Six people were injured following land-related clashes between the Bakonzo and Basongora in Kasese district on Saturday.
The clashes started at just after midday when more than 200 Bakonzo cultivators attacked the Basongora pastoralists, ordering them to vacate their land in Rwehingo in Nyakiyumbu Sub-county, following a court order.
Two months ago, High Court in Fort Portal ordered government to remove the Basongora pastoralists it illegally resettled in 2006 on land belonging to 289 Bakonzo cultivators. The land measures about 2050 acres.
According to the Western region police spokesperson, Bakari Muga, the Bakonzo had gone to Rwehingo to reclaim the land as per the court ruling.
He says that the violent clashes started when some of the Bakonzo cultivators who were armed with spears and pangas faced resistance from the Basongora. The Basongora also started pelting the Bakonzo with stones. Six Basongora herdsmen sustained injuries on the head and back and were taken to Kasese hospital for treatment.
According to the Bakari, it was wrong for the Basongora to remain on the land, because the High Court ordered them to vacate.
After the clashes, there was heavy deployment of the police on the land, to avoid further clashes.
In 2007, the Government de-gazetted Hima Army land, Mubuku Prisons land and Rwehingo to settle the landless pastoralists and cultivators. In 2006, more than 1,000 pastoralists with 10,000 head of cattle were evicted from Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo. The pastoralists then settled in Queen Elizabeth National Park until they were forcefully removed and resettled in the disputed land.
About 10 people were killed and property worth millions of shillings destroyed during the clashes in 2007.
The clashes come at a time when there are tensions between the two ethnic groups after the Basongora installed their king two weeks ago, something that the Bakonzo opposed and vowed to fight.
Early this week, the Bakonzo youths raided the home of self-styled king Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale Agutamba at Muhokya and took away the royal drum and flag among other items. The stolen items were displayed in Kasese town before being taken to the palace of Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere.
