Museveni asked to intervene in Bagwere, Bagisu clashes
Jan 13, 2009
THE Budaka district chairman, Sam Mulomi, has asked the President to intervene in the conflict between the Bagisu and the Bagwere over the Namatala wetland.
By Daniel Edyegu
THE Budaka district chairman, Sam Mulomi, has asked the President to intervene in the conflict between the Bagisu and the Bagwere over the Namatala wetland.
The Sunday clashes, where the Bagisu injured one Mugwere, come barely four months after local government minister Kahinda Otafiire met with leaders from Budaka and Mbale districts to resolve the conflict.
“Four Bagwere have so far been hacked to death in this conflict and seven maimed in less than three years. I know he (Museveni) is aware of this dispute but to convince the local person that the President has acted accordingly is a bit difficult. Museveni should help us settle this issue before his planned visit to Budaka,†Mulomi said.
He said the lands ministry that had been assigned to demarcate the boundary between Budaka and Mbale was dragging the issue.
The communities which have been cultivating in the wetland accuse each other of encroaching on the respective district boundaries.
The Bagisu recently built a barrier to divert the wetland stream from the Bugwere side to their rice fields.
Mutomi said the conflict was affecting the progress of economic activities in the two districts as residents were living in constant fear of attacks.
Museveni is expected to visit Bukedi region, where Budaka district is located, to assess the progress of the prosperity-for-all scheme.
The eastern regional Police spokesman, Iddi Ssenkumbi, said they plan to establish a Police post at Kibiniko village in Mbale, where most of the tribal clashes have occurred.
THE Budaka district chairman, Sam Mulomi, has asked the President to intervene in the conflict between the Bagisu and the Bagwere over the Namatala wetland.
The Sunday clashes, where the Bagisu injured one Mugwere, come barely four months after local government minister Kahinda Otafiire met with leaders from Budaka and Mbale districts to resolve the conflict.
“Four Bagwere have so far been hacked to death in this conflict and seven maimed in less than three years. I know he (Museveni) is aware of this dispute but to convince the local person that the President has acted accordingly is a bit difficult. Museveni should help us settle this issue before his planned visit to Budaka,†Mulomi said.
He said the lands ministry that had been assigned to demarcate the boundary between Budaka and Mbale was dragging the issue.
The communities which have been cultivating in the wetland accuse each other of encroaching on the respective district boundaries.
The Bagisu recently built a barrier to divert the wetland stream from the Bugwere side to their rice fields.
Mutomi said the conflict was affecting the progress of economic activities in the two districts as residents were living in constant fear of attacks.
Museveni is expected to visit Bukedi region, where Budaka district is located, to assess the progress of the prosperity-for-all scheme.
The eastern regional Police spokesman, Iddi Ssenkumbi, said they plan to establish a Police post at Kibiniko village in Mbale, where most of the tribal clashes have occurred.