U.S. Monitors Uganda Violence

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02-08-12

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Date: September 12th, 2009
Name: Joe kasaasira
Subject: Baganda risking the Kingdom?
Comment: Tido has got it wrong, the Baganda are the greatest nationalist of all in the US of Uganda. Oly that M7 whilst attempting restoring democracy only allowed half-baked bits. He should have gone all the way to Lancaster conference which gave Buganda a federated state. Further, Tido you have made no analysis of whether there are any other tribes in Uganda that have accepted everyone and allowed them even to join their clans. Even the Kings cabinet includes Somali, Asians etc. This non-sense of

Date: September 11th, 2009
Name: Balmoi Tido
Subject: Baganda are Risking the Kingdom
Comment: What my fellow Baganda friends must understand is that until they accept to be Ugandan Nationals first, they will always run head-on with the government...no matter what government. It started with the British in the early 1900s, then the mid 1900s; followed by Kiwanuka's Govt about 1960; Obote's government in the mid 1960s and now Museveni's Govt. And by the look of things, a deadly clash with Museveni's Govt is looming very soon. What the Baganda should seriously consider is whether their

[Global: Africa]

A spokesman at the United States Department of State said American officials are monitoring developments in the East African country of Uganda
after as many as 10 civilians were reportedly shot to death by security forces during protests today.

Other media outlets reported seven deaths while the BBC reported two.

"We will have more to say tomorrow," the spokesman at the State Department told The Black Star News this evening. "We will not have anything to say until tomorrow."

Local newspapers in Uganda report that protests erupted in the capital city of Kampala and beyond when security forces blocked a senior official representing the hereditary king of Buganda, the Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II, from visiting an area in Buganda.

The Kabaka --who is the King of Buganda, the hereditary monarchy within the state of Uganda-- is due to visit Kayunga region, within Buganda on Saturday. The Kabaka's supporters say the Central government has stirred dissent against the Kabaka in Kayunga, and now claim it is blocking his visit in order to prevent violence.

The Kabaka's prime minister or "Katikiro" John Baptist Walusimbi was prevented from visiting Kayunga today, in advance of Mutebi II's Saturday trip, by security forces.
Rumors that the Katikiro had been arrested ignited angry reaction from youth who support the Kabaka, local media reported.

Clashes erupted between the youth --who threw stones and burned tires-- and security forces. An Associated Press photographer reports seeing at least seven killed. The figure of 10 is reported in The Daily Monitor, the country's largest independent newspaper.

Mutebi II's government has been on a collision course with Uganda President General Yoweri Museveni; the Kabaka favors a federal system while Uganda's ruler wants tighter central government control. Tension also escalated when the government this week replaced the Kabaka's security detail with new bodyguards.

Kizza Besigye, president of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) opposition party placed blame for the violence “squarely on government” The Monitor reported.

Despite his autocratic regime and massive human rights abuses Museveni had been backed by the U.S. when he declared himself an ally in the "war of terror." Opposition leaders say Museveni has been stirring domestic crises as a divide-and-rule strategy in preparation for 2011 presidential elections.