CROSSFIRE: By Charles Etukuri
Jan 5, 2004
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The kingship of the Rwenzururu, a small community of mostly little people who live in the Rwenzori mountains in western Uganda, is being bitterly contested. Allegations are rife that the current Iremangoma of Bakonzo Charles Mumbere is no royal, because he hails from the Abahira clan, which produces royal guards and traditional healers, not kings. How true is this? Syahuka: The Iremangoma comes from the family that started the Rwenzururu Kingdom. We are not talking about the Bakonzo kingdom we are talking about the Rwenzururu kingdom, whose starting point is Charles's father. It doesn't matter whether he had royal blood or not what is a fact is that his father was the founder of a kingdom and he inherited it from his father and that entitles him to claim kingship. Tibamwenda: In Bakonzo culture, the Abahira clan to which the Mumbere belongs, are royal guards and traditional healers. The grandfather of Mumbere is a well-known healer who came from Congo after being chased by the other traditional healers there. Neither claimant has been crowned Kings, what legitimacy do they claim to the crown? Syahuka: Legitimacy at what level? The Rwenzururu was a political movement, which created its own structures. It formed a state and a government and took the form of an independent state that considered itself outside the government of the Uganda. Our people know the Kingdom exists and they want it formally recognised. Tibamwenda: I am the legitimate claimant to the throne because my father was crowned in 1948 as king of all the Bakonzo, Abatuku, Abanyabindi in Kasese, Basongora and Bakonzo Bamba. It's him who three years ago, before he died, enthroned me to succeed him. At the time of his death he had already crowned me and that is proof enough to show that I am the legitimate heir to the throne. I have the written evidence that he ordained me his successor. All this evidence is at the ministry of Justice and is registered. Mumbere claims he is the King of Rwenzururu and not the Bakonzo. What is the difference between the Bakonzo and the Rwenzururu? Syahuka: It's not as if we are giving Rwenzururu a name. It has existed for decades and what we want is recognition. Rwenzururu is not about Bakonzo only, we have different tribal groupings under the Rwenzururu. Rwenzururu is a name used for identification since it comes from the name Rwenzori Mountain.
The name Rwenzururu kingdom makes it open so that people come in and go out without losing their identity. This however needs much more explaining and people who are arguing against it are not even attempting to explain its meaning. The Rwenzururu people understand what it means. It's only a section of mis-informed people who are trying to distort the kingdom. Rwenzururu is not a tribe and goes beyond tribe. It's a multi- tribal kingdom tribe. It's open to those who want join and those who don't want should feel free to leave; not oppose us.
Mumbere is has been equated to Joseph Kony for the murders of Bakonzo in early 1960, 70s, and 80s. What is the basis of this allegation? Syahuka: Mumbere descended over from the mountain and handed over his entire government to the Central Government in 1982. Those who are sending this negative image of the King don't understand the significance of this handing over. Do they call him a murderer because he led an organisation that waged an armed struggle? Syahuka: In every situation there will be divergent views. When for instance Buganda Kingdom was being restored there was no 100% agreement. The same applied to Tooro kingdom but now they are united. The so-called divisions are being orchestrated and nobody is willing to critically examine them. A recent study conducted in the Districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo revealed that over 85% of the population support the Kingdom. Now when you talk of division look at the statistics right. If it persists the only way to check this is by a referendum. The split doesn't have an element of violence unless somebody introduces it so there is no cause to worry. Tibamwenda: The current division is being caused by an impostor assuming the role of the King of Bakonzo. If it were some person from my blood being nominated king I am sure there would be no crisis. Mumbere is a warrior in nature and has put himself in a situation where he is so powerful to the extent that he now says he can't mix with the commoners. This is actually the source of the split. The kingship would not divide us if it were bestowed on the right person - which is I. Is it true politicians are using you to fight their battles? Syahuka: We are not being used to fight each other. Those who are fighting are fighting among themselves. We are not interested in fighting each other but affirmation of the kingdom. We are the majority but are being treated as if we are the minority by people who have ties with the state and are misusing this closeness with the state against the Bakonzo and others. The various stakeholders in this Obusinga issue should come together and discuss this issue rather than fight in the press. Tibamwenda: Nobody is using me. Not even Honourable Kiyonga. I am fighting a war with Mumbere over his claim to the kingship and also with Hon. Kiyonga when he says that the Bakonzo totally oppose the kingship. The Bakonzo had aking and whoever says otherwise is against us. He who claims we had no king is insulting us. I request Government to invite Mumbere to clearly give a statement on his claim for Kingship. How did it start and from where? Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
� 2005 The Monitor Publications.
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