News updated at E-Society Kasese
Story By Asuman Bisiika
In addition to corruption, the other legacies of
this regime will be the creation of kingdoms and districts. From
January 1986 to date, the number of districts has increased by more than
300 per cent. And since the number of kingdoms was zero in 1986, it is
also mathematically logical to say that the kingdoms have also increased
by over the same percentage.
In my corer of Uganda, where we had Tooro Kingdom,
we now have two more kingdoms namely Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, Obudingya
Bwa Abamba. And where we had three districts in 1986, we now have seven
districts namely Bundibugyo, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo,
Ntoroko and Kasese. So much is this craze for the kingdoms and districts
that even communities that once boasted of their republican heritage
now have kings.
In the case of the Tieng Adhola and Rwenzururu
Kingdom, the kings leading these new kingdoms may not even share the
blue blood associated with traditional feudal formations of old. And oh
yes, even Buganda Kingdom now has two kingdoms in it. Ankole Kingdom has
not yet been re-instated by the State; but they ‘revenged’ by creating
more districts. As at 1986, Ankole Kingdom only had Mbarara and Bushenyi
districts; now they have nine districts.
Yet in spite of what appears to be a strong
opposition to the creation of more districts (and kingdoms), every new
district created has a story and history behind it.
The creation of Kibaale District (carved from
Hoima District) was intended to address lost counties issue. Kisoro was
created for the Bafumbira Community while Ntungamo was created to
‘liberate’ the Banya’Rujumbura from Ankole. Which brings us to the split
of Kasese. What are the historical reasons for the split of Kasese
District? How come the idea of splitting the district is not popular in
Kasese?
Kasese split
The Bakonzo of Kasese are divided into three groups namely the Bakonzo Basongora, Bakonzo Baghendera and Bakonzo Banyangetse (the lake people: Baholhu and Bakingwe have integrated into fishlore’s pseudo-urbanite culture).
The Bakonzo of Kasese are divided into three groups namely the Bakonzo Basongora, Bakonzo Baghendera and Bakonzo Banyangetse (the lake people: Baholhu and Bakingwe have integrated into fishlore’s pseudo-urbanite culture).
The Bakonzo Basongora should NOT be mistaken for
the distinctive cattle-keeping pastoralist Basongora community. Between
River Nyamwamba and River Rwimi (Lhume in Lhukonzo) is the provenance of
the Baghendera in Kasese District. And from River Nyamwamba up to River
Lhubiriha (the Uganda-DR Congo border), is for the Bakonzo Basongora.
The Bakonzo Baghendera are also the dominant group
in Bunyangabo County of Kabarole District, Bughendera County of
Bundibugyo District and Karugutu Sub-county of Ntoroko District. With
his origin in Bundibugyo District, King Charles Wesley Mumbere is a
Mukonzo Mughendera.
Our research doesn’t show any record of a conflict
between Bakonzo Basongora and Bakonzo Baghendera either in folklore or
document. And the classification of Bakonzo Basongora and Bakonzo
Baghendera has been dismissed by some people as mere academic labelling.
In common speech and diction, the Bakonzo
Baghendera use a lot of Rutooro-Rwamba words and intonation while the
Bakonzo Basongora use Lhundandi (Congolese ethnic Lhukonzo) influence in
their common speech.
The dialectal variations in diction between the
Bakonzo Basongora and Bakonzo Baghendera are very negligible. But what
is NOT negligible is the apparent domination of the district political
and administrative leadership by the Bakonzo Basongora. In fact it is
NOT apparent; it is overly conspicuous.
Living in the frontline territories during tribal
wars between Batooro and Bakonzo, the Bakonzo Baghendera faced the brunt
of the Rwenzururu war more than the Bakonzo Basongora.
And whereas they (the Bakonzo Baghendera) constituted the bulk of fighter corps, the ideological and administrative leadership of the Rwenzururu Rebellion (now a Kingdom) was still dominated by the Bakonzo Basongora.
And whereas they (the Bakonzo Baghendera) constituted the bulk of fighter corps, the ideological and administrative leadership of the Rwenzururu Rebellion (now a Kingdom) was still dominated by the Bakonzo Basongora.
The Bughendera Question
“Give the devil his due,” said William Shakespeare. Dr Kiyonga has attempted to resolve the Baghendera Question. However, there are accusations that he is merely looking for supple and pliant cadres who would accord him total loyalty. That may explain why Kiyonga supported the seemingly weak candidature of Ms Rehema Muhindo (a Mukonzo Mughendera) in the recent by-election for District Woman MP.
“Give the devil his due,” said William Shakespeare. Dr Kiyonga has attempted to resolve the Baghendera Question. However, there are accusations that he is merely looking for supple and pliant cadres who would accord him total loyalty. That may explain why Kiyonga supported the seemingly weak candidature of Ms Rehema Muhindo (a Mukonzo Mughendera) in the recent by-election for District Woman MP.
The immediate former district chairperson, the
Rev. Julius Kithaghenda, was a Mukonzo Mughendera who enjoyed the
support of Dr. Kiyonga. But Col. Mawa Muhindo (a Mukonzo Musongora)
‘beat’ him in the NRM primaries.
Frustrated, the Rev. Kithaghenda plotted the split
of the district as the only way the Bakonzo Baghendera could avoid the
dominance of the Bakonzo Basongora. According the provisional
boundaries, the Baghendera will have Rwenzori District and the Basongora
will have the Kasese and Bwera Districts.
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