More than 400 Bakonzo in Bundibugyo have been displaced by last week’s ethnic clashes in the district. The 72 households fled their homes in Busaru Sub County on Friday after they were attacked by members of the Bamba ethnic group. The affected people including children, women and the elderly are now camped at Buhundu Primary School, three kilometers from Bundibugyo town.
They are from Kisumba, Bundinyama and Bunyaruta parishes. The ethnic clashes started after the Bamba raided Kirindi village the birth place of Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere, the King of Rwenzururu Kingdom and attempted to burn down his palace. Joel Kataito, the in-charge of the camp says that on Friday night, the Bamba attacked Kisumba parish ordered the Bakonzo out of their homes.
Kataito says that because of fear some of the households spent the night at Kisumba trading centre. He says that some houses were burnt and animals like goats, pigs and goats killed. Kataito says that the displaced people are being fed by the Red Cross.
//Cue in: “the Bamba and Babwsi wanted to fight…”
Cue out: “…red cross is helping us with Posho and beans.”//
Phoebe Bulinzoli, a resident of Kisumba village says that her two houses and property were destroyed in the attacks. She also says that her banana and cocoa plantations were cut down by the Bamba. Bulinzoli says that she can’t be convinced to return to her home, because she fears they may be attacked again. She wants the government to intervene and find them adequate accommodation and security.
Steven Baluku, the headmaster Buhundu Primary School says that he has received threats for giving shelter to the displaced households. Baluku showed URN a letter written by unknown people warning him against helping the households. He says that he has reported the matter to the police.
Denis Namuhoza, the District Police Commander Bundibugyo says police is hunting for the people behind the attack. In a telephone interview, Samuel Kazinga, the Resident District Commissioner Bundibugyo said that the displaced households will remain at the school until the situation normalizes. Kazinga says that police will be deployed in some of the villages, which are under threat from attacks.
More than 50 policemen could be seen patrolling the streets in Bundibugyo town when URN visited the town on Monday. There was also heavy deployment of police at Bundibugyo market, where several traders lost their merchandizes during the clashes. On Sunday, Lt. Gen. Kale Kahiyura, the Inspector General of Police visited the district and met Bamba and Bakonzo elders over the conflicts.
