During the 1970’s and 1980’s Uganda was notorious for its civil rights abuses. Since then current President Yoweri Museveni has introduced democratic reform and has been credited with improving human rights.
Unfortunately that has not been enough to quell the dispute between rival groups, the Bagungu and the pastoralists. The source of dispute between the farmers and the herdsmen is a 20 square-mile piece of land at Bugana, Kichoke, Katareba and Waiga villages. Some claim the fighting is fueled by prospects of oil that has been discovered in the area. Last month 10 people were injured when the Bagungu tried to forcefully evict the pastoralists.
Two herdsmen were injured this past Saturday when the two groups clashed. The fighting erupted during a meeting convened by the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Henry Muganwa Kajura. The intention of the meeting was to come create dialogue between the two groups.
Mass police forces were deployed and stationed to the village of Rwangara, a village prone to trouble. Since the deployment there has not been any attack. However past fighting have left most homes deserted or burnt to the ground and the remains of hacked cattle.
In the meantime, herdsmen in the conflict torn Bulisa village are sleeping in the bushes at night, while their families shelter in camps protected by the police.
For more information please see:
AllAfrica – Uganda- ‘We’ll Die Here’- Bulisa Herdmen – 11 July 2007
AllAfrica – Uganda- Fresh Fighting in Bulisa – 09 July 2007
BBC – Country Profile: Uganda – 12 April 2007
