Bunyoro-Kitara parliament rejects Bagungu secession plans

HOIMA-Representatives in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom parliament have unanimously made a resolution rejecting plans of Bagungu, a tribe in the kingdom, to break away to form their own parallel Bugungu Kingdom [Obutebegwa Bwabugungu].

The Bagungu agitators claim that the move to have their own cultural institution is meant to preserve their unique culture which they say faces extinction.

They further claim that Bunyoro Kitara-Kingdom has not helped the Bagungu community to be considered for jobs in the big offices of the central government among others.

During their sitting at Rukurato Hall in Hoima City, chaired by the speaker of Rukurato [Omutarindwa], Isaac Karembe the speaker last week, the kingdom’s legislators condemned the agitators of Obutebegwa Bwabugungu, saying they are enemies of development and unity in the oil-rich kingdom.

The motion to reject the secession was presented by Justine Asiimwe from Kagadi district who explained that allowing the Bugungu community to break away from the mother Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom would trigger other communities to follow suit.

She argued that Bunyoro hosts many tribes, adding that if Bagungu are allowed to break away, it will create divisions among the people of Bunyoro and weaken the kingdom which is one of the historical cultural institutions.

She said that whereas the constitution allows communities in a given locality to form their chiefdoms, the demands by Bagungu to secede are uncalled for.

The members of the Kingdom parliament agreed to make a resolution distancing themselves from any person demanding for dividing Bunyoro.

Charles Nyambongo Ochaki, a representative of Hoima City to the kingdom, says  Bagungu are one of the ethnic tribes that make up Bunyoro, adding that there is no need to discriminate against one another.

Robert Owagonza, the kingdom’s Minister for Finance explained that parts of Lake Albert, oil wells, and other resources are in Bugungu [Buliisa district], adding that their breaking away will make the Kingdom lose such resources.

He said there is a need to have a dialogue to address the issues affecting the Bagungu community instead of letting them to break away.

Ponsion Tumwesige, a Kingdom legislator from Kagadi district demanded that the agitators should be held responsible for engaging in activities that may result in conflicts among the people of Bunyoro.

He said that there is no need to divide Bunyoro, adding those agitating for divisionism are being used by the enemies of Bunyoro’s unity.

Before passing the resolution the legislators however asked the kingdom’s Prime Minister Andrew Byakutanga to address the issue affecting the Bagungu.

Byakutaaga in response said the kingdom’s administration has taken several steps including petitioning the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and President Museveni over the matter.

He noted that the agitators of the Bugungu Kingdom are selfish people with no genuine reason adding that their move is against the unity and development of the kingdom and called on the people of Buliisa district to shun them.

When contacted,  Norman Lukumu, one of the agitators of Obutebengwa and the chairperson of the committee spearheading the formation Bugungu Cultural Institution scoffed at individuals who are against the formation of Obutebegwa Bwabugungu.

He noted that Bagungu’s move to have their own kingdom is in the Traditional leader’s Act 2011, article 246 of the Constitution of Uganda, vowing that no one will stop them from achieving their plans.

Bagungu mainly live on the northeastern shores of Lake Albert near River Nile, at the bottom of the Rift Valley.  Others live in the hills above the valley. Most of them live in Buliisa district, Kigorobya in Hoima district, and some parts of Masindi district. Their major economic activity is fishing and subsistence farming.

https://thecooperator.news/bunyoro-kingdom-security-agencies-meet-over-land-dispute/

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