Memories of late last November’s clashes in Kasese remain fresh in the minds of 21-year-old Nickson Bwambale, a resident of Kisamba village in Bugoye sub-county, Kasese district.
The scuffles snatched the life of his elder brother Alfred Baluku Kathende, a royal guard of the Rwenzururu kingdom. An estimated 100 people are thought to have been killed in the clashes between kingdom loyalists and security forces.
Bwambale, a peasant, only hopes that prayers and the providence of God will enable him provide for what he now describes as a huge family. He narrated his experience to The Observer on December 31, 2016 at Kasese multi-purpose hall, after prayers organized by Rwenzori Fraternity Association (RWEFRA) in collaboration with the interfaith committee of Kasese district.
The prayers were dedicated to the souls and families of those who perished during the attack on the Rwenzururu palace on November 27 last year.
Samuel Kiriaghe, the general secretary of RWEFRA, said the kingdom had many people with deep-seated wounds as a result of the deaths of their beloved ones. He argued that this calls for a message of hope to the bereaved families.
“We had initially planned to hold a carnival in Kasese, but we realized we cannot celebrate when our people are mourning. So, we called them here to pray with them,” he explained.
According to Kiriaghe, 148 families registered to have lost their persons in the scuffle. Each affected family was provided with a hamper consisting of a bucket, packet of salt, a kilogram of sugar and rice, books, pens, two bars of soap and transport refund.
The prayers were also intended to offer an audit in the community to understand which specific families were affected, and which persons died.
Kiriaghe appealed to humanitarian bodies to offer support to the affected families.
“These families are many and we understand that most of the people who died were the breadwinners and the children have to go to school. We pray that relief bodies offer them support so that they can lead a decent life,” he said.
Busongora South MP Jackson Mbaju Kathika sounded a similar message: “I personally lost a brother whose daughter I am going to take care of until she finishes school. However, I can’t help all the people because there are hundreds of orphans and widows who need support. That is why we call on people of goodwill to support these families.”
Kasese deputy RDC Justine Muhindo urged residents holding illegal guns to surrender them to the army/police. She warned security personnel against targeting Rwenzururu loyalists when carrying out operations.
“It’s not a crime to work for Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, and not all royal guards are criminals. We must understand this,” Muhindo said, advising locals to report anyone exploiting the tensions to settle personal scores.
Kasese district police commander Samuel Odongo spoke of the need for the security forces to work with all people irrespective of their ideologies. Consoling families that lost their loved ones during the conflict, Odongo pledged that the police will continue working with the community.
“We are looking forward to that day when police will sit and share a meal with Esyomango Sy’Obusinga or royal guards. It would be such a good day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kasese municipality mayor Godfrey Kabyanga appealed to the authorities to expedite the trial of Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere and his subjects who are facing numerous capital charges including terrorism, treason and murder, among others.
“The king is our symbol of ethnicity. His trial should be expedited because people’s hearts are restless,” the mayor observed.
Earlier during the prayers, the chairperson of the interfaith committee, Rev Ezra Yongeza Mukonzo, had attributed the unrest in the Rwenzori region to the art and works of the devil. He argued that the sub-region can only be pacified if the people turned to God.
“Satan is the master planner of all wars. Hold no offence against the people he uses, and instead use Jesus Christ as your shield, for Satan will vanish and we shall have peace,” he said.
Rev Mukonzo also appealed to the bereaved families not to seek revenge, but forgive those who wronged them and work hard to educate their children and lead better lives.
The prayers were conducted under the theme: ‘Peace, Unity and Peaceful Coexistence as a Foundation for Community Development’.
At least 500 people attended, including Bwambale, who maintained that the days ahead are tougher than those he has lived. For now, has to shoulder the burden of his late brother’s three children and their mother as he waits for his wife to give birth.