Understanding the attacks in Rwenzori sub-region

Karangura subcounty in Kabarole district, Rwenzori subregion, is mourning again. This time eight people have been killed in Kamabale village by Uganda security forces. Reason? Uganda's security forces say that these people were planning attacks and had started looting food, animals and intimidating the wanainchi. The UPDF spokesman claimed these people had set up some sort of "camp" up in the mountains making improvised explosive devices preparing to attack.
Earlier this month, a UPDF soldier who was on leave was killed in Nyabuswa in the same subcounty as he allegedly tried to counsel the residents he met in a bar against undermining state authority. As the police and soldiers investigated his death, they ended up shooting four civilians. Of course, the region police spokeswoman said the four were not civilians but "trained attackers". We all know that dead men tell no tales.

What is behind the clashes and killings in Rwenzori? I can’t certainly say I know. But, perhaps the history of the region can help us understand and contextualize what’s happening.

Rwenzori region has been shrouded in sporadic clashes since 1919. In 1919, the Bakonzo protested the tax collection from Toro government chiefs. The reasons for this protest bordered on taxation without services delivered in mountainous areas where the Bakonzo tax payers lived. The Toro government collaborating with the British colonialists crushed the protest by publicly hanging the suspected ringleaders Nyamutswa, Tibamwenda and Kapolyo in 1921. The three were buried in one grave.

This was firefighting. The hanging of the three leaders enraged the Bakonzo. Why? The Bakonzo expected the British colonialists to see reason in their grievances against Toro administration but instead sided with their oppressors. This sowed seeds of future rebellion and unrest in the region.

In 1940s young Bakonzo who had been educated beyond primary school level began to trace the history of the Bakonzo. By 1950s the Bakonzo had started organizing themselves to demand independence from Toro government. Among the key demands was use of Lukonzo as a language of instruction in Toro schools where few Bakonzo children studied. This demand for cultural identity was denied. Isaya Mukirania a grade II teacher and others started mobilizing the Bakonzo under the Bakonzo Life History Research Society (BLHRS) -which became the harbinger of Rwenzururu movement. Soon BLHRS rapidly spread across Rwenzori mountain.

Other demands included establishment of schools in areas where the Bakonzo and Bamba lived, appointment in Toro government administration, health facilities, roads, political representation, etc.

At the same time, the Bamba students formed the Balyebulya association to push for the interests of the Bamba who too had been lumped into Toro kingdom as subjects.

By then the main grievance was the need to recognize the Bakonzo and Bamba as separate ethnic communities within Toro kingdom government. This was a demand that Toro administration would not readily accept. Rwenzururu movement began just like that.
The moderates and fanatics

I have been reading a lot about the Rwenzururu struggle 1962 to 2009. My interest was sparked by the conflicts that have rocked the Rwenzori mountains over the years including the recent clashes.
One thing that stood out for me during, my literature review, was a fight within Rwenzururu struggle itself. During the Rwenzururu rebellion there were moderate and those I will call fanatic supporters. The moderates were mainly educated Bakonzo who supported Rwenzururu for demands like respect for human rights and social services delivery. These were happy with having a negotiated settlement for the Rwenzururu question. They were few but influential and were mainly from lowlands and hills of Kasese. They were the ones that had manuvred around the Toro education discrimination policy against Bakonzo by adapting some Rutoro names.
So, when Idi Amin decreed that there be Rwenzori and Semliki districts out of Toro, the moderate Rwenzururu supporters were happy with this as it would give them the services and a voice they badly needed in Uganda.

The fanatic supporters on the other hand, believed in a military confrontation as way of getting their demands. The biggest number of these people were semi educated or not schooled at all. This group was led by Isaya Mukirania who unfortunately died before the two districts were curved out of Toro. With time, this group demanded more and more. For example, when two districts were created, they never abandoned rebellion. They also wanted a kingdom. At one point they established a kingdom government like ones that existed during colonial time. They had cabinet ministers, they collected Rwenzururu taxes, collected market dues in kind and cash, fought with colonial and later post colonial police and army during Obote I and Amin regimes. Some of them looted food, animals and chickens from the locals with or without knowledge of their leaders.

Soon even the Bakonzo were to face the wrath of some elements in this group. Anyone who was found in Rwenzururu "controlled" territory without a Rwenzururu receipted tax would face their wrath. At the same time, if they found you with Uganda central government tax, you would be in for it. This become a dilemma for those who lived in Rwenzori areas controlled by Uganda Army. If the army or central government found you without tax ticket or with a Rwenzururu tax receipt you would be in trouble. To this fanatic group, the moderate Bakonzo were viewed as abakolikoli (sort of traitors) and would be arrested or even killed. A big number of them fled Rwenzori to areas like Mubende and parts of Bunyoro. They abducted Kasese MP, Ezironi Bwambale for not presenting Rwenzururu views in parliament.
The fanatic Rwenzururu supporters felt the colonial and central governments of Obote I and Amin persecuted them. So, they attempted to declared Rwenzururu an independent state.

When Charles Kisembo Mumbere took over the Rwenzururu leadership following the demise of his father in 1966, the Obote government hoped it had a chance to neutralize the rebellion. But, they were wrong. The elders who had been working with Mukirania had mastered the art of dodging the Uganda Army soldiers by hiding deep in the mountains and carrying out raids.

The central government of Obote II opted for negotiations as they kept the military option open.

In 1982 a negotiated settlement was reached. Charles Kisembo Mumbere descended the hills with some of his soldiers to settle down in Kasese as a Chief Elder.

However, Richard Kinyamusitu, the Rwenzururu army chief of staff, did not agree with his commander Mumbere to surrender. He remained in the mountains fighting for a state.

Maybe the moderates had won. But, new struggles emerged. The National Resistance Movement had begun a rebellion against Obote II regime. The NRA elements could not ignore Kinyamusitu and his men. Since 1982 Kinyamusitu and his men has been roaming the mountains looting from the locals as they would go as far as some places eastern Zaire (now DR Congo). Kinyamusitu found a way of working with NRA but later dropped out.

The second form of struggle emanated from Rwenzururu supporters of Mumbere and those against him. The Rwenzururu supporters wanted their king and kingdom recognized after the 1993 restoration of kingdoms.

As expected, the NRM government dragged its feet to recognize Rwenzururu kingdom. The demand for Rwenzururu kingdom recognition became a hot political and social issue in Rwenzori mountains. In Kasese C.W. B Kiyonga led the anti Obusinga group. Kiyonga was and is an influential figure in the NRM government; so his opposition to Obusinga had a substantial impact on delaying recognition of the kingdom. But his group was outnumbered by the masses made up of ordinary Banyarwenzururu who wanted a kingdom and king recognized.

In between this struggle for Rwenzururu struggle for recognition, the ADF rebels attacked Kasese and later Bundibugyo and parts of Kabarole district. Soon allegations and counter-allegations of who was supporting ADF were being made. Some of these allegations: that Mumbere was sympathizing with ADF which had merged with NALU and remnants of Rwenzururu under Kinyamusitu and Fenihasi Kisokeranio. These two had been soldiers under Mumbere's command during Rwenzururu rebellion.

The politicians opposed to Obusinga recognition seized the opportunity to mud-sling the supporters of Obusinga and its crown king as having links to ADF rebellion.
From the USA, Mumbere boarded a plane to Kampala to clear his name. But the damage had been done. The central government recognition of Obusinga was delayed even further.

One particular incident of great concern was after the 2001 parliamentary and presidential elections. Kasese again had voted overwhelmingly for the candidates that did not support the Movement system. In March that year Kasese town woke up to the sad news of over 11 people killed and 54 cars burnt to ashes by allegedly ADF rebels. After this incident several pro-Obusinga politicians were arrested by central government. Here again some people in Rwenzori began feeling persecuted.

In the 2006 presidential election President Museveni was defeated in Kasese by FDC's Kizza Besigye. It was the only district in Western Uganda where Museveni lost to an opponent. The overriding reason for the presidential defeat in Kasese was failure to recognize Obusinga.

Museveni got some homework to do.He soon set up the Kajura Commission into the Rwenzururu Obusinga question. The results of the commission showed that over 85% of the population supported the Obusinga with Mumbere as the preferred king.

In 2009 central government led by Museveni recognized Obusinga and installed Mumbere as king. There massive celebrations among the Banyarwenzururu in Rwenzori and beyond.
So, in the 2011 elections Museveni won back Kasese district although with minimal margin.

However, in 2016 election Museveni's political party NRM lost Kasese at presidential and parliamentary levels. Why? Reasons are many. Poor service delivery, perceived marginalization and desire to always oppose.

In March 2016, a dispute over Hima town council LC III election resulted in deaths of civilians. Rwenzururu royal guards were pinpointed in these attacks in Kasese. Situation got worse in Bundibugyo over dispute of the LC V elections and lives were lost.
Earlier on, in 2014 there were attacks on military and police installations in Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts leaving at least 100 people mainly civilians ('attackers') dead. A minister in Rwenzururu kingdom one Vincent Kipilongo is alleged to have confessed to have mobilized the youth in these attacks. Some Rwenzururu officials were arrested. Some of the suspects who participated in these attacks were tried in the court martial and some acquitted. Others are still in prison. Some suspects who surrendered were given amnesty.

But wait a minute; where is Kipiliongo? Why did he mobilize the young people to carry out these attacks? What is being done to those he indoctrinated? What does this say about Rwenzururu leadership? And more important what should be done to end this violence in Rwenzori? Is it not time for the palace to control its supporters?
Could it be that those who opposed Obusinga recognition are working behinds the scenes to say we told you?

Dialogue should be desired method in solving any concerns. The lives of young people lost because they have been confused or lied to "that bullets won't touch them" are regrettable. These young people in Rwenzori could be fighting some selfish persons' wars. Parents, leaders at all levels should guide the youths and identify those behind this confusion and spread this myth. Rwenzori region has had enough share of conflict and definitely does not need one now. Ordinary people want to develop and feed their families. Leave them in peace.

Mr Habati Asinja Mubatsi is a journalist. Twitter: @Asinja. [email protected]