Baruuli youth protest Buganda meet

Baruuli youth protest the visitation of a Buganda delegation at the Nasongola District headquarters on Wednesday.
PHOTO BY samuel kaweesi

What you need to know:

The group from Bajwaka Youth Development Association, armed with sticks, stormed the office of the Nakasongola Resident District Commissioner, Hajj Swaib Lubega, on Wednesday

Nakasongola.

Seven people have been arrested for allegedly causing chaos as Baruuli youth attempted to block Buganda’s representative in Buruuli County from holding a meeting in the area, reigniting rivalry between the cultural institutions.

The group from Bajwaka Youth Development Association, armed with sticks, stormed the office of the Nakasongola Resident District Commissioner, Hajj Swaib Lubega, on Wednesday.

They submitted a petition, claiming that they had learnt that the representative, Mr Gerald Kyanjo, was holding a meeting in preparation for the monarch’s visit in the area.

The youth claimed the meetings were provocative to their cultural leader, Isaabaruuli Mwogezi Butamanya.
The group also claimed Buganda had no jurisdiction in the area, adding that its officials should first ask for permission from the Isaabaruuli before doing any activities.

“This is a breach of an agreement which was signed recently between the Kabaka of Buganda and government on August 1, 2013,” they said in their petition to the RDC.

Mr Lubega said he would present their concerns to President Museveni for redress.
“I have taken note of your concerns. Remain calm, everything will be settled out and the two institutions should co-exist,” Mr Lubega said.
The prime minister of Buruuli, Mr Kwebeya Erukamu, said the meeting would undermine their cultural leaders.

The situation became chaotic when Mr Kyanjo arrived at the headquarters with a delegation from Buganda Land Board.

However, he said they had come to pay a courtesy visit to the RDC.
But demonstrators got rowdy, prompting the police to fire teargas at them to restore calm before arresting seven suspects.