Bwanga Bwamirembe: The Shameless Fake Princess, Presidential Advisor and `Certified` Land Grabber

KAMPALA, Uganda: One of President Museveni’s advisers made a mockery of herself, her office and station of work when,she last weekend gatecrashed a private funeral under the cover of a princess she has never been, the Investigator can exclusively reveal.

Faridah Namusisi, Museveni’s notoriously chaotic advisor on cultural affairs, who apparently thought was above the law, wound end up being swept away like a kitchen thief! Namusisi, who styles self as Bwanga Bwamirembe, arrived at the private function while being chaffuered in a grey Pajero licensed as UAW 716E. In tow, was a pick up double cabin, with UPDF men aboard.

Upon arrival, Faridah instructed a boy in her entourage, to start taking photos of whoever was in attendance and whatever was going on. The boy drew a smart phone and did as instructed. This, coupled with the fact that Faridah had not been invited, understandably annoyed the clan members. They lunged towards Faridah and told her she was an unwelcome and hence unwanted specie.

“We don’t know you. Go away. This is a no go-area for trespassers. We say leave at once,” the clan members led by a fellow clan member known as Mbw’eyotamukumire, shouted out instructions to Faridah. Yet the woman who spots a bleached face, momentarily stood still, clearly unbothered. When she finally chose to respond, she told them she was at the funeral by virtue of being a princess and a great granddaughter of king Kagulu.

Oh, the princess` line uttered by Faridah infuriated the elders even more. The already exasperateddescendants of Buganda’s 20th King, Tebucwereke Kagulu. “But princesses are born. They don’t become princesses by merely advertising themselves. Woman, we say, again, go away…and do this without anymore delay,” the now over-charged Kagulu’s descendants demanded.

But the woman, who arrived at the private function with armed police and army guards, looked at the group dismissively. She was joking; “Who do you think you are, woman! We say leave us alone…leave in peace…and leave now…mark you, you aren’t above the law, woman,” the clan members reasserted themselves.

Sensing the situation was getting out of hand, the police guards tried to intervene on their boss’ behalf. They shoved forward in order to speak to the clan members to observe calm and order. But Kagulu’s people were not in the mood of listening to the guards either. They told the cops to tell “your disrespectful woman to leave”.

Faridah and her entourage could no longer stand the growing anger. They at last, shamefully surrendered to the elders` wishes. They jumped into their vehicles and left for wherever they had come from. This stunt took place inside the palace of Buganda’s 20th king, Kagulu Tebucwereke in Mende, Wakiso district on Saturday.

The Elders at the function Namusisi was thrown out of

The clan members had converged to perform the last funeral rites of their departed relatives. For the record, and much as Faridah still goes around hyping herself as a princess, the Royal family in Buganda disowned her long ago. The Royal Family has gone on record severally, to categorically state that Faridah is merely a fluker, but that she continues to use the title of the princess, merely to dupe her boss President Museveni, and the public.

Faridah the Mafia

Going fast forward, Faridah in the past commandeered what is in Buganda referred to as Embuga ya Ddungu (Ddungu’s spiritual heritage), located in Kizungu zone, Makindye City Division. She justified what she did, by claiming how she was the custodian of the heritage. This, she added, by virtue of being the heiress of princess Hilda Namirembe Bwanga Bwamirembe.

Using the same justification, Faridah would seize the memorial house, the same where, King Edward MuteesaII was born under the medical care of a missionary nurse, Katharine Timpson Cook, wife to Dr. Albert Cook, who started Mengo Hospital. Buganda kingdom still and again, stepped out and categorically pronounced itself, disowning Faridah in respect of those claims.

She also claims to own another piece of land in that same area where, Makerere University and the clan of Buganda former King Kagulu, also lay claim to. So shrewd she is that she had, moreover, altered the ownership of that land and even parcelled it out for sale, but the Land Titles` Office fixed the error well in time.

At one time in the past, Faridah used to pose as a member of the Royal House of Daudi Mawanda Chwa. And that Royal family based at Munnyonyo, swiftly disowned her. This is how she ended up falsely passing as a great granddaughter of King Kagulu. But for what, exactly, does Faridah pose as a member of Buganda Royal family and a princess for that matter?

Land grabbing!

Also thought to be a Mugisu by tribe, the name Faridah Namusisi `Bwanga Bwamirembe` is synonymous with land theft and grabbing. Little is known about Faridah Namusisi Bwanga Bwamirembe the presidential adviser. Yet, almost anyone else, knows Faridah Namusisi Bwanga Bwamirembe, the land grabber.

If it wasn’t for the lead cars which the president dished out to her, and which move at bottleneck speed, no one would have cared to know Faridah, the presidential advisor. We are not bluffing. Faridah was recently arrested by the former Museveni’s anti-corruption unit head, Col. Edith Nakalema. She was trying to evict a family in Luweero from the land she claimed, they didn’t own.

Nakalema intervened and arrested her. She was, in fact arraigned in court and even remanded to prison. She would later make a complete fun of Nakalema and her anti-corruption unit in State House, plus the rule of law itself. She did this by claiming on regaining her freedom, via her superiors who reportedly ordered prison to release her without going through the bother of applying for bail!

What Faridah stated in this regard would make MPs Allan Ssewanyana and Mohammed Ssegirinnya blackout in envy! But what she stated on this particular occassion wasn’t fun perse. She was, in essence, communicating to the world the fact that she is untouchable as a land grabber!

As to who protects Faridah and for what ends? We aren’t at liberty to disclose for now. If one needs to find out that person, though, he or she needs to ask themselves if the case of Luweero has ever proceeded ever since Nakalema arrested Faridah and instituted it!

Again, if one needs to put to rest any lingering doubts regarding Faridah’s impunity status, then that person needs to listen and reflect thoughtfully about the derogatory words that the woman used against the so-called Afande Nakalema. And, moreover, our feared Afande, let her be!

Fortunately, those words are on record since they were captured both on video and audio form for posterity. Lest we forget, the name Faridah Namusisi Bwanga Bwamirembe has been cited in attempts to grab land in Katanga – Wandegeya, just here on the periphery of State House, as well as some land in Entebbe.

So much for Museveni’s untouchable woman, Faridah Namusisi Bwanga Bwamirembe. Next time we return, we shall be telling to you an interesting story about how Faridah grabbed a bag containing Buganda’s powerful mystical powers and gifted it to some powerful man in the republic. Don’t dare miss this one, folks. It is such a delicious piece of story the entire newsroom burst into uncontrollable laughter the time it was narrated. Keep hooked on here.

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Stephen Kasozi Muwambi: Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]