BASONGORA CALL OFF KING’S INSTALLATION.

BASONGORA CALL OFF KING’S INSTALLATION.

By Thembo Kahungu Misairi in Kasese July 1.

Following pressure from different stakeholders in Kasese district, the Basongora Community on Saturday called off the scheduled function for the installation of their King Omunyenyezi James Bwebale Rutakirwa.

The Sunday July 1, function was supposed to take place at Karungibati Hill in Hima Town council in Busongora North, Kasese district.

Several groups of people and leaders in the district are questioning having two kings in one area.

In a meeting between the Kasese Resident District Commissioner Lt. Milton Odongo and Basongora Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Ntungwa in Kasese town on Saturday evening, it was agreed that the function be called off.

“I have not had any letter from the president’s office concerning the existence of another Kingdom in Kasese district. So I would not see that happen” said Lt. Odongo.

The Basongora who claim to have been the first inhibitors of Kasese district claim that they are supposed to have a kingdom that stretches along the Queen Elizabeth National park which many people say is a target of the natural resources.

Mr. Ntungwa told the RDC that they are ready to stop the scheduled function but move on to seek the government’s recognition of their Kingdom.

“We are ready to go on with our demand to have our Kingdom recognized. We have a culture to revive through the installation of our King”. Mr. Ntungwa said.

It is alleged that the installation of the King who is reported to be the fourth in their history would be at midnight at the turn of July 1, 2012.

The coffee buyers association of Kasese Municipality petitioned the Kasese District chairman to block the installation of the Basongora King.

They believe that if the Basongora King is installed without the consent of the Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere, there could be unrest in the district.

The coffee buyers led by Mr. Fred Katsirombi want the district leadership and the Rwenzururu Kingdom authority to give a clear view of the matter to the subjects.

It is alleged that the Rwenzururu Kingdom anthem has been stopped in all schools in the area earmarked to be in the boundaries of the Busongora Kingdom.

The Member of Parliament for Busongora North Mr. William Nzoghu in a press release on Saturday said he would not allow such “divisionary” function to be held in his constituency.

  “I strongly warn the organizers of the installation to desist from creating yet another era of confusion in the district at a time when the people of Kasese are enjoying the little peace in place which we tirelessly struggled for”. Mr. Nzoghu said.

Meanwhile the Busongora South MP Boaz Kafuda believes that the Basongora have a constitutional right to demand for a cultural institution but advised that they seek the right procedures like other Kingdoms have done.

The demand for a Kingdom of the Basongora runs concurrently with the call for a separate district that excludes the Bakonzo which many think is also another course of a likely conflict.

The Basongora say they have been marginalized in the politics, employment and service delivery in Kasese district. END.