Museveni warns Tooro on conflicts

King Oyo (in blue tie) is joined by Tooro Kingdom officials to cut a cake during his 23rd birthday celebrations at Kyenjojo District headquarters on Monday. PHOTO BY RUTH KATUSABE

KYENJOJO. President Museveni has asked the people of Tooro to respect the Uganda Constitution in order to avoid conflicts and chaos such as the ones that erupted in the Rwenzori sub-region last year.
“The people of Tooro, you are asked to respect the Constitution of Uganda in order to avoid what happened on July 5, 2014. Let it not also happen in Tooro,” the First Deputy Premier, Mr Henry Kajura, who represented the President at King Oyo Nyimba’s 23rd birthday celebrations in Kyenjojo District on Monday, said.
On July 5, 2014, simultaneous attacks in Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts left at least 90 people dead, including police and army officers and left injured.
The attacks were allegedly prompted by ethnic conflicts in the sub-region between the Bakonjo and Basongora in Kasese and Bakonjo and Bamba/Babwisi in Bundibugyo.

Conflict in the kingdom
Most speakers and songs at the celebrations hinted on the conflict between King Oyo and his cousin Prince David Kijanangoma, who last month caused a storm by declaring a mission to overthrow King Oyo over alleged incompetence.
Since then, the conflict has divided the people of Tooro into two camps.
Addressing hundreds of people who turned out at Kasiina, Kenjojo District headquarters, King Oyo said it was a special day in his life and called for unity.
“I celebrate my birthday under a Theme: Unity in Tooro Kingdom, the people of Tooro Kingdom have a responsibility of respecting the glory and pride of Tooro,” King Oyo said.
He asked his subjects to settle down and not rise against each other.
“I ask the central government to make sure that they implement their role of maintaining peace in Tooro region. As you all know, Tooro Kingdom is non-partisan. Anyone who wants to involve politics in Tooro Kingdom is an enemy of Tooro,” he added.
King Oyo handed over 180 wheelchairs to Kyenjojo disabled people’s union and installed new village and sub-county chiefs.

By Felix Basiime, Ruth Katusabe & Edison Amanyire