Mengo should denounce violence
Sep 12, 2009
THE violence that has gripped the Buganda Kingdom as a result of the planned visit of the Kabaka is unacceptable and needs to stop. The riots that broke out on Thursday afternoon were triggered by a false rumour that the Katikkiro had been arrested on his
THE violence that has gripped the Buganda Kingdom as a result of the planned visit of the Kabaka is unacceptable and needs to stop. The riots that broke out on Thursday afternoon were triggered by a false rumour that the Katikkiro had been arrested on his way to Kayunga.
In fact, the Buganda premier was only stopped by the Police and cautioned that the situation on the ground was tense. He was not arrested.
As it turned out, a meeting had been organised to allow the Katikkiro reach an understanding with the Banyala and Kayunga district leaders before the visit.
But the Buganda premier failed to turn up and went ahead with the preparations.
The way the Kabaka’s supporters vented their anger at innocent people, Baganda and non-Baganda, is inexcusable. They burned cars, buses and factories, looted shops, blocked traffic, roughed up passengers and terrorised the population.
As was seen in neighbouring Kenya and Rwanda, everybody loses out when there is mayhem.
Trade gets disrupted, shops and factories close down, tourists stay away, lives get lost and properties damaged.
The fact that foreign funding is involved shows that the violence is not as spontaneous as some want it to appear. Somebody, somewhere, has an interest in seeing Uganda go up in flames.
The Mengo leaders should unconditionally denounce the violence and reign in their supporters. They should demonstrate that they are there to defend the interests of Buganda and Uganda, not foreign interests.
Because of their high standing in society, they should be seen to promote dialogue and unity, not confrontation and division.
In fact, the Buganda premier was only stopped by the Police and cautioned that the situation on the ground was tense. He was not arrested.
As it turned out, a meeting had been organised to allow the Katikkiro reach an understanding with the Banyala and Kayunga district leaders before the visit.
But the Buganda premier failed to turn up and went ahead with the preparations.
The way the Kabaka’s supporters vented their anger at innocent people, Baganda and non-Baganda, is inexcusable. They burned cars, buses and factories, looted shops, blocked traffic, roughed up passengers and terrorised the population.
As was seen in neighbouring Kenya and Rwanda, everybody loses out when there is mayhem.
Trade gets disrupted, shops and factories close down, tourists stay away, lives get lost and properties damaged.
The fact that foreign funding is involved shows that the violence is not as spontaneous as some want it to appear. Somebody, somewhere, has an interest in seeing Uganda go up in flames.
The Mengo leaders should unconditionally denounce the violence and reign in their supporters. They should demonstrate that they are there to defend the interests of Buganda and Uganda, not foreign interests.
Because of their high standing in society, they should be seen to promote dialogue and unity, not confrontation and division.