EOC probes claims of ethnic imbalance in Kasese appointments

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The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has launched a public inquiry into allegations of systemic marginalisation of minority ethnic groups in Kasese district, following complaints from the Banyabindi and Basongora communities.

The Commission, a government body mandated to equalise opportunities, convened a tribunal at its headquarters in Kampala on June 25, 2025, supported by the Danish Institute of Human Rights, to examine claims of discrimination in political representation, public service appointments and cultural recognition.

The inquiry was led by EOC’s vice chairperson, Joel Cox Ojuko.

Peace Anirwoth, a commission counsel in the legal services and investigations department, said the petitioners accused the Kasese District Local Government of excluding their tribes from key decision-making bodies.

“The allegations include discrimination in appointments to the district service commission, district land board, district public accounts committee and contracts committee,” she told New Vision.

Patrick Bikansobera Amooti, a 47-year-old Munyabindi and senior clinical officer in Kasese, testified that following the death of the lone minority representative on the district service commission, the remaining four members, all Bakonzo, now dominate the panel.

“Although the land board is functional, six members are Bakonzo, with only one Musongora,” he said. He added, “The people of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu dominate everything. They don’t want any other tribe to express themselves.”

Bikansobera also decried limited access to Banyabindi cultural sites, now located within Queen Elizabeth National Park.

“Over 80% of Banyabindi only speak Runyakitara,” he noted.

Fred Tumusiime, chairman of the Basongora community and a retired civil servant, also gave testimony.

“Only three of the 27 counties in Kasese are majorly Basongora. In 2012, due to marginalisation, our people installed a cultural leader, but it was unconstitutional,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer for Kasese district, Paul Walaga (left) led the district team that include the District Education Officer for Kasese district, Bwambale Ernest (second (left), the District Health Officer, Dr. Bwambale Amon (second right) and Community Development Officer of Kasese district, Bwamable William during an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) tribunal on Kasese minority groups at EOC offices in Kampala. (Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu)

Kasese’s chief administrative officer (CAO), Paul Walakira, a Muganda who has served in the role since January 2025, admitted that the minority groups, 9,376 Banyabindi and 8,604 Basongora, constitute just 2.1% of the district’s population of 853,831.

“I have not seen anything specific being done to change their plight,” he said, adding, “There are no Banyabindi or Basongora on the district service commission.”

District education officer Ernest Bwambale, 53, a Mukonzo, said the district has 264 government-aided schools and 3,048 teachers.

“I cannot confirm how many are Banyabindi,” he admitted.

Dr Amon Bwambale, district health officer for the past ten years, insisted, “Our ethics do not allow discrimination.” However, under scrutiny, he acknowledged that the staff at Katwe Health Centre III and Nyakatonzi Health Centre II are entirely from the Bakonzo community, to which he also belongs.

District service commission secretary Joshua Miramagu, 54, said they recently recruited 103 teachers out of 554 applicants. Elijah Muhindo Kyetunda, 59, a Mukonzo and member of the Commission, admitted that the Bakonzo are dominant but said it is “often difficult to ascertain workers’ tribes.”

Anirwoth noted that both minority groups are constitutionally recognised and listed as the 19th and 31st tribes in the Third Schedule, yet their cultural institutions lack formal recognition.

“They miss out on services, employment, and government programmes,” she said.

In 2019, the EOC directed Kasese to implement affirmative action and incorporate the Banyabindi language into the curriculum. The district was supposed to report back within 12 months, but failed to do so.

The CAO has now pledged to submit the long-overdue progress report by September 2025.