Banyoro threaten to boycott elections
Dec 06, 2009
THE Mubende Banyoro Committee has threatened to urge all Banyoro not to stand for elective posts or participate in elections if the Government does not solve the issues in Bunyoro in one month.
By Conan Businge and Ismael Kasooha
THE Mubende Banyoro Committee has threatened to urge all Banyoro not to stand for elective posts or participate in elections if the Government does not solve the issues in Bunyoro in one month.
The committee is fighting for the rights of Banyoro.
During a press briefing at Kibaale district headquarters on Thursday, the committee chairperson, Kyabangi Musoke, said the issues that must be resolved are the land ownership and the sharing of political power between the Banyoro and Bafuruki settlers.
He added that the ultimatum had been set following what they termed as a deaf ear which President Yoweri Museveni has kept over the Bunyoro concerns.
In a statement, Musoke added: “We felt that time was running out for the Government to introduce the promised Bunyoro-Kitara Amendment Bill to Parliament.
“With the failure of the two sides, the Banyoro and Bafuruki settlers, to agree on the way forward, we felt that Banyoro were being betrayed again.â€
The impasse originated from Museveni’s July 15, 2009 letter to the minister for presidency, Beatrice Wabudeya and the Cabinet sub-committee on Bunyoro.
Museveni advised that if the land and political rights of the outnumbered indigenous Banyoro are not protected, they risked being overrun by Bafuruki.
Museveni proposed granting absentee landlords’ land to indigenous people who were on Mailoland, and eviction of encroachers from game reserves.
He also proposed that the indigenous people be prohibited from selling their land for some time.
THE Mubende Banyoro Committee has threatened to urge all Banyoro not to stand for elective posts or participate in elections if the Government does not solve the issues in Bunyoro in one month.
The committee is fighting for the rights of Banyoro.
During a press briefing at Kibaale district headquarters on Thursday, the committee chairperson, Kyabangi Musoke, said the issues that must be resolved are the land ownership and the sharing of political power between the Banyoro and Bafuruki settlers.
He added that the ultimatum had been set following what they termed as a deaf ear which President Yoweri Museveni has kept over the Bunyoro concerns.
In a statement, Musoke added: “We felt that time was running out for the Government to introduce the promised Bunyoro-Kitara Amendment Bill to Parliament.
“With the failure of the two sides, the Banyoro and Bafuruki settlers, to agree on the way forward, we felt that Banyoro were being betrayed again.â€
The impasse originated from Museveni’s July 15, 2009 letter to the minister for presidency, Beatrice Wabudeya and the Cabinet sub-committee on Bunyoro.
Museveni advised that if the land and political rights of the outnumbered indigenous Banyoro are not protected, they risked being overrun by Bafuruki.
Museveni proposed granting absentee landlords’ land to indigenous people who were on Mailoland, and eviction of encroachers from game reserves.
He also proposed that the indigenous people be prohibited from selling their land for some time.