Barely a week after the Basongora a minority tribe in Kasese
district installed their King Rwigi IV Kabumba Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale, the
central government has denied any knowledge about the newly established
Kingdom.
The minister of Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) Dr.Ruhakana Rugunda speaking in a meeting with Rwenzururu King Charles
Wesley Mumbere at his Buhikira palace in Kasese town on Saturday said that
there was no issue in government about the Busongora Heritage Kingdom.
“About the Basongora and their King, the government knows
nothing apart from seeing these issues in the media. This is a situation we are
trying to understand as government”. Dr. Rugunda said.
The Rwenzururu Kingdom has since refuted Basongora King
declaring his coronation as “illegal, null and void”.
The minister said that government will study the move by the
Basongora because it is not quite understood by anyone at the moment.
Dr. Rugunda was seconded to the Rwenzururu Kingdom by President
Yoweri Museveni to settle the uprising between the Bamba and Bakonzo in
Bundibugyo district. The Bamba are fighting the Bakonzo in resistance of the
Rwenzururu Kingdom under Omusinga (King) Charles Wesley Mumbere.
The Bamba according to reports on Friday attempted to burn
the Kings shrine at his ancestral home that he recently mounted on his tour of
Bundibugyo.
“The Basongora issue is another controversy because I did
not expect it when I travelled to your Kingdom your majesty but government will
handle”. Dr. Rugunda said.
King Charles Wesley Mumbere told Dr. Rugunda in a meeting
attended by Defense Minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga that there is need for
government to come out clearly on issues concerning the misunderstandings in
the Kingdom before dividing the people.
Dr. Rugunda’s statement contradicts what the King of the
Basongora Rwigi IV Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale said that he had informed the
president about his cultural matters through a number of letters. He however,
did not avail the replies from the president.
On the matters of Bundibugyo, Dr. Rugunda said he had held a
series of meetings with different stakeholders including the Bamba and Batwa
elders with hopes that there will be harmony.
He urged the Rwenzururu subjects to be calm and impress co-existence
as the government is looking into the matters.
The Bamba and Bakonzo representatives led by the late Isaya
Mukirania (Mumbere’s father) walked out of the Tooro parliament on June 30,
1962 and worked together to fight the oppression by the Omukama hence forming
the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
Isaya Mukirania was a Mukonzo, Kawamara and Mupalya were all
Bamba and they recruited men for the struggle that was launched in the jungles
of Mt. Rwenzori that has since been ongoing until 2009 when the government recognized
Rwenzururu Kingdom.
It is not yet known what exactly the Bamba and Batwa want as
they are fighting Mumbere’s leadership.
END
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