Kabarole Clashes: Guns and Machetes Recovered (Youtube-Clip)

“Security has been beefed up in kabarole district as a joint operation of the police and UPDF continues a search for dissidents believed to be in the hideouts in the hills a day after eight were killed in a shoot out
Bodies of those killed have been retrieved and guns and machetes recovered” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Press Release: MRG calls on Uganda government to investigate cause of escalating violence in Rwenzori region (04.04.2016)

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) expresses grave concern about recent clashes between the Bamba-Babwisi and Bakonzo communities in the Rwenzori region, and calls on the Ugandan government to investigate the root causes of the conflict.   The violence has left at least 33 dead, 10,000 displaced and 366 houses burnt.

The first attacks broke out following the declaration of local council election results on 27 February, although many brushed them off as simply post-election violence. However, despite heavy police and military deployment, the killings have continued, with victims including a 13 year-old in Kanyansiri village in Bundibugyo district.

Addressing a press conference, President Yoweri Museveni told media that although his government had never deployed the army to quell a tribal conflict, he was going to now do so.

‘While we understand the President’s urgency to solve this problem, a military solution treats the symptoms not root causes. There is need for genuine dialogue among communities in conflict, mediated by a team of experts,’ says MRG Africa Office Manager, Agnes Kabajuni.

The events playing out in Rwenzori replicate a scenario in 2014, when violence between communities claimed 72 lives.

According to MRG, the causes of the current conflict in Rwenzori date back many decades.

For instance, to solve the Rwenzururu war, a guerilla campaign waged by both the Bakonzo and Bamba to gain recognition and secede from Toro Kingdom, then President Idi Amin negotiated a settlement to create Rwenzori District for the Bakonzo, Semliki District for the Bamba and Kabarole District for the Batoro.

The Rwenzururu Kingdom, now comprising Bundibugyo, Kasese and Ntoroko districts has since the 1980s established itself as a movement which has continued to pose a serious threat to central government control. In order to calm the ethnic tensions in the region, the government in March 2008, after a ministerial committee recommendation, endorsed the Kingdom of Rwenzururu as a cultural institution headed by King Mumbere.

However, the decision to endorse Rwenzururu Kingdom was done with no prior and adequate consultation of both tribes in Kasese and Bundibugyo, pre-empting demands for recognition of other tribes like Basongora, Banyabindi and Bamba.

‘It is telling to see two groups, which have long co-existed and intermarried, now fighting with each other. At a political level, the government has to facilitate a genuine mediation process involving the Bakonzo under the Rwenzururu Kingdom and the Bamba cultural institution in order that they may peacefully co-exist once more,’ says Kabajuni.

‘As a long term strategy,’ argues Kabajuni, ‘the government has to address the economic marginalization of the communities in the Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko Districts, caused by historical injustices relating to land, equality, decision-making and economic opportunities for all tribes.’

Notes to editors

• Find out more about MRG’s work in Uganda
• Minority Rights Group International is the leading international human rights organization working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. We work with more than 150 partners in over 50 countries.
• For further information or to arrange interviews with our partners in Rwenzori region contact:

Mohamed Matovu, Media Officer, MRG Africa (Kampala, Uganda)

E: mohamed.matovu@mrgmail.org

M: +256 782 748 189
T: +256 393266832
@MinorityRights

Skype: mohamed.matovu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/minorityrights

W: www.minorityrights.org / www.minorityvoices.org

Press Statement from MEMD: Government of Uganda receive seven bids for the First Licensing Round (01.03.2016)

NRM Primary continues in its usual Pace

There are some more initial and special reports even from the trenches and it is in an usual pace. In the one where we speak about vote-rigging and pre-ticket ballots, demonstrations against it or candidates now going independent claiming the election was filled with irregularities. Take a quick look!

NRM Secretary Justine Kalule Lumumba has been vocal today and with all the big birds shot down she was clear about one certain thing:

“Whoever lost in the NRM Primaries and is planning to run as an independent, will cease to be the member of the party”.  So the Ministers and big men who have lost their slot will surely lose their crony status if they go against the NRM-Regime in the General Election.

Deflectors after the elections:

Dr. Fred Ruhakana has today officially announced his defection from the NRM party due to irregularities that was practiced during the elections in Kabale district where he lost the seat for kabale district chairperson.

Deborah Mwesigwa has rejected the result and outcome of the Kabuli County. She has claimed that the election in the county was filled with voter intimidation, that they used government resources to gain the upper hand. So Deborah has said after this that she will goes an independent candidate in the general election.

Some reports from the country:

Alebtong County:

“Isaac Apenyo has been declared NRM flag bearer for Ajuri. He thrashed the spokesman NRM parliamentary caucus, Hamson Obua” (…)”Christine Jibu Mambo has taken over the elections for Woman MP, beating Dorcus Acen, Emily Akullu…” (…) ”Meanwhile, asides the reported violence & vote rigging in Moroto county, Minister Rebecca Otengo was declared the winner. The supporters of her rival Sam Okwir, are very bitter about the results, they claim the security agents were so brutal on them. And so they’ve not come to terms with the results, saying the numbers were changed from Abia & Apala sub counties” (94.3 QFM Lira).

Bufumbira East:

The Flag-bearer for the county is Paul Geoffrey Bavuga.

Burashya District – Kabarole MP:

The Police had to intervene in Kabarole, where the one involved into the matter was John Busingye and Maragreth Muhanga, not the candidates themselves, but the supporters of the two was battling each other. The protest became so violent that they actually broke a bridge and that one was the bridge of Katanda!

Busiiro South:

Peter Ssematimba won the MP seat there.

Kanungu:

Where the press release was coming earlier today was because of Police and Special Force Unit (SFU) has been involved in the balloting and changing of the result in this district. At certain stage at some polling stations there was more police officers then voters.

Kassanda South:

The flag-bearer of the county is now Nsubuga!

Koboko:

There been said that Anite Evelyn was contesting unopposed in the county. Though some says she was contested against a Baba Diri and even the rumors of her losing badly to this person. So did she go as sole candidate in the county or did she not?

Kumi Muncipality:

Charles Olaboro won the election in Kumi and because of that the one who lost the election in the area Silas Aogon cires foul and has sent an petition to the NRM Electoral Commission on the matter.

Luweero:

The Police has banned unapproved and the unregulated victory parties in the county especially the parties for the NRM candidates.  

Lwengo:

Where there been madness in the recent days a Police Officer has been taken with pre-ticket ballot-papers and he is being charged with the offence of rigging the vote.

Mbrarara:

“Although voting begun late,the exercise in Mbarara was peaceful with a heavy security presence to avert any violence.MP results at various polling stations in Kakoba are still being counted”  (…)”At Kakoba Police: Agip and Manji for mayorship and Kakyebezi is in the lead.Tumwiine is leading at Nsikye1 and Kiyindi polling stations” (…)”Booma didnt go to polls. Voters rejected the process since only ballots for MPs were delivered” (…)”Two people have been arrested over vote rigging.The duo identified as Frank Mugisha and Mwebesa were arrested from Nyakayozo with ticked ballot papers of two of the Mbarara mayoral candidates” (91.2 Crooze FM).

Ndorwa County East:

Grace Ankunda Bwesigye won the district and because of this the sour loser Osbert Byamukama quit the party this.

Ngoya:

The winner here is Terence Achia Naco.

Ntoroko District:

MP: Gerand Ibanda Rwemulikya

Woman MP: Jennifer K. Mujungu

Ruhinda County:

Captain Mugabe Domonzio Kahonda who won over Gen. Otafiire in the Primaries in the district has finally been released, but, there is a big but! He has to meet before Jinja High Court tomorrow! This starts be more interesting by the minute.

Rubirizi:

The winner and flag-bearer of the county is now Abas Agabe.

Last thoughts:

What do you think? This here never get boring, who and where is the next place for the police arresting and candidate together with security personnel going into the tally centers and secure voting results going their way. There will be more! But not more from me today I think, depending on what information I get… Peace!