His Majesty Iguru meets the Banyoro in Diaspora

By Moses Irumba
02.12.2008

The king of Bunyoro Kitara His majesty Rukirabasaija Agutamba Solomon Iguru Gafabusa has called for unity and cooperation among the Banyoro in Diaspora.
Iguru gave the remarks while officiating as a chief guest at a come together party and symposium for all Banyoro in Diaspora held at Uganda Museum gardens in Kamwokya Kampala.

Iguru asked all the Banyoro to desist from political party influence and avoid tribalism to ensure unity in the kingdom. He said in his recent visit to Libyan capital Tripoli where he met President Muammar el-Gaddafi he was advised to preach unity in the kingdom if Bunyoro is to realise dividends in its newly discovered oil potential.

At the same function the king also attacked the British for having laid a background for the problems Bunyoro is facing. He said their coming to Africa divided Africans and subjected them to war with fellow Africans. He said they also introduced Colonial commercial crops like Tobacco and cotton that were intended to enslave Africans in their own countries.

Iguru asked those in leadership positions in the kingdom to lobby government to tap water resources especially the water for irrigation. He said this would mean continued agriculture and other economic activities with out seasonal effects.
He called upon the Banyoro in Diaspora to contribute to the Kabalega Education fund that aims at providing education to the needy children from Bunyoro. He thanked president Yoweri Museveni for his ten million contribution towards the fund.
The kingdom Prime Minister Dr. Emmanuel Kiiza Aliba challenged the Banyoro in Diaspora and the whole kingdom at large to observe the importance of Clans. Aliba said the clan structures are vital if the kingdom is to develop culturally.

He applauded the Bahamba and Basita clans for their hard work in the kingdom's activities.
He said the kingdom has plan to reward well performing clans to motivate the rest to participate effectively.
He assured the Banyoro in Diaspora that an office is soon to be opened in Kampala where the Minister in charge of Diaspora Proscovia Bamutura will sit to conduct their activities.
He also said plans are high to have an office in Hoima town where the kingdom administrative duties will be held rather than congesting every thing at Karuziika.

On the Kabalega education fund the Premier said, the Kingdom has so far sponsored four students at University level and twenty at tertiary level. Others are being sponsored at secondary and primary level.
He said his office is busy supervising all counties beginning at parish level.
Bulisa district is already covered and now Kibaale district will be considered. He thanked all those who participated in Empango celebrations that were held on the 11.June.2008.
He promised them that the forthcoming celebrations will be marvellous as the kingdom now has a full cabinet that was appointed by the king.
He promised that the kingdom will be accountable to its subjects since a formal management structure is already in place. A work plan budget is also in place for the financial year 2008/2009. He said this budget plan was launched and supported president Museveni in a function that was held at Karuzika royal place in Hoima.

The Deputy Prime Minister Proscovia Bamutura read to the gathering the whole Kingdom cabinet that was sworn in by the king on the 11th of June 2008 at Karuzika.
Mrs Bamutura who doubles as a Minister for the Banyoro in Diaspora was a chief organiser of this symposium.
She said the kingdom has started a number of projects that include tree planting.
She said the kingdom is collaborating with the United Nation Development Programme to plant trees In the kingdom to minimise on environmental problems that may crop up following the early oil production that is set to begin in 2009.
Boundaries and land leasing is also in place to avoid land grabbing and land conflicts in the kingdom. A land committee has also been set up to deal with land problems in the kingdom.

Bunyoro Kitara kingdom is also set to host the cultural dialogue entitled Europe Uganda Village in May 2009. All cultural leaders will gather in Hoima to discuss various issues affecting them. The main aim for this dialogue is to forge unity among all traditional institutions in the country. The European union will sponsor the dialogue. The head of European commission will be in Bunyoro on the 1st of December 2008 to assess the progress of the programme.

Dr. Fred Muhumuza an economist and lecturer at Makerere University was the main discussant at the symposium with a theme "Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Strategic Plan for Social and Economic Development".

In his deliberations Muhumuza called upon the Banyoro to 'look out side the box'. He said people have been blindfolded to think that cash crops like coffee, cotton, Tobacco are the only source of income.
He advised Banyoro to grow fruits like mangoes, oranges, and lemons since they have ready market abroad.
He asked the Banyoro to come up and start taking up big positions in key areas of the Uganda's economy. He challenged the Banyoro to set up economic activities that can earn an average citizen 1.7 million a month such that Bunyoro conforms to 20 million a year income per person as enshrined in the president's prosperity for all programme.
He challenged those who attended to have a saving culture instead of consuming whatever they earn.

On the Strategic plan, Muhumuza asked the government, the private sector and the general public to take up roles in the development of Bunyoro.
Major infrastructure like roads that connect peoples homes need to be built, the provision of electricity power is also paramount according to Muhumuza. He says such ventures encourage entrepreneurs to set up businesses that stir economic development.
On the electricity to be generated from oil, he alerted the Banyoro in Diaspora that this power will benefit people from Nkenda in Kasese and not Bunyoro. He therefore called on the Banyoro to agitate for it before it goes out of control.

While deliberating on education, the chief discussant said atleast every sub county in Bunyoro should have a secondary school and a primary school atleast at parish level.
He tasked the kingdom officials to explain the extent of the proposed Bunyoro Kitara University for Rural Development. He said an agricultural University would be ideal for the kingdom given its rich natural potential.

In his closing remarks, Muhumuza challenged government to rehabilitate the Ferry at Butiaba such that Bunyoro is connected to the outside world to be able to access international markets. The kingdom officials were also tasked to design a strategic plan that does not only target developing the Kingdom but its inhabitants.

The Buyaga county MP Hon Banabas Tinkasimire in an interview shortly after the symposium called upon all local leaders from Bunyoro to love their King and Kingdom at large. He blasted some politicians who attack the king publicly especially in the media. He pledged his full support to the kingdom and will appear on any occasion organised by the kingdom. He called upon people from Bunyoro to maintain peace and security. He said the issue of land is being handled at the highest level and soon government will provide land titles to legible landowners in Bunyoro.

In an interview with the Bulisa MP Stephen Birahwa Mukitale shortly after the symposium, he stressed the need for opening up many vocational institutions like the one began by the late Brother Max such that even those with low education can acquire jobs.
Birahwa who represented the Chairman Bunyoro Kitara parliamentary caucus called upon local participation if the oil resources are to benefit the local man.
He said people should not take oil for granted but prepare on how best to benefit from it individually.
He said the loyalties that will be given will be public meaning that individuals have to get ways of benefiting individually.

Birahwa attacked the district and sub county land boards for influencing and selling people's land. He said this is most paramount in Kigorobya Sub County in the parishes of Runga, Tonya and Kapipi.
He also clarified the earlier fear that the power generated from oil will not help Bunyoro. He said a step down transformer will be at Munteme to bring back some electricity to Kigorobya. Birahwa is member on the natural committee in the Uganda's parliament.
He called upon people living in Diaspora to go back and develop their motherland Bunyoro. He was grateful to the Katikiro his deputy and the entire team for such a wonderful symposium.
Present at the symposium was the Bugangaizi county MP Meble Bakeine, the whole kingdom cabinet, retired Justice Cosmus Kato, religious leaders and other people from all walks of life. The king and other dignitaries' closed the function by visiting the Kabalega house at the Uganda museum in Kamwokya.