Alot has been said about the President’s letter to cabinet about ‘Abafuruki’ in Bunyoro. I personally disagree with some of the contents but I was surprised when I watched Henry Ford Mirima, the Omukama’s press secretary and a an elder on Barometer on NBS TV saying that the Bafuruki should leave leadership to the Banyoro. He even said that what annoys him is to see the Bafuruki calling some of the villages they are staying, Rukiga names and he named Mpefu as one of them!
At his age and experience, I didn’t expect Mr.Mirima to take this debate this far bearing in mind that he is also not staying in Bunyoro but in Buganda. If Mr. Mirima, his sons, daughters or relatives wanted to stand in Buganda, how would he feel if the Baganda told them what he talked on NBS? With due respect to Mr. Mirima, why don’t you go back and read the Constitution( power belongs to the people) of which I believe the Bafuruki are among?
I don’t buy his urgument that the Bakiga are represented twice since they are represented both where they come from and also in Bunyoro and that Banyoro are not represented because of this reason!
I have personally been to Kibale and got a chance of interacting with the so called Bafuruki. Some of them told me they don’t have any problem with Banyoro because they have been staying with them for a long time but people who stay in kampala(Politicians) are the ones who fuel these tribal clashes.
Is Mr. Mirima aware that there are few Banyoro in villages? Banyoro are instead concentrated in trading centres like kagadi! One mukiga told me that Banyoro don’t like staying in villages because they are lazy and said that is the reason why they stay in towns where they can businesses! I discovered that some people as old as 20 years have never stepped out of Bunyoro. They only hear that their grandparents came from Rukiga. What does Mr. Mirima talk of these young people?
Dr.Besigye on Monday said that Bunyoro is one of the poorest districts in Uganda and which doesn’t have tarmac roads at all! Should we put this blame on the Bafuruki or you the leaders, Mr.Mirima?
What I would expect Mr.Mirima to be doing at this time is how to develop Bunyoro economically, socially and politically. Don’t encourage your people to be lazy, let them go and compete with Bakiga politically, teach them how to do farming and the rest. There is Oil in Bunyoro. Encourage your people to go and look for jobs in those Oil companies because I will not be surprised to hear that the Bakiga and other tribes are the ones working at the sites.
Over to you Mr.Mirima.
kayitarama godfrey
kampala
Comments
Uganda in the 21st Century cannot have originals sending away Ugandans for merely not being that tribe. The Banyoro and President Museveni must revise their inflammatory words and attitude towards Bakiga . It must stop. Do not call Bakigga” BAFURUKI”
Let Bakiga and Banyoro have an understanding to come to peace with each other.The Banyoro must remember that there are more original Banyoro who were forced out of Bunyoro because the King Omukama wanted to kill them.
Should these Bafuruki to other lands decide to come back to Bunyoro?
Who do you think would be more? in numbers? The Bafuruki original Banyorois the answer..
Let the Banyoro take leaf from the Baganda who always welcomed and gave land to te bafuruki from Bunyoro.
Ugandans CANNOT ALLOW the Present BANYORO TO Mistreat Bakiga, calling them Bafuruki in Uganda!.
Bunyoro kitara was a great kingdom and Empire. If it penetrated other tribes lLnd ruled them,and these tribes were loyal to bunyoro, then, Bunyoro cannot turn around and send away other tribes from Bunyoro Land.
We Ugandans we look to Bunyoro as a leader and the Burden of leadership is to welcome others NOT to send them away at Bunyoro’s pleasure. Bunyoro cannot Eat Its CAKE AND STILL HAVE IT! This is an English Saying.
The Banyoro are leaders, masters and must be able to accommodate ordinary people.
The Bafuruki, the Bakiga must not provoke the Banyoro to anger. We must avoid the Northern Nigeria catastrophy of southern tribes.
Both nust learn to live in harmony. The Banyoro in Buganda are many and all have been living in peace in Buganda. You cannot call the Mufuruki from Bunyoro, a Munyoro now in Buganda. The Baganda have loved the Bafuruki well and promoted them to top Buganda Positions.The Banyoro , Bafuruki in Buganda call themselves Baganda because the Baganda are very generous and welcoming.apart from being ‘Abantu balamu” to foreigners on their Buganda land.
Bunyoro, LEARN from Baganda. Avoid Nigerian style in the North of Nigeria. Enlarge Bunyoro with love and they would soon have no cause to be Bakiga but Banyoro, where they live. A little love from both sides would be a catalyst to peace. Please bakiga do not be aggressive to original Banyoro.
We need mobilisation tactics to live in harmony with each other.
President Museveni please arrange Seminars of how Bannyoro Originals should behave towards Bafuruki.and the other way around!
We live a very short time and only loving your neighbour as your self could assist in all the differences we have.
Christine J. Nabakooza -. Kaluma .
Musiita Katii / Muweesi, International Lawyer and ‘Spokes Person African ‘Optimism (USA)