IRB - Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: Information regarding the government's view of the Baganda being linked to the new opposition. [UGA4832], 23 April 1990 (available at ecoi.net)
http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/197446/301612_en.html (accessed 24 May 2013)
Information regarding the government's view of the Baganda being linked to the new opposition. [UGA4832]
According to the editor-in-chief of The
Ugandan, a Toronto publication, the Baganda are not associated
with any specific opposition group as they are the ones in power.
[
ENDNOTES:
As stated during a telephone interview in Toronto on 9 April 1990
to the IRBDC.] The source states that the Democratic Party is a
Catholic Baganda party and that some Baganda may disagree with
President Yoweni Museveni because of differing political views but
not necessarily because of ethnicity. [ibid.]
According to The New York Times
there was pressure in 1986 from the Baganda, Uganda's historically
dominant tribe (a quarter of the population), who want to
re-establish their own independent monarchist state. [ Sheila Rule,
"Crisis Roils Government in Uganda" in The New York Times,
19 October 1986. Attached.] The same source further states that the
former Vice-President, three ministers and other prominent members
of the Baganda tribe were charged with plotting to overthrow the
Museveni government. [ibid.] In 1988 the Democratic Party, a junior
partner in Museveni's coalition government that seeks the
establishment of a multi-parliamentary democracy, stated that it
favours the restoration of Uganda's five kingdoms as cultural
symbols. At the same time Museveni reportedly told Baganda
royalists to await consideration of their demands including the
return of their monarch patiently. [ "Uganda: Democratic Party
Issues Constitutional Guidelines" as reported by Reuters on 7
September 1988. Attached.] The attached Africa Confidential
article reports that in 1987 when Buganda elders had planned a
triumphal return for the heir to the Kabaka throne, Prince Ronald
Mutebi, Museveni himself pre-empted this by bringing the prince
from Britain, "allowing him to say a few well-chosen words in
support of the NRM and then sending him back to his studies." [
"Uganda: Votes in a Vacuum", Africa Confidential, London:
Miramoor Publications, 17 March 1989, p.2. Attached.] The same
article reports that the Internal Security Organization and
military intelligence are increasingly adopting the style of Idi
Amin's and Milton Obote's agencies. [ibid.]
The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts reports
that on 22 March 1990, the Ugandan High Court heard taped details
of an alleged coup plot, in which "all non-Basoga, Baganda and
Bagisu National Resistance Army (NRA) officers were to be killed"
(see attachment). [ "Uganda High Court hears details of Coup plot",
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 27 March 1990. Attached.]
According to the editor-in-chief of The
Uganda, in 1987 a group of about one hundred people attempted
to use the force of arms to restore the kingdom. Although several
of them were arrested, the source has no further news on the
matter. However, the source reports that the king dissociated
himself from this group and is presently residing mostly in Uganda.
Several prominent members of the government are members of the
Baganda tribe including the Prime-Minister, Dr. Samson Kisekka, the
second Deputy Prime-Minister also the leader of the Democratic
Party, Dr. Paul Semogerere, the third Deputy Prime-Minister and the
Vice-Chairman of the NRM.
Corroborating information for the above
oral source is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
