News coming in from Jinja is painting a very messy picture inside the Busoga political and cultural circles. Reports indicate that Busoga Tourism Minister Hellen Namutamba, with the backing of Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has allegedly mobilized goons headed by a one Nabasirye who is said to be distributing money to incite demonstrations around Bugembe — with the target being Obwa’Kyabazinga properties.
The fire was lit after Lands Minister Sam Mayanja revealed that while probing the Bugembe land saga, he found a letter signed years back by then Presidential Private Secretary Kenneth Omona, directing the Ministry of Lands to intervene and protect residents of Mafubira, Bugembe from eviction off their bibanja.
Now Kadaga’s camp — especially her aide Namutamba — is accusing Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Joseph Muvawala of failing to stand with her politically. They’ve further dragged him into claims that land around Bugembe Hill (legally owned by the Obwa’Kyabazinga) has been mishandled, yet up to now there’s no public confirmation of any dispute there.
For context: President Museveni himself reportedly followed up on this matter after Kadaga, then Speaker of Parliament, petitioned him. But years down the road, no conclusive investigations have been done — the Kingdom insists the land is theirs and has repeatedly called on squatters to register properly.
Meanwhile, Insiders say Kadaga, who once stood tall as a Busoga Kingdom loyalist, now feels cornered and ignored. Sources close to her claim she believes the Kingdom’s current leadership is deliberately sidelining her politically as she grows older — and this has sparked bitter fallout.
And this isn’t the first time Minister Hellen Namutamba finds herself in political controversy as not long ago she was arrested over alleged blackmail against Speaker Anita Among, after blogger Brian Kinene confessed to receiving mobile money from her to smear Among and Kadaga’s rivals in Busoga.
For now, the Bugembe land matter remains sticky, but if the claims of mobilizing goons to attack Obwa’Kyabazinga property are true, then we could be looking at one of the most explosive cultural-political showdowns Busoga has seen in years.
