Basongora-Bakonzo wrangle: A looming tribal bloodbath?

When the High Court in Fort Portal on May 7 ruled in favour of 289 farmers who in 2006 sued government for giving their land to pastoralists, it looked like the old conflict between the parties (Bakonzo and Basongora) would die.

The assumption was wrong as no one knew that the next wrangle would be over separation of royal and administrative powers. Court ruled in favour of the cultivators (mainly Bakonzo) and ordered immediate re-possession and occupation of the land.

Then it seemed that justice was served and peace would follow when farmers were all smiles.
The land then that led to the conflict is located in Bukangara and Rwehingo in Nyakiyumbu Sub-county, Kasese District.

The Basongora are among the minority ethnic groups in Kasese mainly pastoralists in the low lands of Busongora North and Busongora South.

Clashes erupt
When government gave the land to Basongora pastoralists, who had returned from Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo where they had gone in search of water and pasture, bloody clashes erupted.
The Bakonzo cultivators protested government’s move to settle the cattle keepers on the 2,050 acres of land and the deployment of police in the area to block whoever wanted to continue cultivating on the disputed land.

The cultivators successfully sued the Attorney General and asked court among others to; order government, its agents and the pastoralists out of their land. Mr Paul Byakatonda, one of the farmers’ leaders, said famine and food scarcity will be no more so long as every farmer repossesses the land they had lost hope in.

Following this, the Basongora community quickly held several meetings and rekindled their old demands of their own district and kingdom. They want to secede from Kasese and from Rwenzururu Kingdom, arguing that their interests are not catered for and are politically marginalised.

Different cultures
The Basongora have gone ahead to crown their own King Rwigi IV Kabumba Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale amid resistance from different sections in the district. They argue that it is their human right to have a kingdom because they don’t share any cultures with the Bakonzo.

“We have totally different cultures with the Bakonzo, so it is our human right to have our own kingdom” said the Busongora king’s spokesperson, Mr Jacob Muzoora, on Wednesday. Two weeks ago, the Basongora called for the rejection of the Rwenzururu Kingdom anthem in schools in their areas where they stay.

This was after the Basongora elders complained to their cultural leader that their children were being forced to sing the Rwenzururu Kingdom anthem and to dance Bakonzo traditional dance. Bwebale says it is an abomination to see their children dance the Bakonzo traditional dance and sing their kingdom anthem.

“All head teachers in Busongora schools should stand warned that the Basongora have own kingdom meaning that the Rwenzururu culture here is an abuse on us,” Bwebale warned on June 24 at Nyakatonzi Community hall after he announced his cabinet.

Bwebale said the Busongora Kingdom has been in existence though not popular as was established in 1886 by Queen Ikamiro Kogyere. Mr Joseph Baluku, an elder in the Rwenzururu Kingdom, said: “I am worried of how two kingdoms will operate in one district. Does it mean that Basongora and Bakonzo will have their own separate schools in order not to honour the anthems of the two institutions?”

He added: “I am sensing danger in our district if our leaders don’t decide wisely”. The minority groups say they have been marginalised in the politics and service delivery in Kasese which is led by the majority Bakonzo.

Push for Busongora district on the card
A petition to the district chairperson by Mr Bisanga says the Basongora, Banyabindi and Bachingwe, the three minority groups have been discriminated against, marginalised and oppressed by the district administration on employment, service delivery, politics and education.

The petition calls for the creation of a separate district for entirely the three ethnic groups because the proposed split of Kasese into three administrative units leaves the Basongora, Banyabindi and Bachingwe scattered.

Rwenzururu position
However, just three days after Basongora ethnic group crowned their king, the Rwenzururu Kingdom has declared null and void the establishment of Busongora Heritage Kingdom and the coronation of King Rwigi IV Kabumba Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale.

In a Tuesday press statement signed by the acting prime minister of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, Ms Loice Biira Bwambale, the cabinet resolved not to recognise the Busongora Heritage Kingdom on grounds that they cannot have two kings in one district and kingdom.

“We cannot have a Kingdom within our Kingdom. Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu does not recognise the so-called King of the Basongora, and therefore declares that his coronation that was conducted last Sunday is Null and Void” the statement reads in part.

The prime minister also directed that the Rwenzururu anthem and flag that were allegedly banned in the area covered by Busongora Kingdom must continue being used as they are recognised symbols of the kingdom.

Ms Bwambale in her statement also warned all ethnic groups in Rwenzururu Kingdom against disrespecting the Omusinga (King), structures and symbols of the monarchy to avoid further provocation.
The Rwenzururu Kingdom cabinet has asked government to come clear on the installation of the Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale as King of Basongora.

Legal issues
Independent legal experts say the Rwenzururu Kingdom has no powers to declare another kingdom null and void reasoning that not every one living on the territory of any kingdom must be a subject to that cultural institution.

“I don’t think a kingdom has any legal backing to declare another cultural institution null and void, not even the High Court can do this” reasoned lawyer Ngaruye Ruhindi, adding, “Not everyone living in Kasese should bow to the Iremangoma (King), not everyone in Kasese is a Mukonzo, however minority they are, other ethnic groups by the Constitution have a right to have their cultural leaders”.

Inside opposition
The family of the late Princess Kogyere of Katwe-Kabatoro town council says they will not recognise the King of the Basongora, claiming that Busongora Kingdom is under the leadership of the Babiito clan.
The Babiito clan mobiliser, Mr Yahaya Kyomya Atwooki, says: “We oppose what happened (coronation) on Sunday because it was done illegally without our consent”.

He adds that the Babiito family has their king in waiting called Bwatali, son to Nyabongo, the late Princess Kogere’s brother and has his regalia at Nyakatonzi Village in Nyakatonzi Sub-county.

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Understanding the origin and the lifestyle of the Basongora

The Basongora, Banyabindi, Bakingwe and Baholu are a minority group in Kasese District.
The Songora or Shongora (plural Basongora, singular Musongora), also known as Hima/Huma/Hema), are a traditionally pastoralist people located in Western Uganda and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
They have distinctive customs and speak ‘Rusongora’ an African language that is originates from Proto-Kordofanian and is similar to Runyankole and Rutooro.
The Basongora population is estimated at about 11,000 in Uganda.
The colonial and neo-colonial governments in Central Africa instituted programmes to encourage the Basongora to abandon their traditional lifestyle, and most of the territory traditionally owned by the Songora community has been appropriated for use as national parks or has been settled and occupied by other communities, notably the Batooro and Bakonzo.
Also Songora territory was partitioned into several districts and is distributed across Uganda and Congo.
The traditional lifestyle of the Basongora is notable for its adaptation to dry savanna and scrublands, as well as mountainous terrain. Cultural tourism should be promoted among the Basongora as an alternative means of income generation, and Basongora should be encouraged to welcome visits to their village to experience their culture, traditions, and lifestyle.
Rwenzururu Kingdom asserts that it cannot have a kingdom within their kingdom.
But Basongora argue that the whole of Kasese District was Busongora County headed by Chief Kogyere under Tooro Kingdom.
Basongora group for Justice and Human rights, is an NGO in Kasese formed about 20 years ago to push for the Basongora rights.
[Wikipedia]

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IN SEARCH OF AUTONOMY

The Basongora crowned their own king last Sunday in an attempt to secede from the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
They are also pushing for their own district.
The Busongora Kingdom, if it comes into existence, will cover 20 sub-counties of the present Kasese District.
There are 28 sub-counties including three town councils and three divisions in the district.
According to population reports it is estimated 700, 000 people live in the district.

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about the rwenzURURU kingdom

The Rwenzururu region is inhabited by the Konjo and Amba peoples. In the early 20th century, these two tribes were integrated into the Kingdom of Tooro as a political maneuver by the British colonialists.The Bakonjo and Baamba initially accepted being arbitrarily made subjects of the Tooro monarch with resignation, but asked the Uganda Protectorate to provide them their own district in the 1950s, separate from Toro District. The movement declared that they were not part of the Tooro Kingdom on 30 June 1962, three months independence. It was declared an independent Kingdom of Rwenzururu on 30 June 1963 with Isaya Mukirania as king.