ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
UGANDA (INTERCOMMUNAL RIVALRY /
RWENZURURU)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2012
Conflict parties:
Bakonzo vs. Bamba et al.
Conflict items: subnational predominance, resources
conflict. Hence, whereas the violence between Bakonzo and
Bamba abated, the number of incidents between government
forces and Bakonzo increased, peaking at the end of the year.
The government blamed the Bakonzo, especially the traditional
Rwenzururu royal guards, for the violence in the region,
alleging a secessionist movement [→ Uganda (Bakonzo
/ Rwenzururu)]. rrb
UGANDA (OPPOSITION)
The conflict over subnational predominance and resources in
the Rwenzururu region between the ethnic majority of the
Bakonzo, on the one hand, and other ethnic groups, such as
the Bamba, Basongora, and Banyawindi, on the other, escalated
to the level of a violent crisis. Inter-communal violence
had subsided last year, but resumed when members of the
Bakonzo and Bamba clashed between February and April, following
contested local elections. The fighting resulted in the
death of at least 30 people, and left dozens of houses burnt,
while thousands were reportedly displaced.
Rwenzururu's ethnic groups had competed over the region's
scarce land and government support since the country's independence,
with the recent discovery of oil intensifying the
conflict. In 2009 and 2014 respectively, the government had
given the Bakonzo and the region's second-largest group, the
Bambas, the cultural and administrative status of a kingdom.
However, it did not manage to end inter-communal competition,
but in fact, exacerbated the rivalry and set the stage for
renewed violence between the two ethnic groups.
Violence broke out over local council elections taking place in
the broader scope of this year's national elections [→ Uganda
(opposition)]. When returning officer Daniel Nayebale announced
the results for Hima town district on February 27,
he first had declared independent candidate Jolly Tibemanya
the winner, but later reversed the results in favour of Ronald
Mutegeki, an ethnic Bakonzo and member of the ruling party
National Resistance Movement (NRM). This angered Tibemanya
supporters who were predominantly of the Bamba
group. The volatile situation increased tensions that had already
prevailed in the district during campaigning season,
for the Bamba accused the Bakonzo of supporting Mutegeki
and the NRM, instead of the independent candidate, thereby
weakening their position.
The same day, a group of mainly Bamba, reportedly comprising
approx. 30 members armed with spears, machetes,
knives, bows and arrows attacked the homes of Bakonzo in
Bukundu village, Bundibugyo District, killing at least six people.
In a separate attack in Mukudungu village one person
was killed. Moreover, ten to 15 houses were burnt and at least
8,000 Bakonzo fled from predominantly Bamba-inhabited areas.
Clashes in Bundibugyo continued on March 23, when a
group of approx. 25 Bakonzo youths killed six people in Ntotoro
Sub-county. In reaction, police shot dead two Bakonzo
in a shootout the same day. Also, two people were attacked
and stabbed to death by unknown assailants in Kikalizo village,
also burning a house and looting properties. On March
24, two more people were killed in Bundibugyo, while at least
three more were killed in a shooting at a local trading centre.
As violence escalated in the region, Bakonzo increasingly
clashed with police and army forces deployed to settle the
99
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2001
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
FDC, DP, UPC, Jeema vs. government
national power
The conflict over national power between various opposition
parties, such as the main opposition party Forum for Democratic
Change (FDC), as well as the Democratic Party (DP),
Uganda People's Congress (UPC), and Justice Forum Party
(Jeema) and the government continued as a violent crisis.
Tensions arose between opposition members and journalists,
on the one hand, and the police, on the other, over the legitimacy
of the presidential elections of February 18. Police regularly
hindered opposition leaders from participating in political
rallies, especially the FDC's leader Kizza Besigye and former
prime minister Amama Mbabazi, both presidential candidates.
From February until April, Besigye was arrested nine
times and was continuously confined to his home under ''preventive
arrest” until December.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights and various Human Rights organizations repeatedly
called for electoral reforms and condemned police brutality
as well as arbitrary arrests by the police before and after
the elections. Government crackdown on demonstrations resulted
in the death of three people and at least 26 injured
until the end of the year. For instance, on January 5, police
kept Mbabazi from speaking on a radio show in Kotido district,
Northern Region.
On February 15, the police clashed with FDC supporters in
the capital Kampala, Central Region, leaving at least one person
dead, several injured and Besigye briefly detained. On
election day, police detained Besigye again and fired tear gas
to disperse groups of people in Kampala, while the Uganda
Communication Commission temporarily blocked social media
access across the country. The next day, police surrounded
the FDC headquarters in Kampala and used tear gas
and allegedly water cannons on FDC supporters, killing one
person. On February 20, the EU and AU criticized Museveni's
oppressive tactics, claiming he won the elections by detaining
his opponents.
On March 31, the Supreme Court dismissed Mbabazi's petition
of March 1, which intended to challenge the election results.
In May, the government banned all live television coverage
of opposition protest. On May 13, Besigye was charged
with treason and imprisoned until granted bail on July 12. On
July 21, two civilians sued Inspector General of Police Kale
Kayihura and other policemen for beatings.
In August, the ruling party issued a petition to lift the president's
age limit in order to allow Museveni to run for another
term. On October 3, police arrested Besigye and around 50