U.S. Urges Peaceful End To Uganda Violence

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March 11th, 2010

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Date: September 21st, 2009
Name: Ugandan Community In US
Subject: Protests Against Butcher Of Mengo
Comment: Date: September 20th, 2009
Name: Ugandan US Community
Subject: Protests Against The Dictator!
Comment: This is to remind you that there will be demonstrations in USA and elsewhere to protest Museveni's government curtailment of the Kabaka's freedom of movement, its heavy handed and brutal handling of the ensuing protests over those restrictions, which resulted in considerable loss of life and property.
Regardless of political affiliation and/or ethnicity or nationality, you are all invited and encouraged to participate. The demonstration schedule and contacts are as follows:- New York - Wednesday September 23, 2009 at the United Nations. Contact -- John Mayanja Buwembo (jmayanja@townisp.com).
People from surrounding states are encouraged to attend.
Boston - Saturday September 26, 2009 at The Marriott Copley Place Hotel, at 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02116; i.e. the day and venue of the NRM Gala. Contact -- John Mayanja Buwembo (jmayanja@townisp.com). People from all over USA are encouraged to attend.
Other cities -- information to be disseminated as it becomes available. To organize a protest demonstration in your town call your local police to find out if you need a permit. The sooner you do it the better, because some juridisctions may require a 5-day advance notice, depending on number of participants.
The message below gives some pointers on what to bring, dress code, donation to support those who were injured in Uganda and the survivors of those who lost their lives, etc. Freedom is not free: come join us as we register our collective disapproval of Museveni's dictatorship and tyranny in handling the Banyala affair.
All inquiries welcome. James Ssemakula james_ssemakula@yahoo.com

Date: September 14th, 2009
Name: Anthony Rwaga
Subject: Peaceful end
Comment: To all readers Back to what is happening back, in my 2nd ,home - Uganda. I feel offended but not surrpised. Whenever a nation-state's identity is pegged upon ethnic identity as the NRM like our RPF is doing, what is now happening and what is due to happen in Uganda and Rwanda is simply a logical sequence. Has it taken a little bit longer to happen and so it might take some time to explode? Yes, Why? so many factors especially the infamous 'fight againt terrorism', the diplomacy of lies

[Global: Africa]

The United States has called for a peaceful end to the turmoil in Uganda where as many as 10 demonstrators have been reported killed when security forces fired at supporters of a hereditary King, on Thursday.

"We urge the Ugandan government and the demonstrators to find a peaceful solution," Darbey Holiday, a spokesperson at the U.S. Department of State told The Black Star News. "We are watching the situation in Kampala and elsewhere very carefully," he said.

He denied as "absolutely false" rumors that the United States Embassy in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, had been closed, but said Americans should be careful. "We urge United States citizens in Uganda to exercise extreme caution. If there is any further information we need to communicate to U.S. citizens we will post it on our website," Holliday added.

Local Uganda media outlets report that protests erupted in the capital city of Kampala and beyond when the police blocked a senior official of the hereditary king of Buganda, the Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II, from visiting Kayunga, an area in Buganda kingdom. The Kabaka's emissary was his prime minister or "Katikkiro," John Baptist Walusimbi.

Clashes erupted between the Kabaka's supporters and security forces--the police and army.

The Buganda monarchy is within Uganda. Kabaka Mutebi II was himself due to visit Kayunga on Saturday. The government says his visit would spark violence; the Kabaka's supporters claim the government itself is stirring dissent against the Kabaka in Kayunga.

From a political standpoint relations have collapsed between Kabaka Mutebi II and Uganda's autocratic ruler General Yoweri Museveni; the Kabaka favors a federal form of government, a system the Museveni government opposes.

Uganda holds presidential elections in 2011 and it's widely anticipated that Mutebi II's supporters would back opposition candidates.

The Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) in New York today reports that four Ugandan radio stations have been shuttered by the government.

All stations have also been ordered to halt political debate programming in the wake of the clashes. “The government is employing sweeping measures and making broad assertions to crack down on critical media,” CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes said. “They’re not fooling anyone.”

The Central Broadcasting Service (CBS), which is owned by the Buganda kingdom, has been off the air since around 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to Editor-in-Chief Godfrey Male Busuulwa, CPJ reported. Broadcasting Council technicians backed by soldiers had seized transmitting equipment, CPJ was told.

"Council agents backed by soldiers also raided the studios of Radio Sapientia, a Catholic Church-run station," CPJ reported, attributing the information to station director, Sister Denis Samanya.

"Council agents backed by soldiers also raided the studios of Radio Sapientia, a Catholic Church-run station," CPJ reported, attributing the information to station director, Sister Denis Samanya.

"The station had aired a morning talk show during which callers reacted to Thursday’s deadly riots," CPJ reported, adding that "A similar raid took place at Radio Two, a community station popularly known as 'Akaboozi' according to General Manager Maria Kiwanuka."

"Both Samanya and Kiwanuka said they had not received notice of any infraction," CPJ added. "Ssuubi FM, a commercial, youth-oriented station, was forced off the air today after a raid by Council technicians and soldiers, according to Managing Director Ahmed Bogere Masembe," CPJ reported.

In a statement, the chairman of the Uganda Broadcasting Council, Godfrey Mutabazi, accused the four stations of inciting violence and breaching minimum broadcasting standards.