Mwenge North reaps sectarianism after chaotic NRM party primaries

The National Resistance Movement party primaries ghost in September is rearing its divisive claws in Mwenge North in Kyenjojo District.

Mr David Muhumuza is battling Col. Tom Butime for the parliamentary seat, but with alleged smashing of car windscreens by rival supporters and the elders’ council calling the mandate on blood lines, the events do not seem rosy.

Mr Muhumuza was last month declared the official flag bearer by the NRM EC a day after the district NRM EC declared Col. Butime winner of the controversial primary polls.

The conflict was compounded by the recent resolutions by the Tooro Elders Forum chaired by former trade minister Prof. Edward Rugumayo, who resolved to ring fence specific seats in Tooro sub region for Batooro.

Mr Muhumuza is a Mufumbira, while Col. Butime is a Mutooro.
The Moses Kigongo committee of inquiry recognises Col Butime, though the NRM EC overruled it and maintained his nemesis as the flag bearer.

Two bulls announced
Mr James Byamukama, the district NRM chairman, said the results were agreed on publicly in the presence of all parties and Col. Butime was announced as the official flag bearer.
He said he was shocked when he received a call on November 21 from someone who identified himself as Raymond telling him that the party national EC had resolved to cancel the November 18 results and go by the September 4 where Mr Muhumuza was the winner.

He said he warned the party EC that the decision would cause chaos in the district.

“As far as NRM branch in Kyenjojo is concerned Mr Muhumuza was illegally and fraudulently nominated as flag bearer for,” Mr Byamukama asserts.

He reasons that the Kigongo committee was mandated to be the final authority on all petitions arising from NRM polls.
The problem has since sparked off tribal conflicts between the indigenous Batooro and the Bafuruki, which may call for the party to intervene and control the situation.

However, Mr Muhumuza said he should not be accused of promoting tribal conflicts because he is married to a Matooro and has Batooro in his taskforce.

The NRM vice chairman for Kyenjojo District, Fr Leo Byaryabuza, says it is unfortunate that tribal sentiments are coming up among the people who have stayed together for years.

He accuses the team from the party secretariat that came to the district to conduct the elections with a preconceived mind that Mr Muhumuza must win for fanning the squabbles.

The Mbabazi connection
Fr. Byaryabuza said the indigenous Batooro regard the Butime-Muhumuza issue as tribal because of Mr Muhumuza’s pride in the NRM Secretary General Mr Amama Mbabazi.
The saga in Mwenge North is seen by many people in the area as war between Col Butime and Mr Mbabazi.

“As far as I am concerned all the problems in Mwenge North rotate around Amama Mbabazi,” Fr. Baryabuza said.
But Prof. Rugumayo said the Bafuruki should accord deserving respect to the indigenousBatooro for co-existence and development of the area.

Awaiting the president
The Tooro elders’ Forum has come up with a memorandum, in which they want President Museveni to explain the position of Batooro in his government when he visits the region for his campaigns in January.

However, the Bakiga and Banyankole living in Kyenjojo have condemned the members of Tooro elders’ forum for their proposal on ring fencing some political seats, saying it is against the Constitution.

They say it is only the Tooro kingdom that has mandate to convene a meeting of the people of Tooro sub region.
“The kingdom is not for Batooro only but for all the people living there” some of the aggrieved Bafuruki said.

Pastor Movis, an aide to Mr Muhumuza, argues that the elders should have invited both parties to hear their views.