Govt seeks to quell ethnic tensions in Kasese

A public inquiry has been launched into allegations of systemic marginalisation of minority ethnic groups in Kasese district, following complaints from the Banyabindi and Basongora communities.

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), a government body mandated to equalise opportunities, with support from the Danish Institute of Human Rights, convened a tribunal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at its headquarters in Kampala to examine claims of discrimination in political representation, public service appointments and cultural recognition. 

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

Peace Anirwoth, a commission counsel in the legal services and investigations department, said the petitioners accused 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 Online.

Patrick Bikansobera Amooti, a 47-year-old Munyabindi and senior clinical officer in Kasese, testified that after the death of the lone minority representative on the District Service Commission, the remaining four members—all Bakonzo—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 restricted 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 testified.

“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.

Kasese chief administrative officer (CAO) Paul Walakira, who has held the post since January 2025, admitted that the minority groups, 9,376 Banyabindi and 8,604 Basongora, comprise 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.”

The Chief Executive Officer for Kasese district, Paul Walaga explains during an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) tribunal on Kasese minority groups at EOC offices in Kampala. (Credit: Ronnie Kijjambu)

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.

It is difficult to ascertain a person's tribe

Dr Amon Bwambale, district health officer for the past ten years, insisted, “Our ethics do not allow discrimination.”

However, under pressure, he acknowledged that the staff at Katwe Health Centre III and Nyakatonzi Health Centre II are all 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’s “often difficult to ascertain workers’ tribes.”

Anirwoth said both minority groups are constitutionally recognised—listed as the 19th and 31st tribes in the Third Schedule—but their cultural institutions lack formal recognition.

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

In 2019, EOC directed Kasese to implement affirmative action and incorporate 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.