UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
natives of what is now called Tooro.”
Based on the research conducted by the Society, Isaya Mukirane, its President and one of
the MPs who walked out of the Tooro Parliament in protest, together with his colleagues
stated that;
“We… are created different from [Tooro people] in our build,
appearance, traditions, languages, customs, marriage,
native dances, circumcision, and mourning for our deceased
relatives.” 426
When their demands were not met, they formed the Rwenzururu Movement. 427 In June
of 1962, thirteen Baamba and Bakonzo councillors walked out of the Tooro Kingdom
Parliament (Orukurato), and petitioned the colonial administration for the creation of
a separate district, to be referred to as the Rwenzururu District. Isaiah Mukiranyi was
arrested by the Batooro Government, but subsequently escaped from captivity. 428
On June 30, 1962, in an act of further defiance, the Bakonzo and Baamba declared the
creation of the Kingdom of Rwenzururu. Neither the Tooro monarchy nor the British
Government accepted the declaration. The Government immediately responded
and appointed a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the volatile situation. However,
recommendations by the Commission of Inquiry did not change the status quo. Only
when Amin came to power, in 1974, were the Bakonzo and Baamba granted their own
districts: Kasese and Bundibugyo, respectively. 429
POST-INDEPENDENCE: ARMED CONFLICT IN THE
RWENZORI REGION
When Uganda was declared an Independent state, the struggle for ethnic-nation
based self-determination continued unabated. The nature of this struggle became
more militant with the introduction of fire-arms and the emergence of organised
rebel groups. The Rwenzururu Movement stood at the beginning of armed
rebellion in the region. Unaddressed grievances and insufficient disarmament,
demobilisation and reintegration efforts were seen to contribute to the formation
of subsequent armed groups.
95. The Rwenzururu Movement conflict (1962 – 1982)
The history of the Rwenzururu Movement can be traced back to the second half of the
nineteenth century, when a number of ethnic groups felt subjugated by the Batooro and
British. These groups, in an area that covers present day Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko
Districts, had already begun organising themselves into a resistance movement when the
Ugandan national flag was first hoisted. This struggle against subjugation was primarily
426 Peterson, D. (2012) The work of time in western Uganda. Citizenship Studies, 16(8), pp. 961-977
427 Ibid
428 Ibid
429 Ibid
194