UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
district to elect their own leaders by majority vote. This increased conflict between
ethnic minorities and majorities in districts, as the former saw the latter triumph in
district elections. The Shana felt marginalized by the Bagisu. 379 Land ownership, illegal
habitation, and disputed political representation at the district level are therefore the
main sources of conflict between the Shana and the Bagisu.
The conflict escalated after the national elections of 2011, when a
new administrative unit, the Bulegeni Town Council, was created at the request of the
Shana leaders. Numerous physical confrontations and counter attacks between these
two communities further fuelled deep-seated animosity and insecurity. Crops and
houses were destroyed, whilst many people were forced to flee in fear of mob justice
and rival attacks. 380 A religious leader in Bulambuli district stated;
“I am Mugisu, right? I anticipate mass killings and
destructions in the near future between these two ethnic
groups in constant fighting since the district authorities
and the central Government is not coming forward boldly
to help settle the conflicts but instead trying to smoothen
it by sending a few dotted police and UPDF to guard a few
households and villages, leaving the vast remaining areas
vulnerable to become battle or murder fields: Today they are
using machetes, hoes, and spears, tomorrow they might use
something more sophisticated, who knows?” 381
379 Research conducted in Bulambuli District
380 When researchers visited the scene on 5th November 2011, they saw the many houses burnt, banana
and coffee plantations destroyed and many abandoned houses whose owners fled to unknown places in
fear of attacks and mob justice from rivals. They also saw a number of armed police and soldiers deployed
in the area to keep peace
381 Research conducted in Bulambuli District
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