Gook
"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."- Malcom X
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Jack Stevens Alecho-Oita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "gook makanga" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Fw: Kanyeihamba on the Phantom Arms ofthe1960s, Ibingira and theConspiracies
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:05:35 +0100
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Stevens Alecho-Oita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "YOSWA DAMBISYA" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 10:45 PM
Subject: Re: Kanyeihamba on the Phantom Arms ofthe1960s, Ibingira and
theConspiracies
> Prof Yoswa,
>
> You wrote:- 'Ibingira does not come out in such good light,
unfortunately,
> but I need not apologise for Justice Kanyeihamba since at many points he
> cites private conversations with Ibingira himself'.
>
> I had the opportunity to listen and hold private conversation with both
> Grace Ibingira (RIP) and Balaki Kirya (RIP) variously between 1986-1987.
> This took place whenever both had come back from their upcountry tours to
> propagate the virtues of the new NRA government. On occasions Col Babula
> (RIP), then Presidential pilot was also present. As none of them can
> dispute or challenge my recollections, I will with some hesitation offer
an
> opinion that both Grace and Balaki's political spirit to capitalise on
their
> being wronged by Dr Obote were broken by 1987. Both felt that the
up-country
> people were not convinced about their explanation which led to their
arrest
> in 1966, and worse could not understand why they were propping up the NRA
> government. By 1987, Balaki or Grace had virtually stopped organising
> meetings to propagate the virtues of the NRA Government and, less so to
> openly talk about the 1966 episode and Dr Obote's 'bad leadership'.
>
> I also remember reading a lengthy article, that George Magezi wrote in a
> Kampala newspaper, recanting his alleged role in any conspiracy to
overthrow
> the UPC government. I think he did add that if there were such
conspiracies,
> he was not aware of it. I do not remember reading any rebuttals of
George's
> position.
>
> If all the interpretations, innuendos, etc., are allowed to flower and the
> truth will be somewhere in between. I will continue reading the arguments
to
> find it.
>
> JSA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "YOSWA DAMBISYA" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "YOSWA DAMBISYA"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 3:20 PM
> Subject: Kanyeihamba on the Phantom Arms ofthe1960s, Ibingira and
> theConspiracies
>
>
> > Omw Ssemakula,
> >
> > As I await the evidence which you expect me to dispute in defense of
> Milton Obote and his part in the 1960s developments, I have been reading
> "Justice Prof Dr GW Kanyeihamba; LLB, LLM, PhD, JSC, SC" 's recently
> released book: Constitutional and Political History of Uganda: From 1984
to
> the Present.
> >
> > I found a section on what he refers to as the "Dramatic Years,
1962-1966"
> and "The Conspiracies" therein particularly relevant to the issue of the
> phantom arms. I have attempted to reproduce sections of the book for the
> edification of those who may not have got hold of the book yet. I
apologise
> for any mistakes that I may have made in the process but are willing to
> correct them as the discussions proceed. The quotes are taken from pages
> 88-94.
> >
> > ".......By 1965, the divisionist and traditionalist elements had
> penetrated the party, and acquired active supporters within the rank and
> file of the party followers**. The party was torn by confusion because
many
> of those voices belonged to some of the most influential leaders of the
> party* After the successful referendum and successful transfer of the two
> "Lost Counties" to Bunyoro in 1964, the animosity of Buganda towards the
> Obote government and UPC escalated. Buganda traditionalists at Mengo ****
> begun to exploit all possible political angles with the aim of undermining
> and eventually removing Obote from power. A political alliance between the
> Kabaka, his ministers and disgruntled elements within UPC was reached. The
> latter included and was led by the then Minister of Justice, Grace
Ibingira,
> who was at the same time, the Secretary General of UPC. He had
******Balaki
> Kirya, George Magezi and Dr Emmanuel Lumu, who were also Cabinet Ministers
> in Obote's government*****..
> >
> > " In conjunction with the Mengo traditionalists and with the consent of
> the President, Edward Mutesa II, the King of Buganda, the conspirators
> approved the contents of a letter which was sent to Her Majesty, Elizabeth
> II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth,
requesting
> her government to supply them with guns so that they could fight and
> overthrow Milton Obote***.. Her Majesty declined the request.
> >
> > " The conspirators next turned to the British High Commission in Uganda
> and requested it to get in touch with British private firms of gun
> manufacturers and ask them to supply guns. Gailey and Roberts**.. were
> contacted but they too declined to assist the conspiracy, but somehow
> through some other means, which have not been revealed by anyone, the
> conspirators managed to get hold of some guns and ammunition. This first
> part of the conspiracy, which was purely military was then truly set.
> >
> > " The next stage of the conspiracy was political. King Mutesa and the
> first group of conspirators began to persuade others from Central
> Government, Parliament and the opposition groups to join them in the
mission
> of overthrowing the Obote government. Part of the plans to discredit that
> Government was for the Opposition group in Parliament to bring charges and
> allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Obote and his close
> associates so as to debate a motion of a Vote of No Confidence in Obote
and
> pass it in Parliament. An interesting phenomenon developed*** People who
had
> been entrusted with maintenance of the Westminster model of democracy in
> Uganda were now dissenting from their own party policies****..They would
eat
> their cake and have it a the same time****. They kept their ministerial
> portfolios thus flattering the Prime Minister, while at the same time
> working secretly for his downfall.
> >
> > " The feudalists and traditionalists who joined the conspiracy had
thought
> that they had lost so much under Obote. The dignity and grandeur of
> traditionalism required a government that respected the rulers, chiefs and
> the proprietary rights of the privileged few in the country. The Obote
> Government was radical; at least it claimed to be***..the Obote Government
> was putting common people above the traditional rulers and their henchmen.
> This trend had to be stopped by the creation of a government which would
owe
> allegiance to the country's traditional groups rather than to the masses.
> >
> > " The third conspiracy was supposed to be inspired and led by the Prime
> Minister himself. According to his accusers, who included Mutesa himself,
> this group had as their motives, the destruction of the Independence
> Constitution, the establishment of a leftist dictatorship, the undermining
> of Uganda's ancient traditions and customs and the take-over by the state
of
> personal property which had been built through individual private
> enterprise.
> >
> > " A study of the events at that time reveals sufficient evidence to
> suggest that the first and second conspiracies existed in one form or
> another. We shall discuss the third conspiracy first. There is no doubt
that
> the UPC always claimed to be radical and socialist**the party claimed to
> represent the masses of Uganda rather than one region****.Government
talked
> in terms of nation building and development that required the feeling of
> oneness, throughout the county****The development of the country required
> new attitudes towards the country's traditions and
customs****Consequently,
> if Obote and his Government intended to carry out these changes, it was
> inevitable that the constitution would change.
> >
> > " However, was this a conspiracy?........this was no more a conspiracy
> than the act when government changed the constitution whereby Uganda
ceased
> to form part of Her Majesty's dominions, or when the Governorship was
> abolished to be replaced by a Ugandan President, or when the powers of the
> traditional rulers were altered****.Conspirators are secretive by trade.
> They discuss in whispers and plot by night**By contrast**Obote and his
> colleagues in the UPC did not hide their ideas**they debated them in
public
> places, shouted them at public rallies and published them in the press and
> magazines. ***..A government can sometimes be wrong*****.but it cannot be
> said that anyone who advocates change of an established institution,
however
> unpopular that change may be, is a conspirator. On this account alone,
Obote
> was not conspiring to overthrow the government of which he was the
political
> head.
> >
> > " However, an examination of available evidence on the first two
> conspiracies suggests that they did exist****At the Gulu Party Conference,
> for example, no less a person than the Secretary-General of the party,
Grace
> Ibingira, participated in a move to expel one of the party's leading
> radicals, John Kakonge from top leadership****..Apparently, sympathizers
> with these elements were carefully selected and recruited in the armed
> forces and arms and ammunitions began to arrive in the country without the
> knowledge of the Government. There can be no doubt that these were the
acts
> in a conspiracy***."
> >
> > The arms, at least according to another trained lawyer, were real, and
so
> were the attempts to remove Obote et al "by all means". Ibingira does not
> come out in such good light, unfortunately, but I need not apologise for
> Justice Kanyeihamba since at many points he cites private conversations
with
> Ibingira himself.
> >
> > Over to you, Nduggu Ssemakula.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Yoswa.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
