[UAH] Oil: Bunyoro kingdom faces split
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11:34 PM |
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Although the 19th coronation anniversary of Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru was marked with passion and fanfare, Bunyoro kingdom could be headed for an acrimonious split.
The Observer has learnt that some people from the oil-rich Buliisa district have started mobilizing support for the idea to secede from Bunyoro. Currently, the kingdom covers Hoima, Kibaale, Masindi, Kiryandongo and Buliisa districts.
The Bagungu, an ethnic group residing in Buliisa district and some parts of Hoima and Masindi, want to break away from Bunyoro and form their own kingdom, "Obukama Bwa Bugungu". They have already selected a 15-member team to push for the breakaway, citing marginalisation under Bunyoro.
Edward Kabagambe, one of the promoters, told The Observer this week that although 'Bugungu kingdom' did not historically exist, there was nothing in law to stop the Bagungu from having their own cultural leader.
"We have the Rwenzururu kingdom, the Banyala have had their cultural leader, why not the Bagungu? It is time for the Bagungu to have our own cultural leader," Kabagambe said, denying claims that his group was being used by external forces to destabilise Bunyoro for an oil share.
Kabagambe, an employee of the Chinese oil exploration firm CNOOC, says Bunyoro would remain 'a friend'.
"The Bagungu people are not Banyoro, we speak a different language from Runyoro and therefore we have a unique culture to preserve and protect," Kabagambe added.
He says the third schedule of the 1995 Constitution recognises the Bagungu as a distinct tribe from the Banyoro and the first schedule of the same document recognises Buliisa county, currently Buliisa district, to be under Bunyoro kingdom.
External forces
Stephen Biraahwa Mukitale, the Buliisa county MP, agrees that the Bagungu people have been marginalized, but he rejects the push for secession from Bunyoro.
"The truth is that, we need to protect the Bagungu culture and the Bagungu people. I'm a Mugungu original; I know we have been marginalised but not by Bunyoro kingdom but by colonialists and the NRM government that I serve," Mukitale said.
He argues that the entire Bunyoro sub-region is suffering with no public university, poor roads, land grabbing and lack of information on oil and gas resource under its soil. However, he says the solution lies in remaining united, not breaking away.
He argues that the agitators of Bugungu kingdom are being used by some external forces to keep Bunyoro fighting while oil is taken away.
"It is a selfish divide-and-rule scheme by some people," Mukitale says. "Bunyoro is not a tribe; it is a nation that is made up of many tribes. We can't allow this [breakaway] to happen; people want to divide us such that we don't speak with a single voice."
He argues that there are more advantages in maintaining a united front.
"For me, I'm for a regional tier system, so that the whole of Bunyoro can come together and collectively push for the development of our sub-region … We should not eat up ourselves like grasshoppers." he said, echoing the views of Buliisa LCV Chairman Fred Lukumu.
Speaking at the 19th coronation anniversary celebrations on Monday, the Omukama warned the Bagungu against being used by external forces that want to divide the kingdom. Bunyoro has been pushing for 12.5 per cent share of oil revenues, however, the Public Finance bill, now before Parliament, has recommended that all kingdoms and districts share seven per cent.
ssekika@observer.ug
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Comments
The president should support them no double standards please, what goes around comes around Bagungu Oyee!!!
Politically, even Bunyoro isn't treated as west coz of their proximity to the north, but when it comes to oil it's west, why.. the cattle keeper wants everything good to be from his side, oil cannot be found in an area (north) where biological substances live, infact if it were possible he would dig tunnels underground so that the oil is discovered in Mbarara/ Nyabusozi.
It must be painful that he can't have the refinery somewhere in kiruhura for close control, so brig. is appointed sfg commander to oversee drilling and other activities.