Obusinga lies in the hands of the bakonzo
Apr 06, 2006
SIR — I wish to comment on Mr. John Nzinjah’s article “Why Besigye beats Museveni in Kasese†publish on March 28.
SIR — I wish to comment on Mr. John Nzinjah’s article “Why Besigye beats Museveni in Kasese†publish on March 28.
When the unexpected occurs, a number of hypotheses are generated. Nzinjah’s article distorted facts. It is not true that the Bakonzo constitute 99% of the population of Kasese. There are other ethnic tribes like the Basongora and Banyabindi, constitutionally recognised, who form a substantial percentage. Other tribes have also settled in Kasese and intermarried with the indigenous community and have become bonafide stakeholders there.
Nzinjah, in attempting to give an oblique explanation of why President Museveni lost to Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kasese is simply guilty of having been part of a wider propaganda machine that has continued to take advantage of the illiterate members of our community into believing that the President has the powers to grant a cultural institution to any tribe in Uganda. They don’t tell them that the mandate to do so lies in our hands. President Museveni did not claim otherwise even at the most crucial time of vote-seeking. Those who were foolish enough as to promise what they knew they could not deliver paid the price, but after the damage had already been done. Nzinjah’s claim that Dr. Crispus Kiyonga’s victory (despite his opposition to the Obusinga) was made possible by the small anti-obusinga group which managed to woo other small ethnic communities to his side and should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Who are these “small ethnic tribes†that provided the majority votes that overwhelmed the presumed numerically superior pro-obusinga proponents?
Caleb M. Mukirane
PersonalAssistant to Minister Without Portfolio
When the unexpected occurs, a number of hypotheses are generated. Nzinjah’s article distorted facts. It is not true that the Bakonzo constitute 99% of the population of Kasese. There are other ethnic tribes like the Basongora and Banyabindi, constitutionally recognised, who form a substantial percentage. Other tribes have also settled in Kasese and intermarried with the indigenous community and have become bonafide stakeholders there.
Nzinjah, in attempting to give an oblique explanation of why President Museveni lost to Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kasese is simply guilty of having been part of a wider propaganda machine that has continued to take advantage of the illiterate members of our community into believing that the President has the powers to grant a cultural institution to any tribe in Uganda. They don’t tell them that the mandate to do so lies in our hands. President Museveni did not claim otherwise even at the most crucial time of vote-seeking. Those who were foolish enough as to promise what they knew they could not deliver paid the price, but after the damage had already been done. Nzinjah’s claim that Dr. Crispus Kiyonga’s victory (despite his opposition to the Obusinga) was made possible by the small anti-obusinga group which managed to woo other small ethnic communities to his side and should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Who are these “small ethnic tribes†that provided the majority votes that overwhelmed the presumed numerically superior pro-obusinga proponents?
Caleb M. Mukirane
PersonalAssistant to Minister Without Portfolio