Actor Ashraf Simwogerere tells Museveni to stop interfering in Buganda affairs

Renowned local actor Ashraf Simwogerere has asked President Yoweri Museveni not to interfering in Buganda affairs.

In a strong worded Facebook post, Simwogerere told President Museveni that he should not get offended when the Baganda pronounce their tribe because they love it.

While addressing the NRM delegates regarding the Central Executive Committee elections on Wednesday, Museveni warned people especially from the central to stop claiming that they are Baganda because they are promoting sectarianism.

However, according to Simwogerere, if the President keeps on denying people from expressing loyalty to their kingdoms, there will be no difference between him and former President Milton Obote who abolished Kingdoms.

“During one of the lectures, you emphasised the importance of tribal groupings as the primary units of a state. You blamed Dr Obote and his UPC government of abolishing kingdoms when the people still loved their kings. You continued to lecture that, what Dr Obote did was like hitting a row mango down to keep for quick ripening. You explained that the row mango will not get ripe but rot instead. The action of abolishing kingdoms rot in Dr Obote’s hands to face rebellions latter, however, recently you said that whoever shouts that “TULI BAGANDA” is an enemy of Uganda and Africa at large, for I look at it otherwise.” Simwogerere said on Saturday.

He added that when President Museveni stops Baganda from praising their tribe, it’s like wiping them off the map yet the colonial masters kept their kingdom intact for centuries.

“Stopping a Muganda from shouting out his/her tribe (Okulanya); Is like refusing a Munyankole to cry out their “EKYEVUGO”, or dancing ekitagururo to demonstrate the movement of their cows. Is like denying, a Munyarwanda, an Indian, or an Israelite to speak their mother tongues. Indians, Israelite, and Rwandans children will play in mother languages regardless of which country they are staying in. They don’t pause with foreign languages. It’s like abolishing Embalu for Bagishu. So Mr President, when the Baganda proudly pronounce that “Tuli Baganda”, don’t get offended just take heart, because of its part of their “Nnono”. They are expressing their love for the tribe. Don’t crush them,” he said.

Here is Simwogerere’s missive;

Dear Mr President,

I DIDN’T MAKE AN APPLICATION TO BECOME A MUGANDA. NAYE NDI MUGANDA NGA NAWE BWOLI OMUNYANKOLE Mr President.

I hope, this letter finds you in good moods. Congs for going through unopposed as the flag bearer for NRM. Mr President, some days ago you came out angry and warned Baganda who proudly talk of themselves that “TULI BAGANDA”, to stop it. You even threaten to crush them. Since you requested for constructive engagement, I’m happy to respond in this letter.

In 1992 at Singo military training school, I was one of your students in the cader-19 class. During one of the lectures, you emphasised the importance of tribal groupings as the primary units of a state. You blamed Dr Obote and his UPC government of abolishing kingdoms when the people still loved their kings. You continued to lecture that, what Dr Obote did was like hitting a row mango down to keep for quick ripening. You explained that the row mango will not get ripe but rot instead. The action of abolishing kingdoms rot in Dr Obote’s hands to face rebellions later. Concluding those kingdoms needed to be restored to create harmony.

Mr President, you kept your word when the NRM government restored kingdoms. Buganda was one of the regions that regained its kingdom. This kingdom never regained its economic and political status as before, but mostly the social systems. In the social systems of the Baganda, we have “ENNONO” (the unwritten constitution of Buganda). When a Muganda does something contrary to the “Nnono”, we condemn him/her that “OMUGANDA TAKOLA ATYO”. Baganda are proud to be Baganda because they believe in themselves and their beautiful behaviours. Pausing to be Baganda is part of their/our “NNONO”.

Introducing myself as a Muganda (OKULANYA) demands that I talk about my lineage. Mentioning my father and as many grandparents as I can remember. I usually conclude by, proudly shouting out that “NDI MUSAJJA MUGANDA”.

Stopping a Muganda from shouting out his/her tribe (Okulanya);

1). Is like refusing a Munyankole to cry out their “EKYEVUGO”, or dancing ekitagururo to demonstrate the movement of their cows.

2). Is like denying, a Munyarwanda, an Indian, or an Israelite to speak their mother tongues. Indians, Israelite, and Rwandans children will play in mother languages regardless of which country they are staying in. They don’t pause with foreign languages.

3). It’s like abolishing Embalu for Bagishu.

So Mr President, when the Baganda proudly pronounce that “Tuli Baganda”, don’t get offended just take heart, because of its part of their “Nnono”. They are expressing their love for the tribe. Don’t crush them.

Take this Mr President. Naturally, the Baganda are very proud of two things. That’s is their nation (BUGANDA) and land (ETTAKA). That is why Ssabasajja Kabaka is referred to as “Ssabattaka” (the landlord) and the heads of the Baganda clans as ABATTAKA.

Its the reason why we introduce ourselves emphasising our land and tribe. Like me, I will introduce myself as “SIMWOGERERE ASHRAF, NDIMUSAJJA MUGANDA EYEDIRA OLUGAVE ERA OBUTAKA BWANGE BULI KATENDE”.

Today most of the land (obuttaka) for Baganda is no more. We’ve remained to lament about it in “Kulanya”. When you stop us from shouting our tribe, it’s like wiping us off the map. Our colonial masters have kept their kingdom intact for centuries. Why not ours in Africa?. Well as you said that whoever shouts that “TULI BAGANDA” is an enemy of Uganda and Africa at large, for I look at it otherwise.

Mr President, it’s good you said that we have a constructive engagement about this issue. Let’s engage and have an everlasting solution otherwise, I beg, don’t hit a row mango it may rot in your hands.

Thanks.

Omugave Hajj Simwogerere Ashraf Mayanja muzukulu wa Ndugwa.