MASINDI DISTRICT COUNCIL REJECTS PLANNED BAGUNGU SECESSION

By Innocent Atuganyira
www.mknewslink.com
In Masindi—-

Masindi district council has joined the list of districts in Bunyoro region that have passed resolutions rejecting the planned succession of Bagungu from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.

Masindi district passed the resolution during its sitting chaired by speaker Moses Kiirya on Thursday.

The motion was tabled by Pascal Businge, the councilor representing Kigulya division and seconded by several councilors.

This comes at a time when the Bagungu in Buliisa district are pushing for their secession from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom citing marginalization and erosion of their culture.

Innocent Awungi, the councilor for Bulima town council, while seconding Businge’s motion said there is no need and justification for the Bagungu to secede from Bunyoro Kingdom since they have lived in harmony with it for decades.

”Mr. Speaker, I don’t support the planned secession because Bagungu has lived in harmony with the Kingdom, some even hold offices in the Kingdom,” Awungi said.

The district male youth councillor Simon Byaruhanga also backed Businge’s motion arguing that the Bagungu have happily lived in the Kingdom.

On his part, Goodman Farouk, the councillor for Nyangahya division called for dialogue between the Bagungu and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom in order to resolve their grievances instead of seceding.

He noted that it’s not only Buliisa that has been marginalized by the Kingdom.

”Masindi has also been marginalized, the kingdom has concentrated on the Hoima people leaving out other subjects, we are not happy and that’s why the Bagungu want to secede,” he said.

The Kingdom’s Communications Manager Francis Mugerwa who attended the council dismissed the claims of marginalization by the Bagungu saying the Kingdom treats all its districts equally.

He revealed that whenever there are opportunities in the Kingdom, they are publicly announced and the suitable candidates are picked from different districts that form it.

“In fact Buliisa has five ministers in the current Kingdom’s cabinet, the biggest number compared to the other districts in the Kingdom,” he said.

Mugerwa disclosed that they have tried to engage the Bagungu over their planned secession without success which he blamed on what he termed as a few individuals who are agitating for the secession for their own benefits.
Later speaker Kiirya put the matter to vote and the councilors unanimously voted against the planned Bugungu secession from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.
The other districts in the Kingdom that have passed similar resolutions rejecting the planned Bagungu secession include Kakumiro, Kibaale, Kikuube, Hoima City.
It is expected the reminder districts in the Kingdom will do a similar thing.
Who are Bagungu
The Bagungu are an indigenous tribe native to Uganda and totaling around 83,986, according to the 2014 population census.
They are the dominant in Buliisa district and spread in Hoima, Masindi districts and other parts of western.
The Bagungu are fishermen, farmers and hunters.