Mirima, Bunyoro is in Uganda
Aug 10, 2009
EDITOR—A lot has been said about President Museveni’s letter to cabinet about ‘Abafuruki’ in Bunyoro. I disagree with some of the contents of the letter but I was surprised when I watched Mr Henry Ford Mirima, Omukama Solomon Iguru’s press secre
EDITOR—A lot has been said about President Museveni’s letter to cabinet about ‘Abafuruki’ in Bunyoro. I disagree with some of the contents of the letter but I was surprised when I watched Mr Henry Ford Mirima, Omukama Solomon Iguru’s press secretary and an elder, on NBS TV saying the ‘Bafuruki’ should leave leadership to the Banyoro.
He even said what annoys him is to see the ‘Bafuruki’ calling some of the villages where they are staying Rukiga names. He named Mpefu as one of them! So late in the day, I didn't expect Mirima to take this debate this far bearing in mind that he is also not staying in Bunyoro but in Buganda.
If he, his children or relatives wanted to stand in Buganda, how would he feel if the Baganda told them what he said on NBS? With due respect, Mirima should revisit the Constitution. power belongs to the people and I believe the ‘Bafuruki’ are among those people.
I don’t buy Mirima’s argument that the Bakiga are represented twice since they are represented both where they come from and also in Bunyoro and that Banyoro are not represented because of this reason!
I have been to Kibale and got a chance of interacting with the so-called ‘Bafuruki’.
Some of them told me they don’t have any problem with Banyoro because they have been staying with them for a long time but it is people who stay in Kampala (politicians) who are fuelling these tribal clashes. Is Mr. Mirima aware that there are few Banyoro in villages?
Banyoro are instead concentrated in trading centres like Kagadi!
One mukiga told me that Banyoro don’t like staying in villages because they are not hard-working and that is the reason why they stay in towns where they can do businesses! I discovered that some people as old as 20 years have never stepped out of Bunyoro.
They only hear that their grandparents came from Rukiga. What does Mirima think of such young people? Dr. Kiiza Besigye on Monday said that Bunyoro is one of the poorest districts in Uganda which doesn’t have tarmac roads. Should we blame this on the ‘Bafuruki’ or the leaders? What I would expect Mirima to be doing at this time is how to develop Bunyoro economically, socially and politically.
The banyoro should compete with the Bakiga politically and teach them how to do farming and the rest. There is oil in Bunyoro. Mirima, encourage the Banyoro to look for jobs in those oil companies so that there will be no complaint later that it is Bakiga and other tribes who are working there. Over to you, Mr. Mirima.
Godfrey Kayitarama
Kampala
He even said what annoys him is to see the ‘Bafuruki’ calling some of the villages where they are staying Rukiga names. He named Mpefu as one of them! So late in the day, I didn't expect Mirima to take this debate this far bearing in mind that he is also not staying in Bunyoro but in Buganda.
If he, his children or relatives wanted to stand in Buganda, how would he feel if the Baganda told them what he said on NBS? With due respect, Mirima should revisit the Constitution. power belongs to the people and I believe the ‘Bafuruki’ are among those people.
I don’t buy Mirima’s argument that the Bakiga are represented twice since they are represented both where they come from and also in Bunyoro and that Banyoro are not represented because of this reason!
I have been to Kibale and got a chance of interacting with the so-called ‘Bafuruki’.
Some of them told me they don’t have any problem with Banyoro because they have been staying with them for a long time but it is people who stay in Kampala (politicians) who are fuelling these tribal clashes. Is Mr. Mirima aware that there are few Banyoro in villages?
Banyoro are instead concentrated in trading centres like Kagadi!
One mukiga told me that Banyoro don’t like staying in villages because they are not hard-working and that is the reason why they stay in towns where they can do businesses! I discovered that some people as old as 20 years have never stepped out of Bunyoro.
They only hear that their grandparents came from Rukiga. What does Mirima think of such young people? Dr. Kiiza Besigye on Monday said that Bunyoro is one of the poorest districts in Uganda which doesn’t have tarmac roads. Should we blame this on the ‘Bafuruki’ or the leaders? What I would expect Mirima to be doing at this time is how to develop Bunyoro economically, socially and politically.
The banyoro should compete with the Bakiga politically and teach them how to do farming and the rest. There is oil in Bunyoro. Mirima, encourage the Banyoro to look for jobs in those oil companies so that there will be no complaint later that it is Bakiga and other tribes who are working there. Over to you, Mr. Mirima.
Godfrey Kayitarama
Kampala