Legislators from Kasese district are seeking government intervention on the ongoing clashes between the Basongora and Bakonzo communities.
There has been tension between the two communities following the installment of the Basongora King. The clashes began days after the Charles Wesley Mumbere, the Rwenzururu King marked two years.
On July 1, the Basongora installed Rwigi Rutakirwa Kabumba Ivan Bwebale IV as their cultural leader at Muhokya trading centre, near Kasese Municipality. They went ahead to hoist their own flag an indication that they were breaking away from Rwenzururu kingdom
On Wednesday this week, the Bakonzo youths invaded Muhokya, the supposed seat of Busongora cultural leader, and took away the flag and royal drums among other items. Information obtained from the police headquarters in Kampala indicates that the self-styled leader of the Basongora also reported loss of over 70 million shillings, office documents and a set of table cloths besides the flag and drums. The information was provided by Wilson Kwanya, the Western Region police commander.
Just hours after the incident at Muhokya, the jubilant youths later displayed some of the items in Kasese town where they stepped on the flag as they sang anti-Basongora songs. They then took the flag and drums to Mumbere’s palace at Buhikira, where the king reportedly thanked them for being brave. He however distanced himself from the Muhokya attack saying the youths acted on their own.
William Nzonghu, the Busongora North MP now wants to know why government is not responding to the clashes that have been going on for two weeks now. James Mbahimba, the MP for Kasese municipality, supports his colleague saying the manner in which the new king was installed was provocative. The provocation led to the clashes between the Basongora and the Bakonzo. These two communities had lived together peacefully but recent events have created discomfort.
Hilary Onek, the Minister for Internal Affairs, says the police is heavily deployed in the area to stop the clashes. He urged the political leaders in the district to preach peace and avert more clashes. The minister said he will come up with a clear government response on the matter next week.
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But Busongora South MP Boaz Kafunda said that the clashes have been on for more than 20 years. He says the Basongora decided to install their King as a protest to the Rwenzururu Kingdom. He wants other cultural leaders to be recognized. He presented a letter allegedly written by Rwenzururu veterans provoking the Basongora.
There is increased tension in the area as both Basongora and Bamba communities challenge the authority of Mumbere, a Mukonzo, as their king. Last week, clashes between Bamba and Bakonzo in Bundibugyo left 400 people displaced. The Bamba protested a decision by Rwenzururu to construct a royal hut in Kirindi, in Bunibugyo district. The Bamba are the majority in the district.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah forwarded the matter to the committee on Internal Affairs.
