Family hacked in Kibaale land clashes

By Grace Matsiko and Amlan Tumusiime A woman was over the weekend hacked to death and her husband severely cut with a panga in a suspected tribal feud between the Banyoro and the settler communities in Kibaale over land and the administration of the district.The victims were identified by the Kibaale Chief Administrative Officer, Simon Kimono, yesterday as Paskazia Nyiranduku and her husband, Charles Bakimwe, Bakiga in Mutagata, Kyebando.Kimono said the attackers were suspected to be Banyoro who are opposed to the resettlement of other tribes in the district.“I think this was a warning that they are capable of doing those things,” Kimono said. Indigenous Banyoro have been issuing threats against the settlers, especially Bakiga.Kimono said a neighbour identified as Mabira was arrested by the Police in connection with the attack. He said the assailants struck at night, forcing the victims to flee their home. “It seems when they fled the home, the attackers pursued them. They found the woman in the bush and cut her with pangas,” Kimono said. He said the man was cut on the hand as he defended his family.Out-going Kibaale LC5 chairman, Sebastian Sekitoleko and the Police said investigations were underway.At a news conference in Kampala yesterday, the settler communities in Kibaale said they were ready to defend themselves if attacked by Banyoro opposed to the election of Fred Ruremera as district chairman.Representatives of the settlers and Banyoro who support Ruremera blamed the Government at a news conference at the Hotel Havana for allegedly not intervening in time to save the situation. Banyoro have warned of bloodshed if Ruremera takes over the administration of the district. The conference was addressed by the Rev. Geoffrey Tibenda, the leader of the settlers, Muhereza Kabazeire, a member of Ruremera’s election task force and another prominent Munyoro, Charles Kibuuka. “We shall reciprocate accordingly and as per the time,” Tibenda said adding, “I can now declare that if Mubende Banyoro Committee (MBC) slaps me, I will also slap them.”