Speed up Bunyoro land hearings
Mar 07, 2006
TWO people were killed at the weekend in clashes in Kibaale district. The two boys were reportedly hacked by a group of about 10 panga-wielding youths who attacked their home in Bugangaizi county. Their mother is nursing wounds in Hoima Hospital.
TWO people were killed at the weekend in clashes in Kibaale district. The two boys were reportedly hacked by a group of about 10 panga-wielding youths who attacked their home in Bugangaizi county. Their mother is nursing wounds in Hoima Hospital.
A day later, the police foiled an attempted arson attack on a bus near Kagadi town. The attackers suspected the bus, which plies the Kabale-Kagadi route, of ferrying immigrants who are at the centre of tribal clashes. Early last week, another person was killed, five injured and over 20 houses set on fire. Scores of frightened people are still camping at trading centres and sub-county headquarters for safety.
The problems have been exacerbated by the ongoing elections where passions have been inflamed, and communities polarised by ethnic sentiment.
Inter-tribal relations in Kibaale have been strained for many years. The district has a sizeable number of immigrants, some from Buganda in a pre-independence arrangement that transferred the counties that comprise Kibaale to Buganda. The latter problems have been precipitated by the refusal of some locals to accommodate recent arrivals (Bafuruki) from Kabale.
The issues evidently have a historical and contemporary perspective. It is in reconciling the two that a settlement can be arrived at.
Last September, the President appointed a commission of inquiry, headed by Prof. Ruth Mukama, to examine the inter-tribal relationships, the land problem and other political issues in the districts of Kibaale, Masindi and Hoima, which make up Bunyoro. The commission is charged with examining the causes of conflict and recommending how communities can co-exist.
This commission was given three months to report back. Those months have since expired. Urgent action needs to be taken and so the commission must wrap up quickly. And when its report comes, it should be looked at expeditiously. There is a lot at stake in Bunyoro; the sooner action is taken, the better.
A day later, the police foiled an attempted arson attack on a bus near Kagadi town. The attackers suspected the bus, which plies the Kabale-Kagadi route, of ferrying immigrants who are at the centre of tribal clashes. Early last week, another person was killed, five injured and over 20 houses set on fire. Scores of frightened people are still camping at trading centres and sub-county headquarters for safety.
The problems have been exacerbated by the ongoing elections where passions have been inflamed, and communities polarised by ethnic sentiment.
Inter-tribal relations in Kibaale have been strained for many years. The district has a sizeable number of immigrants, some from Buganda in a pre-independence arrangement that transferred the counties that comprise Kibaale to Buganda. The latter problems have been precipitated by the refusal of some locals to accommodate recent arrivals (Bafuruki) from Kabale.
The issues evidently have a historical and contemporary perspective. It is in reconciling the two that a settlement can be arrived at.
Last September, the President appointed a commission of inquiry, headed by Prof. Ruth Mukama, to examine the inter-tribal relationships, the land problem and other political issues in the districts of Kibaale, Masindi and Hoima, which make up Bunyoro. The commission is charged with examining the causes of conflict and recommending how communities can co-exist.
This commission was given three months to report back. Those months have since expired. Urgent action needs to be taken and so the commission must wrap up quickly. And when its report comes, it should be looked at expeditiously. There is a lot at stake in Bunyoro; the sooner action is taken, the better.