Lead stories today are, of course, centred on the riots in Kampala that began yesterday afternoon. The catalyst was Katikkiro Walusimbi, Prime Minister of Buganda, being stopped by police forces at the Ssezibwa Bridge from entering Kayunga. The police cited worries over the Katikkiro’s safety.
Beginning in Kisekka Market, the riots quickly spread throughout the city. Rioters erected barricades, looted stores and burned logs and tires. The Monitor believes that the death toll could be as high as 12, while 43 have been injured.
Museveni finally came out with a pre-recorded statement late last night after a phone call with the Kabaka, their first in 2 years. Museveni expressed concern over not being able to reach the Kabaka over the telephone until the last minute. In his statement he set conditions on the Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga, scheduled for tomorrow. He said he had set up a meeting between the Katikirro, Kayunga and Banyala leaders in order to decide on a way forward, but the Katikkiro failed to show. Museveni also blamed CBS radio for inciting violence through false statements and propaganda and has asked them to desist. As we reported yesterday, CBS was taken off the air yesterday evening.
Daniel Kalinaki has a good piece detailing Museveni’s possible courses of action. He can either allow the Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga or he can block it. Whichever Museveni chooses, however, he loses out. Buganda Kingdom, in turn, must sell its objectives to the rest of the country “without appearing selfish and sectarian”.
The Monitor has a roundup of how things transpired throughout the city:
- Wandegeya: Roads were blocked and police had to use teargas to reopen them
- Nateete: Rioters attacked a police station, released suspects and burnt the structure
- Ntinda: People burnt tyres in the middle of the roads as police looked on
- Bwaise: one person died and rioters attacked Asians as they also looted property
- Ben Kiwanuka Street: Two people were killed as military police battled rioters
- Luwum Street: Police officers abandoned booths, before they were burnt.
- Mpigi District: One person killed, another injured after army reportedly shot them.
- Nansana: Rioters blocked the road
- Seeta: Road to Mukono blocked
- Kawuku: main road blocked, fire set in the middle of the road
- Kyengera: Road blocked
- Kitemu: People pelted stones at police
- Mukono: Mukono Township: Army ordered all people to leave the town by 6pm.
- Kayunga Road closed
- Jinja Road blocked
- Masaka: Municipality: Running battles between Kabaka loyalists and police
- Buwama: Police block people from travelling to Kampala
- Kayabwe: Fire set in the middle of Kampala-Masaka Road
- Mityana: Mityana Township: Riots erupted following information that CBS had been closed
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written by Moses M. Kasiibayo, September 11, 2009
The Kabaka is an authoritative figure in Uganda and before the Buganda radio was ordered to switch off, he could have averted the crisis by asking the protesters to desist from violence, and it is his failure and that of many others including the seating government to consider the possible consequences of violent crowds and armed security personnel that has resulted in the deaths of so many.
It is important, however angry and betrayed people may feel, that tribalism and sectarianism are avoided because there are, for example, Banyankole, Baganda, Basoga and others who have nothing whatsoever to do with the issues at hand.
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written by Byomuhangi.James, September 11, 2009
I request those who are thinking in that line to take my concern otherwise,you are blaming wrong people if it is generalised.
Thank you for this chance.
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written by niringiye john, September 11, 2009
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If banyankole feel unhappy with Buganda,why should they leave Buganda and stay firmly in Ankole?