Uganda President warns traditional leaders fomenting trouble in Rwenzori

On Easter Monday 28th March 2016, Uganda's president and commander in chief of the Armed forces jumped on a military helicopter dressed in Military fatigue and looked every inch Combat ready. He was visiting the restive Rwenzori region for the first time since the outbreak of communal violence after the February 18th general elections. At least 20 people(accumulative figure)had been killed including 4 security officials in clashes btn bakonjo and Bamba-Babwisi in Bundibugyo and Kasese. Museveni visited kirumya and Ntotoro sub counties to assess the security situation. The violence begun in Kirumya where five people were killed including a woman and a 14 year old boy killed by machete wielding militia men reminiscent of Rwanda 1994 genocide shortly after Local gov't elections in March. Three hundred and sixty six(366) houses have so far reportedly been burnt by unknown people displacing over 10,000 people from their homes within Bundibugyo border district.The outgoing district Local gov't chairman Jolly Tibemanya told President Yoweri Museveni that the disaster preparedness ministry had not done enough to address the challenges of the Internally displaced persons-IDPs in his district. The communal violence is mainly between Bamba and Bakonjo ethnic communities are said to have been allies in their struggle against segregation and marginalization by ancient Tooro Kingdom in 1962.In 2014, a gang of militia armed with arrow and bows attacked key military installations including a military barracks of kanyamwirima in Bundibugyo. The conflict is laced with mysticism following reports that some militia men had been convinced by traditional medicine men that they could face any modern weapon unscathed after smearing their bodies with some herbal concoctions hence the incredible heroic confrontation with Security officials armed with AK 47 assault rifles. During the February 18 2016 elections, the two tribes voted on opposite sides with the Bamba/Babwisi voting for the incumbent and the Bakonzo voting the opposition with assurance that their grievances and needs would be addressed by the new FDC gov't.The Leader of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change-FDC Col.Kiiza Besigye visited the cultural leader of Bakonzo Charles Wesley Mumbere during elections and the two are said to have discussed issues of concern concerning his Cultural institution and hence the good returns in the general elections with all the 6 MPs elected on FDC ticket. However, Charles Mumbere says NRM mobilizers didn't do their work and hence the dismal returns. The internally displaced persons are in need of urgent attention and lack basic needs including health and sanitary services. The Rwenzori region lies astride the DRC-Uganda border and was used by Allied Democratic Forces ADF rebels who unleashed terror and havoc in the area from 1996-2001 before they were driven across the border to DRC.The ADF leader Jamil Mukulu was arrested in neighboring Tanzania in 2014 and extradited to Uganda where he is yet to be tried in courts of Law. In a press briefing at state lodge Njara in F/Portal on Easter Monday, President Yoweri Museveni urged the people of Rwenzori not to be misguided by Cultural leaders who don't care about their needs but enjoy seeing people prostrating before them. Museveni on a positive note said the conflict in Rwenzori is threatening tourism, and other economic activities like cocoa growing and vanilla which are the main economic activities in Bundibugyo and Kasese. The restive Rwenzori region remains a volatile area where a normal quarrel or act of theft of Agricultural produce could a park a tribal conflict anytime.