http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=53973
Fulgensio Bamwitirebye, the caretaker of Obudhingya Bwa Bwamba says
Charles Wesley Mumbere, the King of Rwenzurur Kingdom is free to visit
Bundibugyo district after they have installed their cultural
leader. Tension has building in Kasese and Bundibugyo district since
Friday last week. It started after Mumbere announced his plans to go
ahead with his plans to celebrate the Peace days in Bundibugyo district
despite protests from the Bamba.
Government halted the visit citing security concerns. Speaking to URN in
Bundibugyo town on Monday, Fulgensio Bamwitirebye, the caretaker of
Obudhingya Bwa Bwamba asked Mumbere and the Bakonzo community to respect
the Bamba, since they are the majority in the district. Fulgensio
claims that the Bakonzo were using the peace day celebrations as a plan
to disorganize the preparations of installing the Bamba’s cultural
leader.
According to Fulgensio, since the Bamba and Bakonzo walked out of the
Tooro Kingdom parliament together, the peace day should be celebrated by
both ethnic groups. He says that once the Bamba have installed their
cultural leader, it will be his responsibility to invite Mumbere to the
district.
//Cue in: “Mumbere is free to come only if…
Cue out: “…it’s not cultural.”//
The installation of the Bamba cultural leader has been postponed twice
under unclear circumstances. However, Jeremiah Mutooro, the second
deputy prime minister and leader of the Bakonzo community in Bundibugyo,
says that the Bamba should respect Omusinga‘s visit, since he is
visiting his subjects.
Mutooro says the Bakonzo have not forced the Bamba to pay allegiance to
Mumbere and therefore he should be left to visit his subjects in
different parts of the country. Mutooro said that they were organizing
the celebrations peacefully and blamed the Bamba for spreading lies that
the Bakonzo were planning to attack the Bamba for opposing Mumbere’s
visit to the district.
//Cue in: “we were organizing peacefully…
Cue out: “…annoyed the community.”//
However, some residents in an interview with Uganda Radio Network say
the tensions have divided the ethnic groups, which have lived together
for a long time as brothers and sisters. Gertrude Kyomuhendo, a Mwamba
and trader in Bundibugyo market says she is under pressure from her
family and friends to separate from her husband who is a Mukonjo because
of the tensions.
Kyomuhendo says there is need for reconciliation and counseling of both
ethnic groups, or else the conflicts will not end and will lead to
bloodshed. She wants politicians and the religious leaders to intervene.
David Kule, a resident of Bundibugyo district blames government for the
current tensions among the ethnic groups.
Kule says that there was no need for the government to deploy hundreds
of police officers to block Mumbere from visiting his
subjects. According to Kule, the actions of the government are an
indication that it is marginalizing the Bakonzo and siding with the
Bamba.
//Cue in: “the Bakonzo community…
Cue out: “…are peaceful.”//
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