Dear UAH,
I notice that other people who settled in Bunyoro have been elected to leadership positions there. Although The Monitor says Kibanda county MP Amooti Otada is Munyoro, he is actually a Paluo (derogatorily referred to at times as Chope).
His father Opio Owor is a big businessman in both Lira and Karuma areas. Some people there have Kinyoro names when they are Luo, such as former Obote II Prisons Commissioner Barnabas Byabazaire (Langi) or special forces chief Ahmed Ogeny (Paluo).
In Kibanda county there is a big settlement of Luos from Acholi (who fled Kony and other Langi, just having fun). That was why Amooti Otada went through unopposed.
My question is: why is the impression being created that only Bakiga are being targeted? Is it not right to discuss President Museveni’s proposals with open minds, bringing on board all those issues?
I think the Bakiga have a right to stand for office anywhere though I doubt any of the people talking about this will allow Bakiga settler citizens to stand in Acholi, Lango, or Teso if they moved there.
Bakiga leaders Adolf Mwesige and Dora Byamukama (East African Parliament have been elected before in Kabarole and it is causing no problem there. Let us discuss why it is that the Banyoro are complaining. Bunyoro is a kind of melting pot for Uganda, much like Kampala and Jinja (Dr Ojok Mulozi, Freddie Ruhindi and Odaka and Harry Kasigwa come to mind).
I recently gave a call to a Lugbara friend of mine and he told me ‘I am at home in the village’. I asked him ‘how is Arua?’ He said ’no, no, my village is in Isimba, Masindi dsitrict!’.
A real melting pot indeed!
Just as the Igbo elder would say, ‘ahem’ to you. I have a village in my home district and I have another urban in in the Wakiso urban area bordering Kampala. I do not think our villagers in Wakiso will take on each other. I have seen them rise up and take on night robbers and thugs. That is their and our common challenge.
Billie Kademeri
Ugandan journalist based in France
Anthfony Rwaga said,
September 8, 2009 at 12:28 pm
BUNYORO PUTS NRM IN TIGHT DILEMMA
Bafuruki issue in Bunyoro, the hunger and starvation in Teso and the impending return of Olara Otunu to the Ugandan Political scene bother NRM government!
The NRM government has been famed for being the longest serving government since independence in 1962 having run the Political show in Uganda for the last 24 years now. It has ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity though over the years, it has started to falter on several key issues and as the clock keeps ticking towards 2011, Our analysis team believes, it will the general elections not an easy walkover.
Recently our research and analysis team brought out a master plan that the opposition was building on to evict the NRM government. It infact predicted that the opposition was praying very hard that government continues blundering on the following issues because doing so will make it unpopular among the masses.
The key issues are: the Buganda issue of Federo, the takeover of Kampala by the central government, the divisions among the Muslim community (Pro-government Mubajje) verses (Pro-Kayongo faction), Militarization of the Police, the unending government deals (AGOA, Diary cooperation and now the sale of Entebbe International Airport), Sale of government parastatals and bodies, Famine especially in Teso, government excessive expenditure and International Relations.
Today our ever informed analysis team has put up an analysis of the Dilemma the government is faced with from different regions and what to expect come 2011.
The following are the problematic regions:
The Buganda issue has continued to reign year in, year out with no clear solution at hand. This has only built apprehension and agitation between Mengo and the central government. The government has put its foot down and told Mengo to go by the rules of the game or go and hang. On the other hand Mengo has remained defiant with its young cabinet of Militant subjects who have preferred to take government head on hopping to make a breakthrough.
The recent discovery of Oil in Bunyoro has also caused excitement and uncertainty among the Kingdom and the central government officials. On the whole it is good news for the country, and the people of Bunyoro where the oil has been discovered. Bunyoro Kingdom believes it should have a stake in the Oil business and the government has been playing hard to get, by not being too open about the discoveries, the prospects and its plans for the oil revenue and when to take off.
As if to add insult to injury, the issue of “Bafuruki” immigrants has pitted the indigenous Banyoro against the Bakiga (Bafuruki). The Bakiga have covered swathes of land slowly but surely in (Bihanga, Kamwenge, Kasese, Mubende and now in the Bunyoro areas of Kibale). This is a highly contentious issue and needs a sober and realistic approach by the Central government. Government has to play safe and have allies in this “Bafuruki” Saga. It has to bank on its allies in leadership who hail from Bunyoro region like;
The Minister of Information Kabakumba Matsiko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Service Henry Muganwa Kajura, Vice Chairman Electoral Commission Joseph Biribonwa, Minister of State for Internal Affairs Matia Kasaijja and Ambassador Brig. Matayo Kyaligonza (Ambassador to Burundi).
The Issue of government taking sides, has pitted the arrogant Bakiga, to take offence and are not ready to let go without a fight. The Bakiga are highly placed in several Ugandan positions, in government, civil service and government bureaucracy.
The powerful Bakiga in Government are:
John Patrick Amama Mbabazi the Minister of Security and NRM secretary General, Professor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile governor Bank of Uganda, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda Uganda’s permanent representative to the UN, Dr. Ezra Suruma the Senior Presidential advisor on Finance and Maj. Gen Jim Oweyesigire commander UPDF Air force.
Those in the know say, a cross-section of Bakiga in Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja and Kabale were not happy when Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda “Ndugu” was sent to represent Uganda at UN headquarters in New York because they view it as a demotion. Though he was maintained as a Cabinet member, his removal from the Limelight created a lot of uneasiness among the Bakiga “Kin and Falk.”
It is highly believed that the NRM government enjoys a majority vote of the Bakiga women while the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has a substantial vote among men and the uneducated.
There is big talk that the Bakiga factor in the NRM government, is highly sensitive and that this is why with the impending splitting of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General into two Independent entities, it is highly believed that John Patrick Amama Mbabazi will be appointed the substantive Attorney General to cater for the Bakiga Voices and now the “Bafuriki” saga
The issue of Bakiga is highly critical and that is why some FDC’s trouble shooter strongmen are Bakiga. These include Ingrid Turinawe, Jack Sabiiti and Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga.The Politics of Teso has also been so dear and sensitive to the NRM leadership. Political Pundits believe that in order to rejuvenate the Teso region back into the fold, a new strategy is at hand. The recent revelations that Brig. James Mugira has been in private meetings with Capt. Mike Mukula at night in Bugolobi, predictions are that he is likely to make over from John Patrick Amama Mbabazi as security Minister.
This will shift opinions and emotions that the region has been neglected by the NRM government. So should these developments materialize, Teso is expected to embrace the movement full blast and wrestle it a way from FDC which has proved to be a thorn in the flesh in the region.
The issue of the impending return of Olara Otunu to the manifold Political scene of Uganda is another factor that is keeping the NRM government on its toes. Otunu has served as a leader at University (NUSU Makerere University), Uganda’s permanent representative to the UN as an Undersecretary for children affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs under his Uncle the late General Tito Okello Lutwa.
He is from the Acholi tribe which is dominant in Northern Uganda. The Acholi cover the current Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Amuru districts. His entry onto the Political scene is likely to set other forces in motion like the strong links with the Catholic Church in the Acholi region and rejuvenation of the old UPC party network at the rural and urban north level.
As Otunu sets foot in Uganda, he will join FDC’s Dr. Kiza Besigye efforts in West Nile, Teso, Acholi land, Bugisu, Busoga and Buganda.
It is also believed that Otunu is a close associate of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi of Buganda.The FDC’s strong working relations with Mengo will be boosted by Otunu’s entry and Amanya Mushega has been tasked to win the entire Ankole and Rukiga sector of Southwestern Uganda. Political strategists say, the Political ground is now raging with high expectations and the drawing board has predictions that: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”
Political observers believe Museveni will pull a quick one and surprise Ugandans with a reshuffle in the cabinet and the army hierarchy in order to build a winning team.Talk is rife that there is going to be a combination of forces come 2011. Disgruntled NRM historical, FDC, DP, UPC and all other playing forces like the Federo, the Pro-Kayongo Muslim force will all aim at bringing down the NRM government.Political observers believe that we shall have a unity government come 2011 with many opposition forces in the new government of National unity.
Watch this space.
David Mwesige said,
October 21, 2009 at 7:42 am
I congratulate the NRM for the great economic success realized during their ruling regime,but i think it would be only fair to incorporate other entities to form a twenty first century governing body consisting new philosophy for the future of the pearl of africa.
Vincent Nuwagaba said,
October 29, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Dear Ugandans at heart,
Whoever thinks the NRM has greatly transformed this country must be living in a dream land. Museveni has presided over a collapsing health system, a collapsing education system, dysfunctional state institutions and says he is the monopolist of the vision. What sort of leader is such? I think and I may be wrong, that a visionary leader shares s vision with his team. Museveni has instead of promoting team work reduced himself to a micro manager. This explains why he runs to solve every problem including a boda boda strike.
Museveni hates the truth and those who speak the truth he regards as enemies of the state as though he is the state himself. I am one of those that used to think that there is unlimited freedom of speech and free expression. Not any more. I learnt that there is no freedom of expression in April 2008 when five days after I had appeared on the state owned television with a minister and told all the viewers that the country was seated on a time bomb because of graduate unemployment. I argued that the unemployed are not those without skills but the highly educated and highly qualified. Our problem however is that jobs are given on patronage basis and I have discovered that government encourages its supporters who have no credentials to forge them so that they are given jobs. Otherwise, why would the government deliberately refuse to direct the employers to verify their employees’ credentials?
This laxity or deliberate move to fill the critical jobs with sycophants has led to the worst form of corruption and criminality-hiring mercenaries to write students’ coursework. Coursework at universities is written by the brilliant graduates who get good grades but fail to get jobs because they have no godfathers in government. This also means that inefficiency will remain the order of the day. How would anyone expect efficiency and effectiveness from quacks; from criminals who forge documents; from people who don’t know what to do? Unfortunately, the elites have chosen to keep quiet. They have folded their hands and crossed their legs and I am sure it is this complacency that has made the ruling party take us forgranted. We must use the two important weapons we have: our pens and tongues. I am sure, we shall not remain the same.
Now the situation has been worse. For long Museveni has projected himself as a defender of the common man but now he has made it clear that no son or daughter of the peasant will be able to access university education by heartlessly hiking tuition in public universities. While he does that civil servants continue earning peanuts while politicians fleece the state. This is a man who purpotedly liberated us!
I wrote a letter which was published in the press on http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=4579. I thought I was expressing my concerns as a citizen but I ended up in jail and spent there seventeen days. To date I am undergoing malicious prosecution by the state. I cannot count how many times I have been thrown in police cells without any explanation. Last year I stopped on the verge of the grave for after showing the government was not doing enough to address the plight of the unemployed on Television and writing three articles in the Daily Monitor, the state operatives knew that the only way they could silence me was to kill me without anyone knowing. Thus, they arrested me on 11 April 2008 and dumped me in Kampala Central Police Station dungeon. By God’s grace, Prof John-Jean Barya of the Faculty of Law, Makerere University learnt of it. His social status as a professor of law and a practicing lawyer not withstanding, Prof Barya was blocked from seeing me. What followed was throwing me to Butabika mental hospital on 15 April 2008 after conniving with the medical staff there to poison me with drugs which ultimately would kill me. After nine days, I tactfully left Butabika but as I was preparing to sue the government, I was grabbed again on 28 May 2008 and dumped in the Central Police Station Dungeon. On 29 May 2008, I was driven to Butabika again. This time I spent close to a month for I was released on 24 June 2008 after my tormentors learnt that I wouldn’t recover. They said deep within their hearts that let this saboteur go and die elsewhere. I developed goose pimples, I got overly swollen and developed scales akin to those of tilapia fish. Three days after my release, I almost died and I later recovered from Ishaka Hospital in Bushenyi. While in Butabika, I saw Wamala Reuben killed in cold blood and I don’t know how many people raised their fingers to ask how that young man died.
I have sued the Attorne General but my case is being frustrated. I lost my source of livelihood and the reason was to make me vulnerable and hence manipulable. I know we have many of you Ugandans who still treasure this pearl of Africa of ours and I would call on you to extend a helping hand to me. The president has in this year written to me saying I have personal vendetta against him and his letter can be accessed via http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/57599. He told me not to reply but I did reply since I know I have both a moral and legal obligation to contribute to my nation’s democratic process and my reply can be accessed on http://allafrica.com/stories/200907100923.html. The website that the president was using to share with donors, investors and citizens http://www.ugandapstf.org has since been blocked because the president doesn’t want any sound advice.
I know there are many donor countries that are convinced about Museveni’s democratic credentials but I would wish to remind them of the old saying that he who wears the shoe knows best where it pinches. Ugandans who sell their land, their livestock, their food reserves and everything else they own to have their children study have a tale to tell when their children spend ages on the streets. Instead of alleviating poverty, Museveni has ably amplified poverty by concentrating wealth in few hands. During Mobutu’s days, Zaire’s vast wealth ended in the pockets of the president, his relatives and his cronies. Museveni has clearly read from Mobutu’s scripts and he is now the Mobutu of East Africa. Museveni has not learnt from his young brother Paul Kagame whom he used to call a boy a few years ago. Kagame has transformed Rwanda and it is surely on a socio-democratic path although the naive people think Kagame is autocratic and Museveni is democratic because the former focuses on positive rights and Museveni pretends to be a liberal democrat providing for the negative rights which he doesn’t.
I would wish to tell the western countries who for many years have hobnobbed with Museveni that if the country recedes to chaos, their interests will never be catered for. Museveni is one of the achitects of rebellism and he seems not to know that those who make peaceful change impossible make violent revolution inevitable. I am not in any way an advocate of violence but I am sure if many of us continue being squeezed against the wall; if the government’s actions lead to frustration, normlessness, and hopelessness, we cannot rule out rebellion.
Museveni has had too many of these lectures and has failed to budge. Thus, the best people to remind are the donors. As I write this, I am constantly threatened and the threats became even more when I openly declared my intention to stand for a parliamentary seat against Mr Otafiire Kahinda who is a minister in Museveni’s government. But, my candidature is driven by my passion and desire to serve humanity. As such, I am not in anyway frightened by the threats and I know that the worst enemy is fear. I only call upon all peace-loving Ugandans and well-wishers to offer me support either financially or otherwise. I hope the future is bright if we have people who will not betray their conscience in exchange for the delicacies from those occupying the seats of power.
For God and my Country.
Vincent Nuwagaba is a human rights defender and can be reached on vnuwagaba@gmail.com or +256772 843 552