UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
The Rwenzururu Movement later came to involve not only the Bakonzo and Baamba,
but also the Basongora, Batwa and Batuku. The latter three, during the beginning of
the conflict, sided with the Bakonzo and Baamba, united in their common aspiration of
autonomy from the Tooro Kingdom. As the Rwenzururu Movement progressed, however,
the tribes’ motivation for supporting the Movement dwindled. The support that these
tribes did continue to provide was sometimes the product of fear for retribution rather
than sincere support for the Rwenzururu Kingdom. 432
96. Mass killings of the Bakonzo and Baamba (1964)
196
Though initially peaceful,
the Movement became
increasingly militant and
violent against the Batooro.
A ceasefire was brokered
with the Obote Government
in 1982. Nonetheless, some
of the Movement’s fighters
later joined NALU and the
ADF (for more details on
these groups see below).
The sentiments around
the Rwenzururu Kingdom
that fed the different
armed groups were finally
appeased in 1995 when
the new Constitution
recognised the Bakonzo
and Baamba as distinct
ethnic groups, and in
2007 when the Obusinga
wa Rwenzururu King was
crowned and recognised by
the Government of Uganda.
For two bloody weeks in 1964, people from the Bakonzo and Baamba communities
were killed, under orders from the Tooro Kingdom leadership. The Government failed to
intervene, resulting in the victimisation of many people, including women and children,
in what has been termed genocide by the Rwenzururu Kingdom. 433 The Government’s
432 The Batuku also propagated some level of self autonomy. They were granted Ntoroko District in 2010,
carved out of the former Bundibugyo District
433 On the website of the Rwenzururu Kingdom, this incident is described as follows: “Toro Kingdom declares
14 days of Massacring the Bakonzo, a genocide that was never given its right name. Men, women, children
and the unborn were slaughtered, harked and burned alive. Houses were put on fire and property looted.
After two weeks of mass slaughter Uganda government sends police to rescue the remaining and take
them to Kahunge refugee camps.” See: http://www.rwenzururu.or.ug/history.php. [Accessed on 25 April
2014]