By KT Reporter
President Museveni is set to meet Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom cultural leaders and the agitators of the Bugungu cultural institution over the formation of the Bugungu cultural institution (Obutebengwa).
The President revealed on Tuesday while meeting a section of Bagungu leaders in Somsio village, Butiaba sub-county in Buliisa district.
Museveni says that, for Bagungu to attain their independent cultural institution, there must exist dialogue between the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom officials and the agitators of the Bugungu cultural institution. He says he will soon convene a special meeting with the leaders to address the issue.
Fred Lukumu, the Buliisa LCV Chairperson who initiated the Bugungu cultural institution, informed the president that the Bagungu need special recognition and that it is paramount to have their independent cultural institution.
He argued that the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom had failed to address the concerns of the Bagungu and has neglected the people of the Buliisa district in its development agenda.
He further informed the president that their culture was facing extinction and that they had no choice but to form their cultural institution.
In 2018, the Bagungu initiated plans to break away from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom to form the Bugungu cultural institution (Obutebengwa) purportedly to preserve the Bagungu culture.
The proposed secession, which was announced by Norman Lukumu, the former Bunyoro Kitara prime minister and a group of Bagungu has since raised concerns among many individuals in the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.
There are apprehensions that it may impact Bunyoro’s quest for oil royalties, as the majority of oil wells would fall within the jurisdiction of the new Kingdom.
In April 2023, Lukumu, the former Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom was elected as the cultural leader of Bugungu (Mutebengwa).
Lukumu was elected as the Bugungu cultural leader during a function held at the Oil Land Hotel in Buliisa town council.
Thomas Basaswaki was elected as the Clans Council Speaker, and Bonny Mukungi as the deputy. Lukumu then described his election as a crucial milestone in the establishment of an independent cultural institution for the Bagungu.
He argued that the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom had not adequately addressed the concerns of the Bagungu people and had neglected the development of Buliisa district.
He too stated that their culture was at risk of extinction, leading them to pursue the formation of their cultural institution.
In April 2023, the Omukama of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Dr Solomon Gafabusa Agutamba Iguru, expressed his disapproval of Norman Lukumu’s election as the cultural leader (Mutebengwa) of Bugungu.
Iguru then stated that the election was deemed illegal and unnecessary, emphasizing that the Bagungu are an integral part of Bunyoro and should not secede from the Kingdom.
The King emphasized the significance of unity and peace among his subjects and declared his commitment to preventing any division or disruption within the Kingdom.
He expressed concerns that external influences may be behind the push for secession and emphasized that the Kingdom will safeguard its unity.
Iguru then called upon all individuals in Bunyoro to work together for the development of the Kingdom and to address important issues such as sharing oil revenue with the central government, promoting education, and enhancing healthcare services.
In December 2022, the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development issued a statement denying clearance for the planned secession of the Bagungu from the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. “This is to inform all concerned that the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development has not cleared any activities leading to Buliisa Cultural Revival Association seceding from the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. We disassociate the ministry staff from any of the consultations being held by the section of leaders from Buliisa on the creation of a separate cultural institution from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. The ministry is not and does not intend to cause tension, anxiety, and ethnic division among the Banyoro of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom,” read the letter by the Permanent Secretary to the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Premier, Aggrey David Kibenge.
He urged the Buliisa Cultural Association to exhaust the conflict resolution mechanisms provided under the Institution of the Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act 2011. The act states that any conflict or dispute within the traditional or cultural institution or the community shall be handled by a council of elders or clan leaders or a representative body chosen and approved by the community on the traditions, customs, and norms of dispute or conflict resolution about that community. If the community fails to resolve the conflict, the matter is referred to the court.
The Bagungu community lives on the northeastern shores of Lake Albert along the Rift Valley. The community, which speaks the Lugungu language has been pushing for their kingdom claiming that they have a different cultural heritage from Bunyoro-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
