UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
anti-Government conflicts for decades to come, not only for Rwenzururu Movement, but
also the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) and the Allied Democratic
Forces (ADF) (all elaborated on below). However, with the reinstatement of Kingdoms
was in 2007 and the waning of Batooro subjugation, some groups began to object to the
idea of an “Obusinga Wa Rwenzururu,” or Rwenzururu Kingdom as an imposition of the
Bakonzo-Baamba alone. 422
Subsequently, the Baamba also distanced themselves from the Rwenzururu Kingdom,
claiming the Kingdom only represents the Bakonzo. An elderly participant stated that:
“The Baamba and Bakonzo did not come to a common
understanding on the Obusinga. The Babwisi were
furthermore excluded in the Constitution of the Obusinga
and the process was top-down, captured by some elite.”
He added that it is not appropriate for the Bakonzo to subject the Baamba to the Obusinga
due to mere geography, instead of cultural and ethnic considerations. Both the Baamba
and the Babwisi reject the idea that the armed struggle of the Rwenzururu Movement
that started in the 1960s (for a description of this conflict see below) was truly about
the restoration of the Obusinga. Instead, participants claimed that the true intentions
of the movement were to counter Batooro policies of suppression and exploitation that
targeted both the Baamba and Babwisi.
93. Marginalisation of Batwa ethnic community (pre-colonial era -
present)
The Batwa ethnic community in the region has experienced a history of entrenched
marginalisation. The current population in Bundibugyo district numbers a mere 96 Batwa
individuals. 423 Although the marginalisation of the Batwa appears to exist wherever they
reside, their marginalisation is particularly clear in Bundibugyo district where they live
side-by-side with the Baamba and Bakonzo.
The Batwa experience varying degrees of exclusion in terms of accessing social amenities.
For instance, at schools, Batwa children are sometimes chased away by the other
students because they are considered ‘dirty’. One Batwa stated that “our children are
chased away by other children as being smelly. This has made them abandon school.” 424
They are also ridiculed by the community because of their perceived short stature.
Batwa women have been victims of sexual violence perpetrated by men from other
ethnic groups in Bundibugyo. Strong community perceptions exist that the Batwa women
are a ‘medicine’ to cure backaches through ‘sexual therapy’. One participant remarked
that “When you sleep with a Mutwa woman you feel your back healing, in case you
have a problem with your back.” 425 As a result, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted
422 Research conducted in Bundibugyo District
423 Research conducted in Bundibugyo District (key informant interview with Batwa elder)
424 Research conducted in Bundibugyo District
425 Ibid
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