Balaalo attacked , flee Buliisa district
STEPHEN
KABINDI & GEORGE MUZOORA
BULIISA
FRESH clashes broke out in Buliisa District on
Saturday evening between Bagungu and Balaalo leaving
several people injured, and with Minister Henry
Kajura fleeing for his life.
A large herd of cattle also disappeared in the
confusion and several huts were torched.
The clashes begun moments after a meeting of the
Bagungu cultivators called to discuss the eviction
from Buliisa of pastoralists commonly called Balaalo
was invaded by a herd of cattle.
VICTIM: Ms Bwororoza nurses her wounds
after she was assaulted last week. Courtesy
Photo
An unidentified Mugungu woman drove the herd to the
venue of the meeting in Kataleeba Village, Bugoigo Parish
in Buliisa Sub-county claiming that she found the cattle
grazing in her shamba. The woman claimed that the cattle,
owned by one of the Balaalo, had been left to graze
in her shamba intentionally.
I have brought these cows to you as evidence
to see for yourselves
this is what we are always
complaining about. Will I eat these cows? she
said angrily.
While she was still talking, the owner of the herd
Geoffrey Friday arrived to defend himself but his
presence only provoked fury from the Bagungu at the
meeting. They pounced on Mr Friday beating him to
near death. They also accused him of beating Buliisa
MP Steven Biraahwa during initial skirmishes on June
1.
On that day Mr Biraahwa was part of a group of Bagungu
that clashed with the Balaalo contesting the
latters claim of ownership of about 40 square miles
of land in Waiga and Bugana areas of Buliisa.
Armed with pangas and spears, the Bagungu invaded the
disputed land setting off a bloody fight that left
dozens injured including the MP.
Second Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura attended
the Saturday meeting, which was called by Bunyoro
Kingdom Prime Minister Emmanuel Kiiza in Kataleeba,
some 30 kilometres from Buliisa District
headquarters.
Mr Kajura, who also is the minister of public
service, and Mr Kiiza jumped into their cars and
sped off immediately the atmosphere got charged.
Moments earlier, Mr Kajura had told the meeting that
he was visiting to understand everything about the
Buliisa quarrel both as a Munyoro and a government
agent.
The Bagungu, who are essentially Banyoro, and
Balaalo, several of whom are Ugandan Banyarwanda,
are embroiled in a bitter contest over land, with
the latter facing imminent eviction from the western
Uganda district to Kyankwanzi in Kiboga District of
central Uganda.
The Saturday fight was the third such encounter
between the two groups.
The indigenous Bagungu want to cultivate
cotton on the land they say is rightfully theirs while
the pastoralists say they bought the same land for grazing
and have engaged a Kampala lawyer to fight their case
in the courts. The High Court has since temporarily
blocked their eviction.
It is still not clear whether the transfer will
eventually take place as the Buganda Kingdom, of
which Kiboga is a part, has said it will not accept
Balaalo on its land.
However, Gen David Tinyefuza, the co-ordinator of
intelligence services and the governments
points-man on the pastoralist issue, says Kyankwanzi
land is government land and the Balaalo from Buliisa
will be resettled there.
In the Saturday clashes, police intervened and rescued
Mr Friday but the enraged Bagungu continued to comb
the villages of Kicooke and Kataleeba searching and
beating up any Mulaalo they found.
They also burnt to ashes a motorcycle UDF 301A
belonging to a Mulaalo, one Kananga. Several
grass-thatched huts were set ablaze and cattle injured.
Buliisa RDC Kato Hussein Matanda said that the
Balaalo had reported several of their kinsmen and
cattle missing.
We have deployed police and the situation has
calmed down, he said. Whoever was responsible
for the mess will be dealt with.
It was not clear by press time whether any arrests
had been made yesterday.
Among those reported missing by yesterday evening
were Mr Wilson Tuutu, Mr Wilson Musasizi, and Mr
Geoffrey Rwebishaka.
Many leaders of the pastoralist community have fled
Buliisa and pitched camp some 112km east in
neighbouring Masindi District.
Their leader, Ms Grace Bororoza, said that they fear
for their lives because the security situation in
Buliisa District has not improved since May.
Commenting on the planned relocation, Ms Bororoza said
the Balaalo would not leave Buliisa until they are
compensated for the money used to buy land in the
district.
Ms Bororoza said she paid Shs15 million for some 300
acres of land, which the Bagungu now want to drive
her off.
I have evidence, she said. Even
the Bagungu know this. Why would anyone just throw his
or her money and then is pushed off? This is unfair.
---------------------------------
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