BAZUUKULU BA BUGANDA RADIO INTERNET.COM 88.8/89.2
MAY NGA 24 BULI MWAKA OMUGANDA ALINA OKUJJUKIRA OLUTALO LW'OBOTE OKUWAMBA OBUGANDA. OBWAKABAKA BWA BUGANDA BWAVAWO. ENSI REPUBLIC NEYIYIZIBWA.
 
Mmengo erabudde abawandiisa abantu abali ku Ttaka ly’Obwa
Kabaka:
Posted 5th May, 2015
 
By  Bukedde reporter, Uganda
 
Kyewalabye (ku ddyo) ng’ayogerera mu musomo.
 

AKULIRA ekitongole ky’ebyettaka mu bwakabaka ekya Buganda Land Board (BLB):

 

Kyewalabye Male, alabudde abaami ba Kabaka abagenda okwenyigira mu kuwandiisa ebibanja by’abasenze ku ttaka ly’Obwakabaka beewale obukumpanya n’emivuyo kuba bayinza okusibwa.

Yagambye nti wadde ng’enteekateeka eno egenderedde kuyamba bantu ba Ssaabasajja kufuna biwandiiko ebituufu mu mateeka ku bibajnja byabwe, wandibaawo bannakigwanyizi abayinza okukozesa omukisa guno okwenoonyeza ebyabwe.

Bino Male, eyabadde n’abakozi ba BLB ne katikkiro w’ebyalo bya Kabaka,  Lubega Mutunzi, yabyogedde   mu kuggalawo omusomo ogwetabiddwaamu Abaamagombolola, Abeemiruka n’Abatongole mu ssaza ly’e Kyaggwe ku mbuga ya Ssekiboobo e Mukono ogwategekeddwa okubabangula ku nkola gye bagenda okugoberera nga basomesa n’okuwandiisa abasenze ku ttaka ly’Obwakabaka. Enteekateeka eno yatandika nga May 4, 2015.

Ssekiboobo Benjamin Kigongo yagambye nti ebibanja ebitalambuddwa si bya kuwandiikibwa olw’okwewala enkaayana. Nb

Ekizibu ky'abaami ba Ssabasajja kyelaga kyoka. Baddidde abobuyinza babiri babateese mu kalo ka Buganda akedda. Ebyawandiikibwa bitugamba ki? Toyinza kuwuliriza bakama bo babiri. Oleka ko omu okumuwulira nowulira omulala. Tugambe ki? Mufumbiro bwemufumbiramu abafumbiro abangi Mmere kiki eyo evayo?

Genda mukalo kafe wano e Buganda. Owe Gombolola atuuka okubuuza ettaka lye kitebe kye werikoma. Bamugamba kimu. LC 1 yaliteekako ba Investor abava e Buyindi. Ate ekubo elyaffe eryedda elyayita wano ku Saza lya Kangawo. Olwo Kangawo abuuza: Bamugamba kimu. Disi yasibawo Sengenge ensonga zino ziri mu National Land Board. Okunsiba Sebo Mwami tekulimu. Tonda bwatakuuma abakuuma bakumira bwerere Jjajja. Kugwa mubunya bwewesimira nga olaba. Kitalo nyo.

 

Bazudde obulyazama

nyi bwe ttaka lya Buganda  mu ofiisi ze Wakiso:

 

By Rogers Kibirige

 

Added 30th September 2016

 

Ying. Sabiiti (owookubiri ku ddyo) ne babaka banne nga baliko bye babuuza omukozi mu minisitule y’ebyetta e Wakiso (ku ddyo).

 

EMIVUYO egiri mu ofiisi ya  minisitule y’ebyettaka esangibwa  e Wakiso ku kitebe kya disitulikiti  giwuniikirizza ababaka.

Ng’oggyeeko okuba ng’abakozi  abamu tebasobola kunnyonnyola  ngeri gye bakolamu emirimu,  bangi mu ofiisi zaabwe bawunyamu  mpunye. Batuuka kikeerezi  ate bwe ziwera 6:00 ez’omu  ttuntu ng’abamu bannyuka.

Bakozesa bboggo eri abatuuze  ate abalala empapula zaabwe  teziwera.  Ono ye kacica muyite cculugu  ababaka ba palamenti abaalambudde  ofiisi za minisitule  y’ebyettaka zino ku Lwokusatu  gwe baasanzeeyo.

Ababaka abaakulembeddwa  ssentebe w’akakiiko akalondola  enkola y’emirimu aka (Physical  infrastructure Committee) Ying.  Denis Sabiiti (Rubanda) baategeezezza  nti kyannaku okulaba  ng’abakozi ba Minisitule ab’e  Wakiso babonyabonya abantu ne  babatambuzanga okubakolera  ku nsonga z’ettaka kyokka bwe  bamala ne babamma ebyapa.

Sabiiti yayongeddeko nti baazudde  nti abakozi ba Minisitule  balina obutakkaanya n’abakola  mu ofiisi y’ebyettaka eya disitulikiti  y’e Wakiso ekireetedde entambuza  y’emirimu okuzingama.

Kwe kusaba minisitule  n’abakulembeze ba disitulikiti  okugonjoola ensonga eno mu  bwangu.

Yayongeddeko nti n’abakozi  abasangibwa mu kifo abantu we  batuukira, engeri gye bakwatamu  bakasitoma n’abagenyi eraga nti  si batendeke kimala era beetaaga  okuddamu okubangulwa mu  bwangu.

Yategeezezza nti byonna bye  baasanze e Wakiso, bagenda  kubikolamu lipooti bagitwale mu  palamenti y’eggwanga ekubaganyizibweko  ebirowoozo.

 Baalabudde nti ssinga minisitule  y’ebyettaka tetereeza bizibu biri  Wakiso, eggyibwewo kuba ebeera  tegasa Bannayuganda.

Ye ssentebe  wa disitulikiti  y’e Wakiso,  Matia Lwanga  Bwanika yategeezezza  nti ebbanga lyonna abadde  yeemulugunya ku ngeri abakozi ba  minisitule gye bakolamu emirimu  nga teri avaayo.

Yasabye nti ababaka bye bazudde  bireme kukoma mu lipooti,  wabula abavunaanyizibwa ku mivuyo  egiri mu minisitule ne ofiisi  y’e Wakiso, bakolweko.

Nb

Abakozi bano batukiriza mulimu gwa Bible ogwayogerwa ko Jjajja Isa Masiya 10/40 AD. E Buganda nakatono kolina nako kalikujjibwako nekaweebwa alina ekingi enyo.

  

EKIKA NJOVU.

 

OMUZIRO:NJOVU

 

AKABBIRO

NVUBU.

 

OMUTAKA

MUKALO

 

OBUTAKA

KAMBUGU

Buliji.

 

ESSAZA

BUSIRO

 

OMUBALA

Esimbye amasanga, Nakate ajja.

 

 

EKIKA MBWA

 

OMUZIRO:MBWA

 

AKABBIRO

Kyuuma kye basiba mu Mbwa.

 

OMUTAKA

MUTASINGWA.

 

OBUTAKA

KIGGWA

 

ESSAZA

BUSUJJU.

 

OMUBALA

Goba Omukazi oleete Embwa.

Abavubuka mwenyigire mu bulimi - Kabaka awadde amagezi:

 

8th December, 2014

 

By Dickson Kulumba ne Paddy Bukenya

 

Kabaka ng’awuubira ku bantu be ku mbuga y’eggombolola y’e Buwama mu ssaza ly’e Mawokota e Mpigi ku Lwomukaaga ku mikolo gy’Abavubuka mu Buganda.

 

KABAKA Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II alagidde abavubuka okwongera okwegatta 

beenyigire mu bulimi nga balima ebirime eby’ettunzi okusobola okwekulaakulanya.

Omutanda ng’ali ku mikolo gy’abavubuka mu Buganda ku mbuga y’eggombolola y’e Buwama mu ssaza lya Mawokota mu disitulikiti y’e Mpigi ku Lwomukaaga, yawadde abavubuka amagezi okukozesa ebifo ku masaza ne ku magombolola okukolerako emirimu egy’enjawulo egy’enkulaakulana

n’asiima abatandiseewo emirimu ne bayambako n’abalala okwebeezaawo.

 

 

Ente Omubaka Kenneth Kiyingi Bbosa (Mawokota South) gye yatonedde 

Ssaabasajja ku Lwomukaaga. 

 

Kabaka alagidde abavubuka okwekebeza Kabaka yakubirizza abavubuka okwekuuma:

 

“Omwaka guno tujjukiziddwa ensonga y’ebyobulamu. Abavubuka tusaanye okwekuuma nga tuli balamu, okwekebeza buli mwaka kubanga si kirungi okugenda mu ddwaaliro nga tumaze okugonda ate omuvubuka alina okulya obulungi.”

 

Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga yakunze abavubuka okukozesa emikisa Kabaka gy’abatee

reddewo; mu by’obulimi beekwate BUCADEF n’okuyingira Ssuubiryo Zambogo SACCO.

 

Omulamwa gwabadde; Omuvubuka omulamu ate nga mukozi ye nnamuziga w’enku

laakulana mu Buganda, era wano Minisita w’abavubuka e Mmengo, Henry Ssekabembe, we yategeerezza nga bammemba ba Ssuubiryo Zambogo SACCO bwe batuuse ku 1,500 nga kati balinawo n’obukadde 285.

 

Abamu ku Baamasaza ku mukolo gw’Abavubuka mu Buganda e Mawokota ku Lwomukaaga.

 

Omukolo gwetabyeko; ssentebe w’abavubuka mu Buganda, Richard Kabanda, Kayima David Ssekyeru, Katikkiro eyawummula Dan Mulika, sipiika wa Buganda Nelson Kawalya n’omumyuka we Ahmed Lwasa, Minisita Amelia Kyambadde, Omubaka Kenneth Kiyingi Bbosa (Mawokota South) ssaako baminisita b’e Mmengo, abakulu b’ebika n’Abaamasaza.

Abayimbi; Mathias Walukagga ne Fred Ssebbale be baasanyusiza abantu ba Kabaka.

The first bank in The Ganda Kingdom:

By Henry Lubega
 

Posted  Sunday,1 st March,  2015 

  

Before 1906, there was no banking institution in Uganda until November of the same year when the national Bank of India opened its first branch in Entebbe, and four years later it opened the first bank in Kampala, although it was later taken up to become Grindlys Bank.

The National Bank of India was followed by Standard Bank of South Africa Limited when on September 19, 1912, it opened its first branch in Kampala. And a few years later it opened another branch in Jinja.

Barclays

Barclays followed in 1927 when it opened two branches in Kampala and Jinja. In 1954 three more banks; Bank of Baroda, Bank of India and The Nedelandsche Handel-Maatschappij M.V (Netherlands Trading Society) opened in Uganda.

According to Saben’s commercial directory and handbook of Uganda, as early as 1949 the banking system had been established in Uganda but did not control much of the financial liquidity that was in circulation across the board in the country.

“Much of the money was controlled in the bazaars and other channels which were predominantly controlled by people of the Asian origin. These people played a key role in the buying of cotton.

However, areas where banks were non-existent, merchants in those areas played the part of the banks. This was through taking drafts in exchange for cash or physical items in exchange for hard cash,” Saben wrote.

By 1950, it was realised that to bring more Africans into the business there was need to provide them with credit. Unfortunately, the commercial banks at the time would not extend credit to Africans because of the nature of their securities.

Under Ordinance number 20 of 1950 the Uganda Credit and Saving Bank was created purposely to extend credit facilities to Africans with the aim of furthering agriculture, commercial building and co-operative society purposes.

On October 2, 1950, the bank was opened and by 1961 it had spread to places like Arua, Fort Portal, Jinja, Soroti, Gulu, Masaka and Mbale, taking only African deposits.

Building Society

Two years later, the first Building Society in Uganda was opened as a subsidiary of a Kenyan owned firm Savings and Loans Society Limited. 

More financial institutions continued to open up in Uganda with Lombard Bank from Kenya, in partnership with Uganda Development Corporation, opening the Lombank Uganda Limited in 1958. It was this bank which first introduced the hire purchase system of shopping in Uganda.

It was not until 1966 that through an act of Parliament that Bank of Uganda was created. Prior to this, issues to do with money were handled by the East African currency board which had its head offices in Kenya.

Kabaka wa Buganda akubirizza abakyala obutasirika nga bannaabwe batulugunyizibwa

By Musasi wa Bukedde

 

Added 10th May 2019

 

 

Kat2 703x422

Kabaka ng’awuubira ku bakyala.

 

KABAKA Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II akubirizza abakyala obutasirika nga bakyala bannaabwe bali mu bizibu n’okutulugunyizibwa okw’engeri ez’enjawulo lwe batuuka ku kufuna eddembe lyabwe n’enkulaakulana.

 

Bino yabyogeredde ku Hotel Africana ku Lwokusatu bwe yabadde aggalawo Ttabamiruka w’abakyala ba Buganda ow’omulundi ogw’omukaaga ng’ono yabumbujjidde wansi w’omulamwa ogugamba nti, “Omukyala omulamu obulungi, gwe musingi gw’obuyiiya n’enkulaakulana eyannamaddala.” Tukitegedde bulungi ensonga y’obulamu obulungi nga bweri enkulu mu kunyweza enkulaakulana y’abakyala.

Omuntu omulamu obulungi y’asobola okwetaba mu nkulaakulana y’eggwanga n’okulabirira abaana.

 

Ensonga eno nkulu era nze ngiwagira nnyo,” Kabaka bwe yagambye. Yagasseeko nti “Enkulaakulana eyo tujja kugituukako nga ffena tuvuddeyo okwatuukiriza abo bonna abeenyigidde mu kutyoboola eddembe ly’abaana abawala mu maka, mu masomero ne ku mirimu era tukubiriza abakyala obutasirika nga bakyala bannamwe batulugunyizibwa” Kabaka yalaze n’obwenyamivu ku ngeri abaana abawala gye bayisibwamu nga banoonya emirimu n’engeri abakulembeze gye babayisaamu kyokka ne watabeerawo kikolebwa. “Kinakuwaza okuwulira okweyongera kw’abakyala abattibwa.

Abalala babonaabona mu ngeri ez’enjawulo era wano twebuuza nti abantu baffe banaaddukira wa okwetangira embeera nga zino. Twongera okwewunya nga poliisi ekyagenda mu maaso n’okunoonyereza naye ng’okunoonyereza okwo tekukoma ate ebizuse mu kunoonyereza, tebyanjulwa nga tewali abimanyi,” Kabaka bwe yayogedde.

Omutanda yasanyudde abakyala bwe yabategeezezza nti guno gwe mulundi gwe ogwabadde gusoose okulaba ku muyimbi Stabua Natooro era namwebaza (yamuyise n’amubuuzaako) olw’okuyimba ennyimba ez’amakulu.

Omumyuka asooka owa Katikkiro wa Buganda, Polof. Twaha Kaawaase Kigongo yategeezezza nti ensonga y’obuyiiya nkulu ddala era Obwakabaka bwakwongera okuteekawo enteekateeka ezitumbula obuyiiya mu bakyala.

Ate Minisita avunaanyizibwa ku nkulaakulana y’abantu ne ofiisi ya Nnabagereka, Dr. Prosperous Nankindu Kavuma yategeezezza nga bwe wagenda okutegekebwawo omusomo gw’abasajja ku by’obulamu omwaka ogujja kubanga abakyala basomeseddwa nnyo nga kati baagala n’abasajja bongere okumanya ensonga ezikwata ku by’obulamu n’amaka.

Omusomo guno gwaguddwawo Nnabagereka ku makya nga yakubirizza abakyala okussa essira ku kwerabirira n’aba mu maka gaabwe nga balya emmere entuufu, okwenyigira mu bintu ebisanyusa obulamu bwabwe, bwe baneekuuma nga balamu.

Abamu ku basomeseza kwabad- Kabaka akubirizza abakyala obutasirika nga bannaabwe batulugunyizibwa deko Polof. Fredrick Makumbi, Dr. Sarah Zalwango, Dr. Olive Sentumbwe nga basomeseza ku mbeera z’obulamu mu bakyala abakyali mu myaka gy’okuzaala.

Dr. Fiona Kalinda, Dr. Sarah Nkonge, Dr. Diana Atwine-Omuwandiisi ow’enkalakalira owa minisitule y’ebyobulamu, Dr. Grace Nambatya, Dr. Yahaya Sekagya, Hajjat Aisha Nakasujja, Dr. Sabrina Kitaka nga baasomeseza ku ndya ennungi n’okukozesa eddagala.

Nb

Abasirukale ba Hitler aba NAZI bajja nebatwaala muliranwa nti bagenda kukola mu camps okukulakulanya ensi ye Germany. Wayitawo ekiseera, abasirukale bano nebakomawo nebatwala omuliraano ogudako. Abasigadewo mukifo kyokusirika omulundi guno nebagamba nti balyose nebatwala nabo kubanga era abamaka ago tebagala kukola nakamu. Abaana baabwe batawanya ekyalo. Kababatwale babayigirize okukola. Wayita ekiseera, abasirukale ba Hitler nebakomawo nate nebatwaala abasigadewo. Gyebabatwala bagenda okutukayo nga kyali kitta bantu okukamala. Ennaku ye nsi bwogilaba okusirika osirika at your own peril!

 

Kituufu nyo nga abakyala banabwe batulugunyizibwa abakyala baleke kusirika. Naye ate waliwo nyo okusirika kwabakyala ebiro bino nga abasajja batulugunyizibwa! Okulabula kuno omusajja omu Jew yakwogerako bwati nga abantu be ggwanga lye liggwawo okuttibwa nakyemalirira Hitler omu sajja omu Germany.

 

 

 

 

 

The late King of Buganda, David Chwa with his car during the 1910s

7th January, 2019

 

World Media

 

 

Any one with information on this attic car can make contact with e-mail: kabayekka@aol.com so that this car can be recovered and reconditioned. The name of the car and the makers is in doubt. Any one with the same car, please make contact.

 

 

 

 

 

Kabaka wa Buganda ajjukidde nnyina

By Moses Kigongo

 

Added 17th September 2018

 

Abambejja abalala okwabadde Dina Kigga ne Dorothy Nassolo baayogedde ku nnyaabwe ng’omukyala eyali omulungi lwondo ate ng’alina ekisa ekitiiriika ng’omubisi gw’enjuki.

 

Kabaka1 703x422

Kabaka, Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, Nnaalinnya Margaret Siwoza (ku ddyo wa Kabaka), aboolulyo Olulangira n’abalala mu Lutikko e Namirembe eggulo oluvannyuma lw’okusaba okw’okujjukira nnyina ne bakadde be abalala.

 

KABAKA yeetabye mu kusaba okw’okujjukira maama we omugenzi Namasole Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole mu Lutikko e Namirembe eggulo.

 
Kabaka Mutebi eyabadde ne Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda yatuuse ku ssaawa 5:00 ez’oku makya ne yeegattibwako abaana b’Engoma okwabadde omulangira Richard Ssemakookiro eyabadde anekedde mu ssuuti eya kikuusikuusi nga ku ssaati enjeru
ng’omuzira tataddeeko ttaayi, Jjunju Ssuuna Kiweewa, Joan Nassolo ne Victoria Nkinzi.
 
Okusaba kwakulembeddwa omulabirizi w’e Namirembe Bp. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira
eyabuuliridde abazadde ku nkuza y’abaana ey’obuvunaanyizibwa.
 
Omukolo guno gwetabiddwaako abalangira n’abambejja abaakulembeddwa David Wasajja ne Nnaalinnya Margaret Siwoza.
 
Abambejja abalala okwabadde Dina Kigga ne Dorothy Nassolo baayogedde ku nnyaabwe ng’omukyala eyali omulungi lwondo ate ng’alina ekisa ekitiiriika ng’omubisi gw’enjuki.
 inisita melia yambadde sipiika wa uganda elson awalya senseko ulubya owookubiri ku kkono nabakungu abalala mu kusabaMinisita Amelia Kyambadde, sipiika wa Buganda Nelson Kawalya, Ssenseko Kulubya (owookubiri ku kkono) n’abakungu abalala mu kusaba.

 

 
“Maama yalina omutima ogwagala buli mwana era nga kizibu okwawula Abalangira, Abambejja, Bassaava ne ba Nnaava ku baana b’abagalagala kubanga ffenna twazannyiranga wamu,” bwatyo Kigga bwe yategeezezza.
 
Ate Muky. Joyce Mpanga yamwogeddeko ng’omukyala eyakuza abaana b’Engoma n’obuvunaanyizibwa era nga tabakkiriza kweyisa mu ngeri etyoboola ekitiibwa ky’Abalangira n’Abambejja mu Lubiri.
 
Okusaba kuno kwetabiddwaako ebikonge okuva mu Bwakabaka bwa Buganda n’ebweru waabwo. Omumbejja wa Toro Elizabeth Bagaya wamu n’ebikonge okuva mu gavumenti ebyakulembeddwa minisita w’ebyobusuubuzi n’amakolero Amelia Kyambadde.
 
Bajjukidde n’omulangira Richard Bamweyana Walugembe gwe baayogeddeko ng’eyali ekyokulabirako mu Balangira.
Nb
 
Ensonga eno erimu amakulu mangi nyo. Kubanga obufuzi nobuyinza butuuka kumutwe gwomufuzi nebimutawanya okukamala. Naye mubyafaayo byensi yonna, kizibu okusangayo omufuzi ayali akutte nyinna nalagira bamusaleko obulago! Omufuzi omugwi weddalu asobola okutta mutabaniwe, oba mukaziwe.
 
Era Kabaka wa Buganda kyabuwangwa obulungi ddala okujjukira nga nyinna. Anti singa akyaliwo singa bwebakulembera bombi Obuganda. Era gwemutawana oguli mu kika Kyabalangira wano e Buganda. Kubanga Kabaka wa Buganda bwatula bwati ku Namulondo taba na Kika okujjako mpozzi nga ajira abeera mu kika kya nyinna.
 
 
 
 
 

Buganda officials have failed to attend Kamuswaga’s  coronation anniversary this year:

Kamuswaga Apollo Ssansa Kabumbuli II (M) greets Ms Beti Kamya, the Minister for Kampala at the function on Tuesday, 15 May, 2018. Photo by Ambrose Musasizi  

16 May, 2018

By Ambrose Musasizi and Moses Muwulya

 

RAKAI- The hereditary cultural leader of Kooki chiefdom, Kamuswaga Apollo Ssansa Kabumbuli II, has marked his 14th coronation anniversary at Bakijulula, Byakabanda Sub- county in Kooki amid questions over the absence of Buganda Kingdom representatives.

Hundreds of Kamuswaga’s subjects were joined by representatives from other cultural institutions except Buganda Kingdom.

According Mr Stanley Ndawula, the spokesperson of the chiefdom, they invited both Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga but none of them attended.

Mr Ndawula said, the failure by Buganda officials to attend the function does not diminish their [Kooki chiefdom’s] spirit to with work Buganda Kingdom.

 "We took the honour and invited them [Buganda Kingdom] a gesture that we recognise them," Mr Ndawula said. 

 Buganda has been sending representatives to attend previous coronation anniversaries and in 2016, Kabaka’s chief in Buddu County, Mr Vincent Mayiga, represented the kingdom.

Buddu County borders Kooki County.

When the Kamuswaga was being installed in 2004, the former Katikkiro of Buganda, Mr Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere represented the Kabaka.

 Ms Beti Kamya, the Kampala Minister, who was the chief guest, urged   the people of Kooki to be loyal to their Kamuswaga because he was “anointed by God”.

“He is in charge of this territory. You have to be loyal to him because such leaders are anointed by God,” she said on Tuesday at the function.

Efforts to talk to Buganda Kingdom spokesperson, Mr Noah Kiyimba were futile  since repeated phone calls went unanswered.

However, Mr Vincent Mayega, the Kabaka’s chief in Buddu County said Buganda Kingdom officials were not invited.

 “I could not attend a function where I wasn’t invited. We used to enjoy a good working relationship with Kooki and I am personally surprised that they held such a big event and forgot to invite us,” he said on Wednesday.

Last year, Kooki chiefdom petitioned the Central government asking it to intervene in its strained relationship with Buganda Kingdom.

In a June 2, 2017 letter to Minster of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Hajjat Janat Mukwaya, Hajji Ahmed Kiwanuka, the Kooki prime minister complained that Mengo was undermining the Kooki chiefdom and its hereditary cultural leader, the Kamuswaga.

He said in the letter that the attitude of some Buganda officials was in total contravention of an agreement the leaders of the two institutions signed 121 years ago.

Kooki was once an independent kingdom until 1886, when it became a semi-independent chiefdom under Buganda Kingdom.

Kooki was seeking protection against external invasion.

In an agreement between the then Kamuswaga Hezekiah Ndaula and Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda, Kooki county became part of Buganda Kingdom, but with a special status above other counties.

Kooki leaders also said in their petition that due to the continued marginalisation by Mengo, the Kamuswaga suspended all official representation of Kooki chiefdom at Mengo until the two parties come to an agreement.

 According to Mr Ndawula , Kooki chiefdom  is one of the recognised cultural institutions in the Uganda Constitution and it is not a “mere county” as Buganda Kingdom wants it  to be.

Since his enthronement in 2003, there have been reports that the Kamuswaga is hatching a plan to secede from Buganda Kingdom, after accusing the establishment at Mengo of not honouring the agreement his fore fathers signed with Buganda.

The chiefdom has previously said that the Kamuswaga’s throne is supposed to be inside the Mengo Lukiiko Hall.

 In July 2015, Kooki officials declared their chiefdom an independent entity and for any Mengo official to visit the area, he or she has to seek permission from the Kamuswaga.

However, some elders in Kooki have since warned the chiefdom officials against seceding from Buganda, saying it would be a miscalculation.

In 2016, the Kooki Council, banned the singing of Buganda’s anthem in all schools and at official functions under its jurisdiction.

The council also resolved to use English during its council meetings. It was resolved that Luganda could only be used by officials who can’t communicate in English.

editorial@ug.natiomedia.com

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Kiyingi's Wife has Abandoned a Singing Career so that she can look after her children full time:

The loving African couple. Mr and Mrs Kiyingi

11 March, 2018

By the Staff Writer, Redpepper, Uganda.
 
Mariam Nakayiira, the wife of wealthy cardiologist Aggrey Kiyingi, has decided to end her rather dormant music career.
Galiemaya as Nakayiira was known, was a struggling singer in Kampala but when she hooked the loaded Australia based doctor in 2008, things took a drastic turn in her life and  music career.
The lovers walked down the aisle and she ended up in Australia with her ageing lover Kiyingi. She continued recording some music but most of it wouldn’t exceed the walls of her house or those of  her family members as the only fans who would listen to it.
Although the loaded surgeon pumped lots of dime into his wife to record more songs with top producers, reality proved that she didn’t have the X factor for music and her best option was settling in her marriage.
 
Sources intimate that Galiemaya has given up on the music career and decided to settle down to look after their children. Mariam had close to ten songs but they all failed to receive airplay despite the money she pumped in marketing them. Snoops intimate that most of Galiemaya’s songs are centered on love messages for her hubby with no attribution whatsoever to society, reason why they didn’t appeal to many music lovers.
 
Nb
One understands this is a family struggling to fund raise and try and topple the long standing African dictator of Uganda by military means. The current government of Uganda is an African regime specialised in Gerrymandering of African democratic election process and yet it removed the same government in a bloody civil war that was doing the same in the 1980s. Mr Kiyingi and associates do not seem to be up to the job.
 
The country of Uganda seems tired of it all. Taking on never ending civil wars that removes African dictators and afterwards begets African tyrants.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kattikiro w'Ensi Buganda alonze olukiiko olw'okuddaabiriza Twekobe n' Olubiri lwonna, kakati emyaka 25 nga ebifo bino bibadde  tebikozesebwa mubutongole: 

By Dickson Kulumba

 

Added 5th March 2018

 

 


KABAKA ayungudde basajja be enkwatangabo okukulemberamu omulimu gw’okuyooyoota Twekobe okugituusa ku mulembe gw’ensi yonna bagimukwase nga July 24,2018 terunayita okusobola okukoleramu emikolo gy’ebijaguzo by’emyaka 25 bukya atuuzibwa ku Nnamulondo.

Abalondeddwakuliko Godfrey Kirumira akulira ekibiina ky’Abagagga Kwagalana mu Kampala ng’amyukibwa John Bagambe,Munnamateeka Masembe Kanyerezi ye Muwanika ate  Omukungu Robert Ssewava ye Muwandiisi ssaako ne Bammemba abalala bawera 50. 

Ng’atongoza olukiiko luno olwatuumiddwa “TWEKOBE EJJUDDE”,Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga yategezezza nti Obuganda buli mu kusomoozebwa kubanga Olubiri lwa Buganda olutongole weeruli kyokka Kabaka tasobola kululamuliramu wadde Nnabagereka okugerekeramu Obuganda bwatyo n'asaba olukiiko olutereddwawo okulaba nga lutandikira ku kulaba nga Twekobe etekebwamu buli kalonda anagiteeka ku mutindo.

Kattikiro wa Buganda nga alamusa kubakungu bakakiiko akalondeddwa.
 

“Tugenda kujaguza emyaka 25 nga Kabaka ali ku Nnamulondo bwetutyo ne tukiraba nga kyetaagisa Ssabasajja afune Twekobe ejjudde ng’erimu ebibajje si mu ofiisi mwokka wabula mu nju eno yonna akoleremu emirimu gye gy'ateekeddwa okukola nga Kabaka wa Buganda.

Olubiri lw’e Mmengo lwe Lubiri olutongole era Olukulu n’olwekyo ffe abaweereza kituwa ekifaananyi ekibi nti Kabaka alamula Obuganda naye Olubiri lwe tasobola kululamuliramu ate ne Nnabagereka talina wagerekera,” Mayiga bweyategezezza ng'annyonnyola obukulu bw’okuyooyoota Twekobe.

Olukiiko luno luli wansi w’Olukiiko olunene olutegeka amatikkira ga Kabaka ag’emyaka 25 era nga terunalondebwa, Eggwanika lya Buganda libadde likola omulimu gw’okuddabiriza Twekobe nga wetwogerera ensimbi eziwera 800 okutereza ebintu eby’enjawulo naddala ofiisi ya Kabaka n’ekisenge omusisinkanirwa abantu nga byatereddwa ku mutindo.

Kati obuvunanyizibwa obwolekedde olukiiko luno kwe kulaba nga buli kisenge ekiri mu Twekobe nga kirimu ebibajje n’ebiwunde,effumbiro ery’omulembe n’ebirala ng’omulimu gwonna gusuubirwa okumalawo ensimbi ezisukka akawumbi kalamba.

Twekobe y’enju enkulu mu Lubiri lwa Kabaka era ng’eno eriwo yaddira Obwakabaka mu 1997 era ne wabeerawo okugirongoosa okwamaanyi mu 1999 mu kiseera ky’embaga ya Kabaka kati omulimu omulala ku maka gano kuzzeemu mu 2016.

 

“Mu bubaka bwe obukomekereza Omwaka Kabaka yatulagira tuteeke essira ku kkulakulanya Olubiri. Bwetumaliriza Twekobe nga tubeera tugenda mu maaso ne Kaweefube w’okuddaabiriza Olubiri tuve ku bigambo by’abantu, nze sitambulira ku bigambo by’abantu wabula nkola kituufu,” Mayiga bweyayogedde.

Mu kukkiriza obuvunanyizibwa, ku lwa banne, Kirumira yategeezezza nti bagenda kubutuukiriza bakole Twekobe ebeere nga g’emaka ag’ennono agasinga ekitiibwa ku lukalu lw’Omuddugavu.

Kabaka Mutebi II yatuuzibwa ku Nnamulondo ya Bajjajjabe nga July 31,1993 era ebijjaguzo by’omwaka guno bigenda kubeera mu Lubiri e Mmengo ng’olukiiko olukulu lukulirwa Dr. Twaha Kaawaase,Omumyuka ow’okubiri owa Katikkiro wa Buganda.

 

 

 

 

 

Katikkiro's visit to Kayunga questioned by Ssabanyala: 

Mr Kimeze (M) at the commission of

Mr Kimeze (M) at the commission of the Shs2 billion building. Photo by Fred Muzaale  

08 November, 2017
By FRED MUZAALE

BUGERERE, KAYUNGA: A planned visit by the Katikkiro of Buganda, Mr Charles Peter Mayiga to Kayunga District next has been questioned by Maj. Baker Kimeze, the Banyala Cultural leader.

Mr Kimeze says Mengo, the seat of Buganda Kingdom has not sought permission from them before the Mr Mayiga’s visit.

The development is likely threaten the delicate relationship between Mengo and Banyala cultural association after the bloody 2009 Buganda that were triggered by the government’s decision to stop the then Katikkiro Eng. JB Walusimbi from going to Kayunga ahead of the Kabaka Mutebi’s visit.

At least 20 people died during the riots while property worth millions was destroyed.

Since 2009, Kabaka Mutebi has twice visited the area.

Kayunga is located in Bugerere County of Buganda Kingdom.

However, the Banyala, sub-tribe of Baganda claim that “they seceded from Buganda Kingdom to form an independent kingdom.”

Mr Mayiga, according to the Mengo chief in charge of Bugerere County, Mr James Ssempigga, is scheduled to visit the district next week to re-launch a coffee growing campaign in the once biggest coffee growing district in the country.

Mr Mayiga would later hold a meeting with the Bataka in Bugerere County at the contested Bbaale Sub-county headquarters, where the Banyala are constructing their headquarters and the Ssabanyala’s palace.

Speaking during the commissioning of a Shs2 billion administration block in Bbaale town, on Tuesday, the Mr Kimeze said he has information to the effect that the Katikkiro would visit the district adding that he is however, surprised that he had not been consulted by Mengo over the matter. 

“Under the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between Mengo and the Central government, it was resolved that Mengo leaders are free to visit this area, but only if, they seek permission from us,” he said while what he called a photo copy of the Memorandum of Understanding.

 “Over my dead body, I am this time going to command this war myself if he forcefully insists on his visit here. He would only come if I am dead,” Mr Kimeze said.

He said he has been forced to speak about the current political issues in the country by some cultural institutions, like Mengo, which have openly expressed their opposition to the scrapping of the age limit from the Constitution saying such leaders are “selfish.”

“If the Constitution was not amended, kingdoms that had been abolished like Buganda wouldn’t have been restored. They [Mengo] are cutting the branch on which they are seated. To all of us, [cultural leaders], President Museveni is our father, so, we should support him,” he said.

Buganda Kingdom Information Minister, Mr Noah Kiyimba, said the Katikkiro’s visit to Kayunga is on schedule. 

He insisted that Mengo would not seek permission from Mr Kimeze.

 “We condemn such statement. Do the Banyala seek permission from Mengo to allow them come to Kampala where they spend most of their time?” Mr Kiyimba asked.

fmuzaale@ug.nationmedia.com

 

 

 

 

OBUKULEMBEZE BW'ENSI BUGANDA

Obulabe obuli mubukulembeze obutalimu bwa Kabaka

The five key dangers of life-presidency

July 14, 2017

Written by MOSES KHISA

Mr Moses Khisa

 

One, the longer a ruler stays in power, the more he/she becomes the law, the only credible institution for managing public affairs, and the sole centre for crucial decision-making.

Presidential longevity breeds personalization of power and de-institutionalization of politics. It erodes the basic institutional fabric especially for a young nation such as Uganda. After three decades in power, functional state and governmental institutions are seen as posing a threat to General Museveni’s grip on power.

This is most ironic because you expect that a head of state and chief executive for a country would find it prudent to govern through proper institutional channels. But the insecurity and jitteriness that come with a long stay in power compel a president to undermine formal institutions to secure themselves in power through informal and illegal structures. Formal institutions then are reduced to a mere façade.

This is the logic of the neopatrimonial state that has long been seen as predominating social relations and characterizing many postcolonial African states.

You look at the manner in which the police force has been fragmented under the command of a partisan inspector general, the use of State House connections as the final stamp in decisions and deal-making, the arm-twisting of parliament using all manner of power brokers and the ruling party caucus, the opaque process of appointing judicial officers especially judges, etc, all add up to the logic of undermining the growth of autonomous and credible institutions of state and government.

The overriding drive and thrust is to maintain a tight grip on power.

Two, nepotism, favoritism and cronyism tend to define presidential longevity and are a logical consequence of the exigencies of holding onto power. Today, the regime of General Museveni is easily one of the most nepotistic of the current generation of long-surviving authoritarian regimes around the world. For various reasons, Ugandans speak about nepotism in hushed tones.

For example, a cursory look at the command structure of the security agencies and the armed forces, key positions in statutory authorities and state agencies, and State House itself, suggests a deeper problem of a fundamentally skewed composition of public positions and betrays glaring nepotism.

The longer Museveni has held on, the more he has become insensitive to making appointments of a most nepotistic nature, including having his own wife holding a powerful ministerial portfolio.

The bedfellows to nepotism are favoritism and cronyism. Decisions in big procurement deals and use of state assets are determined not through transparent and legal procedures but on the basis of informal connections and networks involving individuals and groups allied to the status quo, who finance regime continuity during elections and who contribute to building a large state patronage.

The upshot is the erosion of the value of merit and competence in getting a government job or undertaking a public project. There is runaway rent-seeking and profiteering through connections, and not actual innovative and productive economic activity.

Three, the centrality of money in politics and the high cost of providing physical security to the president and the presidency emerge as pointers to decline in legitimacy of a ruler who has overstayed.

Where it was easy to use persuasion, it becomes only doable through money, literally having to buy consent but also procure it through coercion when necessary. Throwing around real cash is as expensive as using the coercive arsenal of the state.

The position of president, and even that of a member of parliament, is increasingly seen by the public as a job for which the office-holder must pay to keep. Thus, we have observed successive elections becoming a lot more expensive and the use of huge sums of money taking center stage.

Related, the presidential motorcade and security detail is a humongous entity paid for by a big official budget vote and unknown classified expenditure through defense and security. There have to be layers of security and protection for the president but also for the attendant big presidential community. It has to get more costly every passing year.

Four, deepening social and political fragmentation. Long-standing one-man rule has the tendency of fostering social tensions. There is a sense among sections of society and regions of the country of political exclusion.

The response to this in Uganda has been, among other tactics, balkanization through creation of unviable tribal-districts and the promotion of local governments built around presumed localized access to the national budget.

Uganda today comes across as a highly-divided society with the potential for social animosity that can explode into something tragic. Social tensions have, for now, been in part held at bay by political fragmentation yet this in itself is recipe for more problems.

Lastly, the sum of the above problems wrought by an imperial presidency is uncertainty with regard to the future of the country. The state of uncertainty, although not necessarily engineered by the ruler, is nevertheless functional for his continued stay in power.

With the public not sure what the future holds in terms of political stability and social cohesion, the ruler can continue presenting himself as the best bet and sole guarantor. 

moses.khisa@gmail.com

The author is the interim secretary, Society for Justice and National Unity, a Kampala-based think-tank.

Ekitabo kino: OBUKULEMBEZE BWA BUGANDA, kitandise okutundibwa mu bitundu by'ensi ya Buganda nga kilambika bulungi ekifo kya Buganda  wakati wobufuzi bwa M7 obwa Uganda obwe myaka 30.

Kiwandiikiddwa Olukiiko lw'Abazzukulu b'Abataka b'Obwakabaka bwa Buganda.

Posted: 15 August 2016

ENSALO Z'ENSI YA BUGANDA WAKATI MUNSI YA CONTINENT ENENE EY'AFRICA.

Ebinyonyolwa nga bino ate nga bingi, byonna biri mukitabo kino!

Ensibuko y'Ekigambo "KABAKA"

Ekigambo 'Kabaka' kyatandiikira kubantu babiri. Omulangira  omufuzi eyali ku Kiwu kya Ccwa Nnabakka omubereberye ne mutabaniwe  Omulangira Kalemeera Omutikkizzankumbi.  Abo bebaasooka okuggyibwamu akaba ne kawundibwa mu maliba n'embugo. Omugugu gw'akaba ogwo gw'akuumibwanga nnyo olw'buyinza obwagulimu, era nga guweebwa nyo ekitiibwa..............

Ensibuko y'Ekigambo "SSEKABAKA"

Kabaka w'Obwakabaka bwa Buganda eyasooka okuyitibwa Ssekabaka ye Mulangira Ssekamanya Kungubu Kiggala Omwaana wa Tembo. Ono yali Kabaka w'Obukulembeze bwa Buganda Owo Kutaano (5).............

Kabaka okulya Obuganda, tabusikira.

Kubigambo byonna ebyogerwa  ku mbeera za Kabaka wa Buganda tewali kugamba nti Kabaka afudde oba yafudde oba yaffa. Ba Kabaka ba Buganda tebafa. Babula bubuzi era basigalawo nga balamu. Babeera bavudde ku Bwakabaka  bwa Buganda naye nga Nnamulondo zaabwe tebazivuddeko. Babula nazo nebabeerayo mu Masiro gaabwe nga bakyazituddeko.

Kale bwetugamba nti Kabaka tasikira Namulondo kiba kitegeeza nti oli abaddewo abeera tafudde, aba avuddewo buvi. Olwonno omuggya n'amuddira mu kifo.

Eky'okulabirako kiikino, Katikkiro alya bulyi ekifo ky'Obwa Katikkiro nga ne Kabaka bw'alya Nnamulondo y'Obwakabaka. Okulya ssi kwe kusika. Okusika kubaako omufu ate okulya kiba kifo kyereere omulala nakitwala...............

Kubwakabaka, Obuwangwa tebukkiriza Kabaka kukozesa bikadde.

Byakozesa y'abisookerako era biba bifuuse bibye, agenda nabyo kubanga Obuganda buba bwabimuwa. Ebya Bassekabaka mu Masiro bibeera bya muzizo nnyo eri Kabaka omulamu atudde ku Nnamulondo kubanga eyo eriyo abafu ate ne Ssekabaka nnyinibyo  abeera akyaliyo.....................

Ekitabo kisaanidde okusomwa nga ekirabo abazzukulu b'Abattaka kyebawadde Abatuuze ba Buganda ne Bannansi abensi endala zonna okumanyisibwa obukulembeze bw'ensi Buganda obwe nnono wakati mu continent ey'Africa.

 

 

 

 

Ate no Waliwo no Buzira bwa Baganda mu biseera ebizibu mubyafaayo by'Ensi Buganda:

It came to pass in the heroic age of the country of Buganda (Ganda)'s history that the persecutions against human rights must stop. There were also the EXECUTIONERS, led by MUKAJANGA.

But these were men under authority of the Kabaka of Buganda, King Mwanga II. Mukajanga himself pleaded with his son Mbaga to renounce his Christian belief to no avail. He executed  Mbaga and covered his face and wept when he had done so. Mukajanga was a member of the Lungfish clan and was closely related to the Christian page Zakaria Kizito. Mukajanga was never held by the Christians to be truly responsible for the martyrdoms, and after this unfortunate Ganda civil war had ended he was left undisturbed on his land, though he feared to return again to His Majesty's Court. If there was an executioner who perished in an appropriately gruesome way by being eaten by a crocodile(so the story goes), it was not MUKAJANGA, who died at his home, "of death", as the Baganda say.

Most of King Mwanga's chiefs and clan heads, however, stood aside from the persecutions in distress, and it was they who ensured that the slaughter would end. "It is our own children we are killing, not yours", said Kattikiro Mukasa bitterly to Lourdel, the French Catholic Missionary. Kalikuzinga told how he reported to the great chief Nyikamuyonga, his master and clansman, the execution of Kizito, whom Nyikamuyonga had reared as his son. "What did he say?" I asked Kalikuzinga. "What could he say?" was the reply."He was silent and grieved, for it was by order of the Kabaka of Buganda."

But not all were thus silent. When Kigula of Zinga Island, who had been a trusted chief of both King Mutesa I, and now King Mwanga heard that the Kabaka Mwanga had arrested his Christian son Mako Sekajija, he went before his master and wept, saying,

"I gave you my son to serve you; will you kill him for his religion?"

"Enough of tears," King Mwanga retorted quietly, and he let Sekajija go."

Old Isaya Mayanja, who had been a considerable chief in his time, wept bitterly at the prospect of the execution of his own sons, and, as he was too eminent for the Kabaka to lay hands on them without scandal, was able to protect the well -known Christian servants at his home. The Great chief Mandwambi, though an inveterate pagan, nevertheless stood aside in the persecutions, for no less than three of his sons---Samwiri Kyobe, Nua Mpembe and Samsoni Lugenda----were reading the Protestant religion; besides this,  a leading protestant convert Duta, was a relative, and Serwano Mazinga later a Protestant hero in the civil wars, was a member of his household. Mberenge Kajugujwe, too, though the keeper of Nende's shrine at Bukerere, was ready, not only to shelter Nsingisira, his Catholic relative but also to plead his cause before the Kabaka of Buganda. Even the pagan Ntanda, who later helped King Mwanga in his attempted coup against the standing army, gave asylum to Simioni Mukadde, a Protestant convert.

When the Executioners pursued Miti and other Christians in his household, Ngobya, the old pagan warrior-chief, gave them cowries to abandon the search: and even the Kabaka of Buganda's treasurer, Kolugi, sheltered Christians in his household by night, and interceded on their behalf before the Kabaka, as did Princess Nasiwa for her favourite Kamyuka and the Mugema for his son Werabe.

After the first shock of the persecutions, therefore, the Christians who wished to survive had little difficulty in doing so, for the homes of their countrymen were open to receive them. Only those eager to die for the faith, or weary of hiding, gave themselves up for Mukajanga's execution.

In the hills and Islands of the country of Buganda, there was room enough for those who wished to live, supported as they were by friends, elders and clansmen(Abataka na bakulu be bika bya Buganda).

As in the past, the Kabaka of Buganda's powers in Buganda depended on the support of his subjects, and during the Christian persecutions, not for the first or the last time, this was in the end withheld.

The persecutions, too, were self-destructive; a bloody operation by the Kabaka of Buganda on the living body of his own Kingdom. Not only was this pointed out to King  Mwanga by his Kattikiro Mukasa and others; it was also acknowledged by the Kabaka himself in the discrimination he exercised between those he put to death and those he did not. He was determined , for instance, that the blacksmith Walukaga should die(even though he held an office of the Genet clan which had traditionally not been subject to the death penalty), for he was regarded as the 'General' of the Christians. But the royal armourer, Kisule, whose skill could turn muzzle-loaders into breech-loaders, was spared, even though he sheltered Christians throughout the persecutions.

Byakutunga, too, was pardoned, because he was a royal woodcutter; so were Mwanga's elephant hunters and Nasibu the Kabaka's valet. King Mwanga's massive and efficient  storekeeper Apolo Kaggwa was allowed to survive a thrashing(beating). Nyonyintono, the brave and popular Catholic was only sent for castration, which he and other practising Christians survived, though to some of King Mwanga's changrin did not.

Also at the eleventh hour, King Mwanga sent to the builders of the execution fires to pardon Simioni Sebutta and others, remembering , as his passion cooled, their services to him in the past.

For their part too, the great chiefs regarded many Christians as indispensable to the country of Buganda and Kattikiro Mukasa protected his servant Sebwato against the prompting of the malicious King of Buganda to execute these many Kingdom citizens and a workforce.

 

 

 

 

Planet Earth as seen by the ISS rotating the earth every 90 minutes, 240 miles above.

 

 

 

 

The FM Radio station and Internet Radio giving hope to listeners in the war zone of Syria:

 

Presenter for Radio Alwan

As horrifying war reports are beamed out of Syria, a tiny radio station sends broadcasts in the other direction from Istanbul. Made up of Syrian exiles, the team gathers news from citizen journalists on the ground and has branched out into dramas and comedy shows. But they say the most important thing they provide is hope.

The studio technician patches through the first call of the morning phone-in programme.

"Hello there!" says Sama the cheerful presenter, nodding through the studio window at the engineer on the other side of the glass.

There's a long silence followed by a crackle.

"Hello? She repeats "Hello? What's your point about forgiveness?"

It might be any old radio show in any old country but this is Radio Alwan - an independent Syrian news station which broadcasts out of Istanbul and their calls are coming in from inside the war-torn country. Forgiveness takes on a whole new meaning here. No-one's calling the programme to chat about pardoning a cheating partner or absolving a friend who's stood them up.

The crackle splits and splinters into a male voice. It's a paramedic from Idlib province, south-west of Aleppo. He wants to share a comment a colleague has just posted on Facebook straight after witnessing the massacre of 27 people.

"The only way forward for Syria's future is to forgive and to be forgiven," he says.

Syrian children play in Aleppo's Salaheddin neighbourhood. Radio Alwan gathers news from people on the ground
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionSyrian children play in Aleppo's Salaheddin neighbourhood

In the meeting room after her show is off air, Sama tugs at her hair, buzzing with the emotions that have come down the phone lines into the studio.

"Did you hear the audience?" she asks me. "I mean they all want to forgive - it's just stunning!" She shakes her head in disbelief. "You know, I would have a problem forgiving you if you slapped me or if you took my cup of tea - yet these people inside Syria who suffered bombings and missiles and death - they say we must forgive. The Syrian people are really amazing."

It's certainly humbling. Like all of Radio Alwan's staff, Sama is an exiled Syrian and she still has family and friends stuck in besieged areas.

"Sometimes I can hear the bombing when the listener is talking to me," she tells me. "And sometimes when I hear what they tell me, I just want to die - I want to cry or I want to scream. But this is my job and I have to continue."


Find out more

Listen to Emma Jane Kirby's report about Radio Alwan on the PM programme, on BBC Radio 4


The incessant bloodshed has made continuing extremely difficult for Radio Alwan's news operations, especially in Eastern Aleppo, which was effectively recaptured by government troops last week, not long after my visit to Radio Alwan. Early this year, their local studio in Aleppo was smashed by masked men and their staff attacked. All their equipment was destroyed.

Sami, the station's head of special projects and human resources, sighs.

"It was a difficult decision to take," he admits "But we had to think of the safety of our staff and we closed the office. Now we just have one correspondent on the outskirts of Aleppo and we just pray he is OK."

Sami explains that the station is continuing with a network of civilian journalists who are not professionally trained but whom he says are "incredibly brave" as they chase up news, despite horrific dangers and terrible personal circumstances. He invites his young colleague Dima in from the newsroom to explain how their newsgathering operation works.

"Our sources in eastern Aleppo are two girls," she tells me. "And right now they are stuck - they are trapped in the fighting - and they run from one neighbourhood to another… they have to walk many miles on foot and they are in the path of the war planes and missiles."

Radio presenter Sami
Image captionSami says the team call their journalists every day to check on their safety

She tells me that one of the women is a teacher and that both women are now extremely frightened because they have often sent video footage and worry they will be recognised, tracked down and punished.

Sami has already told me that it is Radio Alwan's priority to call all of its journalists every single day to check on their safety and their psychological health. He tries hard to "lift them up". But of course, it's not always easy getting hold of someone in eastern Aleppo.

Dima puts her hands to her mouth. "Sometimes we miss them for hours and we call and call… we say, 'Where are you? Please, where are you?'... but there is nothing."

Dima and Sami have reason to be worried about losing contact with their reporters. Last month, their main source in eastern Aleppo, a married man who had recently become a father, was on his way to check the details of a story for Radio Alwan's newsdesk, when his car was hit by a missile strike. As she talks, Dima breaks down.

"His boy was just two months," she cries. "It's hard, but it's real life and every day we deal with sadness."

Sami admits the war has taken its toll too on his Istanbul team who are often racked with guilt that they managed to escape the war. He tells me an evening out can often turn sour for him when he remembers his family and colleagues struggling back home. Ironically he says, it's often those trapped in besieged areas who give Radio Alwan hope.

Mid-morning presenter Sama sighs.

"It's so hard," she says. "Because honestly, right now, I don't believe in hope. I don't feel any hope. But I can't say that in the studio when I am on air. I have to keep talking about hope. The audience tell us that's what they need - hope."


Image captionRadio Alwan produces news, dramas and even comedy shows

Radio Alwan sees itself very much as a public service and Sami explains that's why the station has put a lot of resources recently into creating radio dramas, comedy shows and magazine programmes for its listeners.

"The radio is for the people," he insists, "Not for the presenter, the producer or the technician. And the people don't just need to hear bad news, they need diversion too."

He talks me through the new schedule.

Coming up is a practical programme aimed at Syrians who have fled to refugee camps. An expert is on hand to explain to the refugees how to make warmer shelters for the winter months using mud found on site. Another expert will advise on making food and clothing go further.

Sami's very proud of the station's new women's programme that is presented by a woman from Idlib and has attracted a lot of male listeners too. It's broadcast and welcomed in areas where extremist ideology has taken hold, he points out. I tell him about BBC Radio 4's long running programme, Woman's Hour, and he chuckles that it's nice to know Radio Alwan is on the right path. The name of their programme he tells me is Hi Grandma. I make a mental note never to tell Jenni Murray.

line

How Radio Alwan began

  • Radio Alwan began in May 2013 as a community radio station in Saraqib, northern Syria
  • Initially it broadcast for four hours a day from a transmitter mounted on a van
  • Alwan's founder, Ahmad al-Kaddour, was forced to leave the country in July 2013
  • The station now transmits daily programmes on FM from Istanbul to Aleppo and Idlib and over the internet at alwan.fm
  • "Alwan" in Arabic means "colours" - to reflect its aim of representing the many different groups across Syrian society

In the small gallery, we listen to an excerpt from a twice-weekly comedy sketch, Where Are You My Dear? which features two Syrian shopkeeper characters and a cleaner who banter in the street together. Although I can't understand the Arabic, I find I'm smiling at the voices. Sami looks delighted.

"It's really very clever writing," he grins. "I laugh out loud when I listen. And it is written and produced in Idlib."

Twenty-three-year-old Maram comes to join us wearing dark jeans and a trendy bright green T-shirt. She's the new young face (or rather young voice) behind Radio Alwan's youth strand and she regularly hosts phone-ins on subjects like football kit and football supporters. It gives, she explains, a young generation who have grown up under a backdrop and soundscape of war, something else to focus on.

"I just try to put a smile on their face," she shrugs. "You know, make them think of something normal, something that isn't bombs."

Radio Alwan is currently planning a new drama about the White Helmets, Syria's volunteer civil defence force, but I want to know what's happening in their established soap opera, Sad Northern Nights. It tells the story of widowed Thoraya whose husband has been killed by Assad's forces, her teenage son Karam who has been brainwashed by Daesh and Sariah, a member of the civil defence force who is trying to help them both. It is low-budget and many of the parts are played by members of the newsroom yet the drama is spellbinding.

"It's a true story in a way, even if the actual characters don't exist," Sami reminds me. "We are really telling the same stories we tell in the news - but through the drama we try to tell the story of the Syrian people in a different way, perhaps a less brutal way."

Syrians wait at a checkpoint manned by pro-government forces after leaving eastern Aleppo
 Syrians wait at a checkpoint manned by pro-government forces after leaving eastern Aleppo.

 

And the Syrian audience - who love the drama - were treated at the end of the last series to a truly happy ending. Karam was rescued from Daesh and went back to school, Sariah wooed and then married Thoraya and they even had a baby together. "So, that's it?" I ask Sami. "They all lived happily ever after?"

Sami smiles sadly. "We want to make the drama realistic," he says. "So I think we now have to wait a bit to see what will happen in Syria before we start making series three. You just never know what will happen in Syria… if or when an attack will come."

Later that day, waiting for my plane at the airport, I receive an email from Sami, in which he has attached the last minute of Sad Northern Nights series two for me to enjoy. I hear Sariah chatting cheerfully with his wife about the baby before he picks up his bag and heads out of the door for a meeting with the civil defence force. His footsteps trail off into the night…

And I think of Sami and Dima and Sama back at Radio Alwan nervously calling and calling their correspondents on the ground back home in Syria, willing them to pick up the phone, willing them to return home safely, willing them a happy ending to this war from hell.

89.2