In what appears to be a sign of a possible violent confrontation between the Bakonzo and the Basongora in Kasese district, the drum and flag that the latter used to install their own king 11 days ago have been stolen.
The symbols of the supposed Busongora Kingdom were stolen at about 10:30am today by unknown people who were armed with spears.
In a telephone interview, Jimmy Kagoro Muzoora, the Public Relations Officer of ‘Busongora Kingdom’ says that five men who were traveling in a pickup truck removed the Blue, Red and cream flag, which was on a pole outside the palace at Muhokya near Kasese Municipality. Muzoora did not give the vehicle's number plates.
Muzoora says that the men then proceeded to the office of the cultural leader, Ivan Bwebale Rutakirwa, and took away the drum, which is an important cultural instrument.
At the time of the incident, Bwebale wasn’t in the office. Muzoora says that onlookers at Muhokya trading centre just looked on, because they feared to be harmed.
After taking the flag and drum, the men headed to Kasese town chanting songs in Kiswahili.
The resident district commissioner Kasese, Lt. Milton Odongo, says that he has been informed about the incident and the incident is being investigated.
He also says that security agencies are hunting for the unknown people to recover the items.
For the past two weeks, there has been tension in Kasese district, after the Basongora installed their king, a move that angered the Bakonzo, who pay allegiance to Omusinga of Rwenzururu Kingdom, Charles Wesley Mumbere.
The July 1st installation of Rutakirwa Bwebale came just a day after Mumbere celebrated his 2nd coronation anniversary. The function took place in Bundibugyo, where the Bamba, another community within Rwenzururu Kingdom, also asked the Bakonzo to stop imposing the institution on them. At least 400 people are displaced following the Bamba-Bakonzo clashes in Bundibugyo town on Saturday last week.
Inspector General of Police Lt Gen Kale Kayihura was in the area on Monday and Tuesday to try and diffuse tension. Kayihura held a meeting with Mumbere in Kasese on Tuesday afternoon the details of which were not yet available.
