1958 --
which is when he first met Obote with whom he formed a longlasting
friendship. Further, Ingham was/is also a card-carrying member of the
UPC -- a factor that probably excercebated his biblical naivety, and
upon which at least one reviewer of his rather incomplete biography of
Obote remarked.>>>>
I have a copy of Ingham's Obote: A Political Biography. The author
seems to be Kenneth Ingham, and not Keith Ingham. The preface to the
book has all the information above, including Ingham's admission that he
joined the UPC soon after it was formed and his contacts/lengthy
conversations with Obote. So, now, you are saying: "Don't believe
anything Ingham says for he is a card-carrying member of the UPC", and
yet a shrot while ago you were saying: "Believe everything Ibingira says
because he was a UPC insider". Does being/having been UPC have any
bearing to the veracity ofg information about our historical events, or
is it the relationship between an individual and Obote that, in your
esteem view, determines who should be taken seriously? Make up your mind
and let us put this side issue to sleep.
>>>>Obote even hid from him the fact that his biological died eons ago
of leprosy, and no mention of it was made of it in the chapter on
Obote's boyhood -- a strange little chapter full of what can only be
described as "tarzan-tales", but that is another story. Ingham was also
taken to task for failing to realize the obvious import and
ramifications -- with respect to the psychological attitude toward power
-- of Obote's favorite quote from Paradise Lost. He also appears to have
lacked the intellectual honesty or intestinal fortitude to deal with,
even in passing, the serious charges and issues raised and documented by
Ibingira in hisbook, African Upheavals Since Independence. >>>>>>
Interesting stuff: Ibingira sure is the Alpha and Omega for you on
these issues! I have only one of hiw books but will try to get the
others too: if he means that much to you, he must make very compelling
reading. But going thru this discussion, one is reminded of the Chinese
girl in "Mind Your Language" all of whose statements started with,
"Chairman Mao says..." You are lucky to have found your own Chairman Mao
in Ibingira on all issues Obote!
In concluding, Omw Ssemakula, as a scientist, would you ask Ibingira to
review a grant proposal submitted by Obote? Would you ask K Ingham to do
the same? Would you, given what you know of their relationships? Is it
not your rich culture that captures the concept of conflict of interest
most aptly in: "Enkima ttesala gwa kibira"? Perhaps what you want to
tell us is that the Ibingira-Obote situation is so special that you are
prepared to bunk the ancient wisdom of your forefathers.
Best regards,
Yoswa
