From my archives: Kibati zone survives with a lone kiosk

Museveni okays Bwamba king

Major . Martin Ayongi Kamya. Photo by Steven Ariong

By Felix Basiime

Posted  Wednesday, October 17  2012 at  01:00

(http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni+okays+Bwamba+king/-/688334/1535142/-/k087dlz/-/index.html)

In Summary

The intelligence officer is currently working in Karamoja but the locals want him back in Bundibugyo as their cultural leader.

Bundibugyo

President Museveni has said Maj. Martin Kamya is free to resign from the army and be crowned as the cultural leader of the Bamba in Bundibugyo District.
This comes after the Bamba, Babwisi and Vonoma communities in Bundibugyo installed Maj. Kamya as their cultural leader in August.

Maj. Kamya is currently the UPDF Division Intelligence Officer for Karamoja region. Bundibugyo Elders Development Association (BEDA) later wrote to President Museveni and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), requesting them to allow Maj. Kamya to resign from the army so that he can serve his subjects.

State House meeting
Mr Museveni last week met members of the Obudhingya Bwa Bwamba (OBB) cultural institution and BEDA at State House, Entebbe. OBB spokesperson Swizen Kyomuhendo told journalists on Monday that President Museveni told the members that he has no objection to Kamya being crowned a cultural leader.

Maj. Kamya is the eldest son of Jeremiah Kawamara (RIP), one of the founders of the Rwenzururu movement that saw Bundibugyo and Kasese districts secede from Tooro Kingdom in 1962. “Museveni said Kamya will be released from the army once the Bamba are ready to crown him,” Mr Kyomuhendo said.

According to Mr Kyomuhendo, the cultural institution has now embarked on drafting a constitution, composing their anthem and emblem; which should be ready before Maj. Kamya’s coronation, which is slated for February next year in Bundibugyo.

Phone interview
In a telephone interview, the spokesperson of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, Mr Patrick Nyamunungu, said the Bamba are free to elect their cultural leader as long as he does not impose the institution on the Bakonzo, who live in Bundibugyo.

The decision by the Bamba and Babwisi to have a cultural leader follows conflicts between the Bamba and Bakonzo. On June 30, King Charles Mumbere visited Bundibugyo and, among other things, set up a royal shrine and a flag at Kirindi Village in Bwamba County.

Just hours after he left, clashes between the Bakonzo on one side, and Bamba and Babwisi on the other flared as the latter argued that they are not part of the Rwenzururu Kingdom. This left one person dead and hundreds of Bakonzo displaced.
fbasiime@ug.nationmedia.com

I have not forgiven Museveni - Byanyima

Boniface Byanyima. Photo by Felix Fasiime 

By FELIX BASIIME 

Posted  Sunday, August 12  2012 (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/I+have+not+forgiven+Museveni+++Byanyima/-/688334/1477108/-/31tip8/-/index.html)

In Summary

The differences between Mr Byanyima and President Museveni are based on factors ranging from a dispute over the management of the Ranch Restructuring Scheme in Ankole to personal reasons.

Mzee Boniface Byanyima, President Museveni’s adopted father and the former national chairman of the Democratic Party, has denied reports that he recently accepted money from the head of State, and insists he has not forgiven the government for wrongs committed against his family. 

He called Sunday Monitor last week from his home in Ruti, Mbarara Municipality, to react to media reports that he had reconciled with President Museveni and received Shs4.5 billion from him as compensation from the government for destruction occasioned on his Nyabushozi ranch. 

“I have never seen the money, I was told about it by others who read it in newspapers,” Mr Byanyima, whose daughter, Winnie is wife to Dr Kizza Besigye, the leader of opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said.

The aging politician who is known for his assertiveness, in 2006 rejected Shs1 million that then State House Comptroller, Dr Richard Muhinda, had brought as condolence allegedly from the President towards the burial expenses of his son, Bernard Muyogoma Byanyima.

Mr Byanyima spoke of how, in the early 1980s, he lost two square miles of his ranch to squatters after the government invaded his ranch in Nyabushozi (now Kiruhura District). Workers’ houses were burnt, fences destroyed, 1,200 head of friesian and boran cattle taken, he said. “After court verdict, settlers remained on the ranch and I was never compensated up to now,” Mr Byanyima said.

Although one of his sons, Mr Anthony Byanyima, who had fled the country after the 2001 general elections, citing State violence, later returned, Mzee Byanyima insists he is not yet happy.

Tortured children
“My children fled the country over mental torture by government agencies on my family, but last year one of them came back and said he was persuaded by government that he would not be harmed and that government would pay the family all the old claims. However, others are still out there and government has never paid my claims,” said Mr Byanyima.

He added: “I have never been bought (read bribed), no government can afford to buy me. [Former president] Obote called me thrice for a ministerial post and I rejected it, he bought off some DP officials but for me I remained stuck to my DP up to today. Amin came but I did not request him for any post and I did not forgive Museveni, not until government restores my ranch.” However, when contacted, State House Spokesman Tamale Mirundi also refuted claims that the government paid money to Mr Byanyima.

On the old man’s refusal to forgive President Museveni, Mr Mirundi said “the buck stops with Byanyima as a Christian”. “The issue of forgiveness is up to him as a Christian because forgiveness is a Christian value and not a constitutional demand. So nobody is forced to observe Christian values and by him refusing to forgive President Museveni, he is not committing any offence,” he said.

Q & A

In Summary

Mzee Boniface Byanyima was last week in the news as having forgiven and reconciled with his adopted son, President Museveni, over a number of issues. The two have had personal differences for about two-decades now. Sunday Monitor’s Felix Basiime caught up with the aging politician at his home in Ruti Trading Centre, about 4km on Mbarara-Kabale road in Mbarara Municipality. Below are the excerpts of their chat.

Mzee, there have been reports that you met President Museveni in recent past and agreed on a compensation for your ranch and that the money was paid. How true are these reports?
Weija kunterera enaku (Have you come to add salt to the injury?)? I have never seen the money, I was told about it by others who read those newspapers.

How did all this start?
Government grabbed ranches in Kiruhura District, it was not government restructuring ranches as was reported, but it was government attacking the ranches. Unlike other ranchers, I resisted the invasion, government soldiers beat up my wife and left her unconscious, I took her to hospital. It is about 20 years ago, police then arrested the suspects but later released them. Affected ranchers united to sue government but later feared that the guerilla-led government would kill them, but for me I successfully sued it and government has since then never paid me.

What happened after the court verdict?
After the invasion on my ranch, workers houses were burnt, fences destroyed, 1,200 heads of both Freisian and Boran cattle taken and about two square miles of land given to squatters. After court verdict, settlers remained on the ranch and I was never compensated up to now.

Press reports also say that you met, held discussion with President Museveni and forgave him. What did you exactly drop and or take?
I did not forgive Mr Museveni. Not until government restores my ranch. During our meeting he accepted that the manner used in restructuring the ranches in Nyabushozi was wrong.

Then what have you been discussing on phone with the President after that meeting at State house?
I have never talked to Museveni on phone this year and he has not solved any of my problems, I am still heavy laden with them.

How about reports that you went to South Africa for treatment and someone else picked your medical bill?
It was on my cost, not Mr Museveni's as sections of the media alleged. No way.

You say that Museveni or his government has not given you anything, but you recently thanked the NRM government at your elder brother’s burial, what prompted this?
Yes, I thanked government at my brother Kabangora’s burial for the peace I see around but I said this is false peace of lies and vote rigging, in the north and other parts of the country there is no peace. If government compensates me, they will no longer be my enemies but this does not mean I have joined NRM or back it, no way, they will be giving me what is due to me.

When did you last meet President Museveni, where and what was the purpose?
I and some of my children met Mr Museveni early this year at State House; we only discussed about my land and compensation nothing else. Mr Museveni said I won the court case and that I will be compensated according to the judgment.

But press reports say you have been ‘bought’ off in this compensation thing, what is your take on this?
I have never been bought, no government can afford to buy me. Obote called me thrice for a ministerial post and I rejected it, he bought off some DP officials but I remained stuck to my DP up to today. Amin came but I did not request him for any post, Museveni came and never suggested to appoint me anywhere because he knows that I can’t accept.

Back to the ranches, you were on the Mugerwa Commission what did you recommend to government?
We recommended that active ranches that were occupied by the owners should be left intact but those that were idle should be parceled to the other landless people. There was no David Pulkol Commission as reported; Pulkol just headed government soldiers that attacked our ranches.

You joined the Democratic Party (DP) then highly regarded as a Catholic party. Do you still believe in it?
I long ago rejected mixing politics and religion. I joined DP because of truth and justice, people then laughed at me that I had joined a party for Catholics, so any one to bribe me must come in truth and justice. I have never left DP. I despise the Museveni government more than Obote’s (Ex late President Milton Obote) because they are thieves especially in elections.

What do you mean exactly about truth and justice, what does it cure for any government?
I fear for any government that does not lead with truth and justice. It reaps problems and chaos only. Amin tried to fight for the truth but later failed because of Nyerere and the Whites who wanted Obote back. For Mr Museveni, he rigs elections, lifted term limits, he cannot be removed because there are no term limits and there is poll rigging all the time, this results into chaos. I pray for Uganda so that we should not plunge into another chaos. Removing term limits in the Constitution of any country abates violence because by removing them and continued rigging of elections, the population must resort to violence.

What was your role during the National Resistance Army Bush War?
I did not take active part in the bush war but I told DP members that DP had won the 1980 elections so that we should reject the results but Ssemogerere (Paul, former DP President) refused and joined Parliament. I supported all who went to the bush because the government in power was illegitimate but I did not buy and supply arms from Democratic Republic of Congo as alleged.

Your daughter Winnie and Rtd Col. Kizza Besigye run against the NRM government in elections in 2001 and 2006, what role did you play in their quest for State House?
Press reports say that I told Winnie and Besigye that they cannot defeat Museveni, why not? Those are lies. I can’t tell Besigye not to stand. I am a DP member but I back all opposition parties; UPC, DP, FDC whenever they have a candidate running against this government that rigs elections, but what shocks me is the way the people of Uganda are bribed at the time of elections.

Part of your family lives outside the country, what exactly led to this?
My children fled the country over mental torture by government agencies on my family, but last year one of them came back and said he was persuaded by government that he would not be harmed and that government would pay the family all the old claims. We later met officials of the Justice Ministry last year, discussed but never agreed on the compensation.

What did you exactly say at your son Anthony’s wedding at Sheraton Hotel?
I thanked Mr Museveni for contributing to my son’s wedding. I said I and Museveni parted over my ranch and other people’s ranches and for destroying Uganda’s economy, I did not go beyond this.

                                   Few Facts about Mzee Byanyima
Mzee Boniface Byanyima, has been described by many as “rigidly principled” and stubborn. He is an elder of the Democratic Party, one of Uganda’s oldest parties.

Until 2005, he was the national chairman of DP and is still a strong pillar of the party.
He is the father-in-law of President Museveni’s bitterest rival, opposition Forum for Democratic Change leader Dr Kizza Besigye. President Museveni is said to have grown up in the Byanyima homestead, commonly known to as Green Cottages, in Ruti, 4km outside Mbarara town, along Kabale Road.

Mr Byanyima paid President Museveni’s school fees and he stayed at his home. In his piece, Mr. Charles Onyango Obbo describes the Museveni’s relationship with the Byanyima family as the proverbial one of the ugliness of family fall-outs.

Kiiza firm as NRM fails to dislodge her

Ms Kiiza (R) is joined by supporters during campaigns on August 5, 2012. Behind her is FDC party president Kizza Besigye. PHOTO BY ISAAC KASAMANI  

By Felix Basiime, Thembo Kahungu and Enid Ninsiima 

Posted  Friday, August 10, 2012  (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Kiiza+firm+as+NRM+fails+to+dislodge+her/-/688334/1475570/-/item/1/-/j1sk6a/-/index.html)

In Summary

Revenge vote? Commentators cite the Obusinga issue, the Kiyonga factor and arrest of opposition officials on eve of voting as factors that worked against the NRM candidate, Ms Rehema Muhindo.

The verdict is out. Ms Winnie Kiiza will stay on as Kasese Woman MP until 2016 after winning a gruelling by-election in which she defeated NRM’s Rehema Muhindo. Ms Kiiza (FDC) polled 97,669, Ms Muhindo 59, 946 while DP’s Rosemary Masika got 1, 229 votes.

On August 8, 2012 the streets of Kasese Town were still jammed with jubilating FDC supporters. It was understandable celebration seeing that their candidate beat her closest rival by more than 37,000 votes.

The symbolism in figure is unmistakable. In February 2011, when Ms Kiiza and Ms Muhindo first locked horns, the latter polled 92,108 votes as opposed to the NRM candidate’s 90,624 votes. In fact, it was because of this slim margin of victory that Ms Muhindo petitioned the courts, arguing that had the Electoral Commission not invalidated some 6,000 votes, she could have carried the day.

The by-election
Convinced, the Court of Appeal ordered a by-election. Ms Muhindo and the NRM, however, must be wondering how a 1,484 vote gap could have multiplied to about 30 times in just over a year. What then could have occasioned such a margin of defeat?

Mr Christopher Kibazanga, a former MP, who was Ms Kiiza’s chief campaigner, says the issue of the Bukonzo cultural institution played a key role in determining the course of the by-election. The Bakonzo are majority residents of Kasese District.

In 2001 and 2006, the NRM lost most of the parliamentary seats in Kasese, largely because it was accused of frustrating the restoration of Omusinga Charles Mumbere—the king of Rwenzururu.

Noting the damage the issue was having on its political fortunes, the government in 2009 recognised the institution. NRM’s fortunes in the 2011 elections improved as it took three of the six MP slots in the district and also won the LC5 chairperson’s seat.

However, coming into the by-election, something had happened. A trip by King Mumbere to neighbouring Bundibugyo District had turned dramatic when another tribe there, the Bamba-Babwisi blocked him, insisting that they do not recognise his authority.

According to Mr Kibazanga, who is also the chief prince of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, the government never genuinely recognised the kingdom and the rise of splinter chieftaincies was testimony to this.

“We are back to square one. The situation that prevailed before Obusinga was recognised is back,” he told Daily Monitor yesterday.

The Obusinga issue became so central in the by-election that President Museveni, in a press release a week to the election, attacked his political nemesis, FDC leader Kizza Besigye, over the matter.

“I heard Besigye telling lies that he is the one who returned Obusinga. Besigye was a student here in the 70s when we were fighting Idi Amin, why didn’t he bring the Obusinga that time or restore the Kabaka of Buganda or the other kings?” President Museveni wrote. “Kingdoms in Uganda were bought by NRM, nobody else.”

But Mr Kibazanga argues that the change of heart in 2009 was cosmetic.

“They are the ones that incited tribal clashes in Bundibugyo and Kasese districts,” he said.

Kiyonga factor
Another sticking matter was the role of Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga in the local politics of Kasese. Dr Kiyonga is Busongora East MP and also chairs the NRM in Kasese.

For many a watcher, Dr Kiyonga troubles stem from the view that he opposed the restoration of the Obusinga. In fact, so serious was Kiyonga’s matter, that while addressing voters in Katwe-Kabatooro

Town Council last Sunday, the President broached the subject.

“I know the people of Kasese have issues with Dr Crispus Kiyonga but that does not tantamount to you suffocating the party. Kiyonga is not NRM we need to solve the matter as a family,” he advised.

The appeal might have been a little too late. Our efforts to get to Dr Kiyonga were futile as he did not answer his phone nor respond to SMS. The NRM local leadership had promised to issue a statement about the election yesterday at 10am but by 4pm, none had come through.

Instead, Ms Muhindo’s chief campaigner, Mr Eliphazi Muhindi, said: “We are still locked in a meeting analysing the results. We are still investigating reports of pre-ticked ballots in favour of FDC’s Kiiza in Saluti Village, Nyamwamba Division and other parts of the district and release the statement later.”

There was also the issue of a land fight at Rweihingo where Bakonzo cultivators sued the government in May but the court order has never been implemented to evict Basongora pastoralists.

Many commentators, however, say the NRM pressed the self-destruct button when on the eve of elections, key FDC officials were arrested on charges of inciting violence.

Councillors Elly Magwara and Abudu Saad were remanded to Mubuku Prison, while 70 other FDC supporters, including party vice president Salaam Musumba, were rounded on claims of seeking to disrupt the election.

Some residents said this compelled them to vote against the NRM candidate.

Others pointed to Ms Kiiza’s affability and down-to-earth nature—and when contacted—all she could say was: “I told my fellow MPs that I would be right back in the House in two months. I am humbled by the trust the people of Kasese put in me because they ate the money but voted the right person. I am ready to work with everyone.”

What is causing conflict in Rwenzori sub-region?

Rwenzuru King Charles Mumbere(R) with another official at his palace. King Mumbere says the abundance of the mineral deposits in his kingdom has driven minority groups against his leadership. PHOTO BY GEOFFREY ARAALI. 

By Felix Basiime  (email the author)

Posted  Saturday, August 11  2012 (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/What+is+causing+conflict+in+Rwenzori+sub+region+/-/688334/1476452/-/view/printVersion/-/d604o/-/index.html)

In Summary

Some communities living in areas where there are oil pontentials have denied sharing norms and traditions with Tooro and Rwenzuru kingdoms creating divisions.

Fort Portal: On June 30, King Charles Mumbere visited Bundibugyo District and among other things set up a royal shrine and a flag at Kirindi Village in Bwamba County. Just hours after he left, clashes between the Bakonzo and Baamba-Babwisi communities flared, as the latter argued that they are not part of the Rwenzururu Kingdom. This left one person dead and hundreds of Bakonzo displaced.

A month later, on July 1, the Basongora community, one of the minority tribes in Kasese District installed their King, Ivan Rwigi IV Kabumba Agutamba Bwebale Rutakirwa on grounds that they do not share culture and norms with the Bakonzo. This was also followed by tribal clashes.

On July 30, a section of the Batuku tribe in Ntoroko District wrote to President Museveni banning the visits of both King Oyo of Tooro and of King Charles Mumbere of Rwenzururu in their area.

Analysts point to these tribal clashes as part cause of the conflict in the region. Also pointed out is the creation of new districts that has sub-divided the area into tribal teritories.

Prince of the Rwenzururu Kingdom Christopher Kibanzanga says: “There is something deeper in the Bundibugyo conflict than what meets the eye, therefore, we must also go deeper and investigate it because the Bamba and Bakonzo have lived together and intermarried for long without any problem.”

Expansionist factor
Although the current districts are divided into tribal lines, cultural analysts say this should not be the consideration by government to recognise a cultural institution. “Kingdoms should not be based on the territorial factor but culture, this is just expansionism at play” an elder in Bundibugyo observed.

In their petition against what they call “the territorial cultural expansions of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and Obukama bwa Tooro over Batuku community,” the Batuku argue that the constitution regards them as a tribe.

They have since formed an agenda called the “Anti-Kingdom interference Batuku community” that is fighting for their cultural rights. “We do not have the same cultures and customs with Batooro or Bakonzo” the group argues and adds, “It is factual that, there has not been a king of different indigenous inhabitants in Uganda”

On August 3, the Banyabindi, one of the minority tribes in Kasese District secretly installed their cultural leader, Isebantu Elisa Mugisa Entare ya Banyabindi. They now want the government to recognise their King.

King Mumbere believes that the abundance of the mineral deposits in his kingdom is driving minority groups to rise against his leadership in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts.

“We have fears that other ethnic groups are conniving to overrun the Bakonzo in order to take control of the rich areas of our Kingdom, especially the oil potentials. That’s why the current crisis is politically motivated,” King Mumbere said on July 11.

Rwenzori region is being earmarked for oil and gas production as exploration already going on in Ntoroko district and more studies being carried out in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese.

The Batuku in their letter to the President said, “Our sincere analysis is based on why now get interested in Butuku community when there is oil prospects in Ntoroko district”.

The Batuku have warned government that there might be clashes between Tooro kingdom and Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu trying to “colonise” Ntoroko district. About 2.5 billion barrels of oil were discovered from 40 percent of the entire Albertine Graben. The King of Bunyoro is demanding for 12.5 percent shares of profits accruing from oil and other minerals in the Kingdom.

Other kingdoms are watching these steps and waiting to jump into the queue of demanding for royalties on natural resources in their territories should government grant oil shares to Bunyoro. Mr Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a historian don, says culture is being used as a mobilising tool and to exercise control over oil resources.

The Bakonjo, Bamba clashes: Looking beyond the fights

By Felix Basiime, Thembo Kahungu Misairi & Geoffrey Mutegeki Araali

PHOTO: Some of the Bakonjo who were displaced by the clashes camp at Buhindu Primary School in Bundibugyo District. The clashes that ensued over erection of a shrine by King Mumbere led to destruction of property and displacement. Government has since deployed in the area to avoid any further clashes. PHOTO BY GEOFFREY MUTEGEKI ARAALI 

Posted Saturday, July 14 2012 at 01:27 (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/The+Bakonjo++Bamba+clashes++++Looking+beyond+the+fights/-/688334/1453512/-/view/printVersion/-/nunkgk/-/index.html)

In Summary

Early indicators? During celebrations to mark the Rwenzururu anniversary on June 30, a live broadcast of the King’s programme was switched off on a government-owned FM radio station. The move, although engineers said was a technical fault, was viewed by most critics as intentional.

When government recognised the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Kingdom in October 2009 in Kasese District, it inadvertently also sowed unforeseen seeds of anarchy.

The recognition came after more than 20 years of stiff persuasion and cajoling, however, the kingdom today could end up in split even further than it was five years ago along the various ethnic groups that it consists of in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts.

Today, the kingdom is besieged with mind boggling conflicts to its north, west and south borders. Two weeks ago, the minority Basongora ethnic group in Kasese District crowned their own king setting a new chapter of conflict against King Charles Mumbere after land issues that divided the kingdom for so long.

This time though, another ethnic conflict has reared its head in neighbouring Bundibugyo between the between the Bamba-Babwisi – the king’s subjects and the Bakonzo – the king’s own tribe.

The two conflicts are different in that the conflict in Kasese is about Basongora creating their own kingdom while in Bundibugyo, the majority Bamba do not want the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu to use their territory and name as part of the kingdom.

The current conflict in Bundibugyo was sparked off after King Charles Mumbere visited the area on June 30 and among others set up a shrine at his father’s home area in Kirindi, Busaru, Bwamba County.

The Bamba felt that Mumbere’s actions of establishing a shrine and raising the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu flag in their area tantamounts to conquering their territory.

Ms Jane Alisemera, the former Woman MP Bundibugyo, who in 2009 led a team of Bamba elders to meet President Museveni before government recognised Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, says: “We agreed that the word ‘Bamba’ be excluded in the Obusinga issues.

“When the Bamba succeeded from seceding from Tooro Kingdom and later got their own district, they somehow relaxed and Obusinga kept on using their name in their dealings until of late when the Bamba have said no,” she adds.

The Bamba argue that in 1962, they participated together with the Bakonzo in the Rwenzururu Movement to secede from the Tooro Kingdom which they both said was oppressing them.

On June 30, 1962, Isaya Mukirania (a Mukonzo and father to King Mumbere), Mr Peter Mupalya and Mr Yeremia Kawamala both Bamba representatives in the Tooro Kingdom walked out of the Orukurato (Tooro Kingdom Parliament) allegedly over issues of lack of equality.

The Bamba today argue that after that purpose was achieved, they abandoned the Movement but that Mumbere’s father - Mukirania - instead pursued another personal agenda of creating a kingdom out of the movement which the Bamba say they have never been part and parcel.

However, grievances between the ethnic groups were silent until July 6 when they clashed in Bundibugyo. The Bamba moved to torch Mumbere’s shrine, one person died in the melee, and several others were injured, property destroyed and hundreds, mainly Bakonjo, were displaced.

Government officials, Information and Communication Technology Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and the Inspector General of Police visited Bundibugyo and Kasese districts to try to restore peace this week.

Political talk
During celebrations to mark the Rwenzururu anniversary on June 30, a live broadcast of the king’s programme was switched off on a government-owned FM radio station.

The Rwenzururu Kingdom spokesperson, Mr David Bradford Nguru, said: “That was the worst experience we have had in Bundibugyo as the radio was switched off under unknown circumstances midway the function. And everyone thinks it was intended although engineers said it was a technical problem.”

Some elders in both Bundibugyo and Kasese believe that the current conflict in Bundibugyo is politically motivated.

“Some of the things are politically motivated” says Ms Alisemera. She adds: “Some people have selfish motives, this issue is simple to stem off, it is a matter of dialogue, I call upon the President to come quickly to solve this.”

Chief Prince of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, Mr Christopher Kibanzanga, says: “There is something deeper in the Bundibugyo conflict than meets the eye. Therefore we must also go deeper and investigate it because the Bamba and Bakonzo have lived together and intermarried for long without any problem.”

He adds: “There is survival politics, when some politicians can’t provide roads and other services, they resort to tribal conflicts.”

An elder in Bundibugyo, who preferred not to be named for fear of persecution, believes that there is politics in the matter, adding that there are people who want to develop a political clout by mobilising clashes in the area.

Many are accusing Bundibugyo Woman MP Harriet Ntabazi as among those mobilising the Bamba to oppose the Rwenzururu Kingdom presence in the district.

“It’s the woman MP and her followers that are bringing about all this confusion in order to gain political popularity for her people,” an elder said.

The same sources say Ntabazi and her brother, Swizin Kyomuhendo, a lecturer at Makerere
University are plotting to override State minister Kamanda Bataringaya as MP for Bwamba County in the 2016 polls because Kamanda, although a Mwamba, allegedly has a soft heart for King Mumbere.

There are some Bamba in Bundibugyo who pay allegiance to King Mumbere.

It is also alleged that the same camp is fronting one Mr Gafabusa to take over from the district chairperson, Mr Jolly Tibimanya, whom they accuse of betraying the Bamba community by welcoming Mumbere in the district for the 50th anniversary of the Rwenzururu Kingdom on June 30.

“These people want to create anything that can excite the Bamba community so that they gain political popularity in the build-up to the 2016 general elections. But that’s not how politicians build their profile,” the elder reasoned.

But Ntabazi, who also confirms that there is political motivation behind the Bamba-Bakonjo clashes, denies any involvement. “I partly believe there is politics in this confusion, although the Obusinga is not a political organisation but people are having different minds here in Bundibugyo. To me, the fight has something hidden in it and I am not a ring leader as people claim,” Ntabazi says.

Oil factor
Ntabazi, a Mwamba herself who is married to a Mukonzo with five children, says the Bamba are not fighting for a kingdom.

According to her, the Bamba feel that the 1962 walk-out from Tooro Kingdom was not aimed at creating another cultural institution but to come out of oppression.

The legislator believes that the confusion among the Bakonjo and Bamba is fuelled by former political contestants who failed in the 2011 elections.

“All these fellows want to gain cheap grounds in disguise,” Ntabazi says, adding: “Actually this problem is all about politics of the area because there is no one claiming to be a king in Bundibugyo.”

Some officials in the Rwenzururu Kingdom believe that the new conflict in Kasese and Bundibugyo is a reflection of the changing economic fortunes of the kingdom occasioned by the rich natural resources in the region.

Rwenzori region is being earmarked for oil and gas as exploration already going on in Ntoroko District and more studies being carried out in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese District.

The Rwenzururu Kingdom officials suspect that there might be links between the Bamba, Basongora and other minority tribes to take control of the Rwenzori region in quest to take a great benefit of the economic potentials.

“It is likely that these tribes may be building a liaison aimed at capturing the area on the flat lands and push the Bakonzo up hills hence taking over control of the resources. But this is unacceptable and it cannot happen” a kingdom official says.

The UPDF Second Division Commander, Brig. Patrick Kankiriho, says the tribal clashes in Bundibugyo are not acceptable because they contribute to insecurity in the district that borders the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The people of Rwenzururu Kingdom should solve their problems amicably because any fighting contributes to insecurity. But such fights cannot be a chance for the enemy to recruit because what motivation do they have for someone who is fighting for cultural benefits?” Brig.Kankiriho asks.

Need to reconcile
Mr Peter Kamba Mupalya, 87, the only living member of the founding team of the Rwenzururu movement that successfully seceded from Tooro kingdom says: “We started the Rwenzururu

Movement to secede from Tooro in 1962 after they denied us the position of premiership to rotate among them and us.”

“Last year, I was asked by King Mumbere to work as an ambassador for Rwenzururu to create a new relationship with Tooro and other areas. I am coordinating activities of people within the region to work on repairing relationships,” Mupalya says.

He adds: “For example I am an elder in Tooro Kingdom Elders Forum and I love the King of Tooro, we are looking forward to seeing people in the region reconcile because now we want unity and peace.”

Mupalya says the establishment of the shrine should not embroil the residents into clashes for they (Bamba) are not forced to pay allegiance to the king of Rwenzururu.

He adds: “The king (Mumbere) hails from here, Bwamba County, his father Mukirane was born here. I don’t see the reason why this should raise dust. He is free to do anything on his land. My argument is that let those who support Obusinga do it and those who don’t should not disturb peace.”

He urged the Bamba-Babwisi Elders Development Association members to use the right procedures not through fighting and inciting others.

“They should let the king (Mumbere) visit his subjects in Bwamba, even the other Kings (Oyo) can come and visit Bundibugyo,” Mupalya reasons.

“This conflict (in Bundibugyo) cannot be won by Bakonzo or Bamba because we are so intermarried, we need Africans not ethnicity,” says.

Christopher Kibazanga, adding, “We (sons and daughters from Kasese and Bundibugyo both Bakonzo and Bamba living in Kampala) are sending a team to the area to investigate the conflict and come up with solutions”

Although President Museveni is expected to meet the conflicting parties in Rwenzori any time, the conflicts in Bundibugyo and Kasese if mishandled or neglected or handled late, can result in severe clashes.

“Government has nurtured ethnicity especially in Kasese District and will pay dearly for it. How can they for a example issue land at 3:1 ratio between minority Basongora and majority Bakonzo respectively?” Kibazanga asks.

He adds: “The Bakonzo struggled for over 20 years to recognise their kingdom while the Basongora got it on a silver plate.” However, Mr Jimmy Kagoro Muzoora, the Spokesperson of the Busongora King, thinks the reconciliation move may be dented with flesh moves like taking away their royal drum and flag on Wednesday at Muhokya.

“Such dirty moves dent the reconciliatory programme in which the president was asked by Mumbere to meet a delegation of the Bakonzo, Basongora and Bamba,” he says.

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About the Bakonjo and Bamba
In the early 20th century, the Bakonjo and Bamba tribes were integrated into the Tooro Kingdom as a political manoeuvre by the British colonialists: the neighbouring Bunyoro monarchy was anti-colonialist and rose up in arms in what was known as the Nyangire rebellion.

The British wished to strengthen the pro-British Tooro Kingdom then.
The Bakonjo and Bamba initially accepted being arbitrarily made subjects of the Tooro monarch but asked the Uganda Protectorate to provide them with their own district in the 1950s, separate from Tooro District.
They successfully seceded from Tooro Kingdom on June 30, 1962.
After a long struggle that was affected by different mind sets, including the pro-Obusinga and anti-Obusinga, government of President Museveni finally recognised the Rwenzururu Kingdom on October 19, 2009.

The Rwenzururu Kingdom claims to be stretching to the Eastern DR Congo with a big delegation always crossing borders for the cultural functions every year.

Basongora-Bakonzo wrangle: A looming tribal bloodbath?

By Felix Basiime, Enid Ninsiima & Thembo Kahungu

PHOTOS: Basongora cultural leader, Rwigi IV Kabumba Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale and Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere. Photos by Thembo Kahungu & Felix Basiime

Posted Saturday, July 7 2012 at 01:00 (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Basongora+Bakonzo+wrangle++A+looming+tribal+bloodbath+/-/688334/1446554/-/item/2/-/idwhvfz/-/index.html)

In Summary

Cultural impasse. Whereas the Basongora say pupils studying from schools in their area should stop singing the Obusinga anthem and traditional dance, the King of Rwenzururu insists he does not recognise Busongora Kingdom and pupils should continue singing and dancing to the royal anthem.

When the High Court in Fort Portal on May 7 ruled in favour of 289 farmers who in 2006 sued government for giving their land to pastoralists, it looked like the old conflict between the parties (Bakonzo and Basongora) would die.

The assumption was wrong as no one knew that the next wrangle would be over separation of royal and administrative powers. Court ruled in favour of the cultivators (mainly Bakonzo) and ordered immediate re-possession and occupation of the land.

Then it seemed that justice was served and peace would follow when farmers were all smiles.
The land then that led to the conflict is located in Bukangara and Rwehingo in Nyakiyumbu Sub-county, Kasese District.

The Basongora are among the minority ethnic groups in Kasese mainly pastoralists in the low lands of Busongora North and Busongora South.

Clashes erupt
When government gave the land to Basongora pastoralists, who had returned from Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo where they had gone in search of water and pasture, bloody clashes erupted.

The Bakonzo cultivators protested government’s move to settle the cattle keepers on the 2,050 acres of land and the deployment of police in the area to block whoever wanted to continue cultivating on the disputed land.

The cultivators successfully sued the Attorney General and asked court among others to; order government, its agents and the pastoralists out of their land. Mr Paul Byakatonda, one of the farmers’ leaders, said famine and food scarcity will be no more so long as every farmer repossesses the land they had lost hope in.

Following this, the Basongora community quickly held several meetings and rekindled their old demands of their own district and kingdom. They want to secede from Kasese and from Rwenzururu Kingdom, arguing that their interests are not catered for and are politically marginalised.

Different cultures
The Basongora have gone ahead to crown their own King Rwigi IV Kabumba Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale amid resistance from different sections in the district. They argue that it is their human right to have a kingdom because they don’t share any cultures with the Bakonzo.

“We have totally different cultures with the Bakonzo, so it is our human right to have our own kingdom” said the Busongora king’s spokesperson, Mr Jacob Muzoora, on Wednesday. Two weeks ago, the Basongora called for the rejection of the Rwenzururu Kingdom anthem in schools in their areas where they stay.

This was after the Basongora elders complained to their cultural leader that their children were being forced to sing the Rwenzururu Kingdom anthem and to dance Bakonzo traditional dance. Bwebale says it is an abomination to see their children dance the Bakonzo traditional dance and sing their kingdom anthem.

“All head teachers in Busongora schools should stand warned that the Basongora have own kingdom meaning that the Rwenzururu culture here is an abuse on us,” Bwebale warned on June 24 at Nyakatonzi Community hall after he announced his cabinet.

Bwebale said the Busongora Kingdom has been in existence though not popular as was established in 1886 by Queen Ikamiro Kogyere. Mr Joseph Baluku, an elder in the Rwenzururu Kingdom, said:

“I am worried of how two kingdoms will operate in one district. Does it mean that Basongora and Bakonzo will have their own separate schools in order not to honour the anthems of the two institutions?”

He added: “I am sensing danger in our district if our leaders don’t decide wisely”. The minority groups say they have been marginalised in the politics and service delivery in Kasese which is led by the majority Bakonzo.

Push for Busongora district on the card
A petition to the district chairperson by Mr Bisanga says the Basongora, Banyabindi and Bachingwe, the three minority groups have been discriminated against, marginalised and oppressed by the district administration on employment, service delivery, politics and education.

The petition calls for the creation of a separate district for entirely the three ethnic groups because the proposed split of Kasese into three administrative units leaves the Basongora, Banyabindi and Bachingwe scattered.

Rwenzururu position
 

However, just three days after Basongora ethnic group crowned their king, the Rwenzururu Kingdom has declared null and void the establishment of Busongora Heritage Kingdom and the coronation of King Rwigi IV Kabumba Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale.

In a Tuesday press statement signed by the acting prime minister of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, Ms Loice Biira Bwambale, the cabinet resolved not to recognise the Busongora Heritage Kingdom on grounds that they cannot have two kings in one district and kingdom.

“We cannot have a Kingdom within our Kingdom. Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu does not recognise the so-called King of the Basongora, and therefore declares that his coronation that was conducted last Sunday is Null and Void” the statement reads in part.

The prime minister also directed that the Rwenzururu anthem and flag that were allegedly banned in the area covered by Busongora Kingdom must continue being used as they are recognised symbols of the kingdom.

Ms Bwambale in her statement also warned all ethnic groups in Rwenzururu Kingdom against disrespecting the Omusinga (King), structures and symbols of the monarchy to avoid further provocation.

The Rwenzururu Kingdom cabinet has asked government to come clear on the installation of the Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale as King of Basongora.

Legal issues
 

Independent legal experts say the Rwenzururu Kingdom has no powers to declare another kingdom null and void reasoning that not every one living on the territory of any kingdom must be a subject to that cultural institution.

“I don’t think a kingdom has any legal backing to declare another cultural institution null and void, not even the High Court can do this” reasoned lawyer Ngaruye Ruhindi, adding, “Not everyone living in Kasese should bow to the Iremangoma (King), not everyone in Kasese is a Mukonzo, however minority they are, other ethnic groups by the Constitution have a right to have their cultural leaders”.

Inside opposition
The family of the late Princess Kogyere of Katwe-Kabatoro town council says they will not recognise the King of the Basongora, claiming that Busongora Kingdom is under the leadership of the Babiito clan.

The Babiito clan mobiliser, Mr Yahaya Kyomya Atwooki, says: “We oppose what happened (coronation) on Sunday because it was done illegally without our consent”.

He adds that the Babiito family has their king in waiting called Bwatali, son to Nyabongo, the late Princess Kogere’s brother and has his regalia at Nyakatonzi Village in Nyakatonzi Sub-county.
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Understanding the origin and the lifestyle of the Basongora
The Basongora, Banyabindi, Bakingwe and Baholu are a minority group in Kasese District.
The Songora or Shongora (plural Basongora, singular Musongora), also known as Hima/Huma/Hema), are a traditionally pastoralist people located in Western Uganda and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

They have distinctive customs and speak ‘Rusongora’ an African language that is originates from Proto-Kordofanian and is similar to Runyankole and Rutooro.

The Basongora population is estimated at about 11,000 in Uganda.
The colonial and neo-colonial governments in Central Africa instituted programmes to encourage the Basongora to abandon their traditional lifestyle, and most of the territory traditionally owned by the Songora community has been appropriated for use as national parks or has been settled and occupied by other communities, notably the Batooro and Bakonzo.

Also Songora territory was partitioned into several districts and is distributed across Uganda and Congo.

The traditional lifestyle of the Basongora is notable for its adaptation to dry savanna and scrublands, as well as mountainous terrain. Cultural tourism should be promoted among the Basongora as an alternative means of income generation, and Basongora should be encouraged to welcome visits to their village to experience their culture, traditions, and lifestyle.

Rwenzururu Kingdom asserts that it cannot have a kingdom within their kingdom.
But Basongora argue that the whole of Kasese District was Busongora County headed by Chief Kogyere under Tooro Kingdom.

Basongora group for Justice and Human rights, is an NGO in Kasese formed about 20 years ago to push for the Basongora rights.
[Wikipedia]
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IN SEARCH OF AUTONOMY
The Basongora crowned their own king last Sunday in an attempt to secede from the Rwenzururu Kingdom.

They are also pushing for their own district.
The Busongora Kingdom, if it comes into existence, will cover 20 sub-counties of the present Kasese District.

There are 28 sub-counties including three town councils and three divisions in the district.
According to population reports it is estimated 700, 000 people live in the district.

About the Rwenzururu kingdom

The Rwenzururu region is inhabited by the Konjo and Amba peoples. In the early 20th century, these two tribes were integrated into the Kingdom of Tooro as a political maneuver by the British colonialists.The Bakonjo and Baamba initially accepted being arbitrarily made subjects of the Tooro monarch with resignation, but asked the Uganda Protectorate to provide them their own district in the 1950s, separate from Toro District. The movement declared that they were not part of the Tooro Kingdom on 30 June 1962, three months independence. It was declared an independent Kingdom of Rwenzururu on 30 June 1963 with Isaya Mukirania as king.