President
Museveni has asked the administration of the Rwenzururu Kingdom to
focus on resolving conflicts among the ethnic groups in the area so that
they do not hinder development.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Vice
President, Mr Edward Ssekandi, at the 46th coronation anniversary of the
Rwenzuururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma in Kasese on
Friday, Mr Museveni said stability in the Rwenzori subregion is key to
development.
The region is endowed with cotton, fruit and
maize. The mining sector has copper, cabalt, salt, oil and gas,
pozzolana, limestone, among others. Of late there have been ethnic
conflicts pitting Bakonzo on one side and Basongora on the other in
Kasese District. In the neighbouring Bundibugyo District, the conflict
has been pitting Bakonzo on side and Bamba, Babwisi on the other.
Mr Museveni said the cultural institutions have
done a lot in the development of the country and that conflict
resolution is also one key area where they can excel. He said the
restoration of the kingdoms in Uganda in 1993 was one of the great
achievements of the NRM government because kingdoms are older than the
history of Uganda and hence they inculcate a sense of belonging to many
Ugandans.
The president also urged kingdoms to concentrate
on reviving the lost traditional values for the better organisation of
the society starting from the family unit. “The monarchs should restore
the lost traditional values starting from the family unit because that
used to be the beginning of conflict resolution in the Africa,” he
said.
The Vice President also launched the fundraising
drive for the construction of the Shs5 billion palace for the king at
the Base Camp Hill in Kasese Municipality where the president pledged
Shs80m and delivered Shs20m in cash. Mr Sekandi also contributed Shs5m
in a drive that saw Shs120m realised.
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