Tooro Elders asked to be at forefront of conflict mediation

Fort Portal, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Elders in Tooro region have been tasked to be at the forefront in mediating ethnic conflicts in the region.

The call was made on Thursday by the Minister of Tourism, Tom Butime at the opening of the seventh edition of the Tooro Peoples’ Conference –TPC at St Paul’s National Major seminary- Kinyamasika in Fort Portal City.

Butime who is also a member of Tooro Elders Forum, and Member of Parliament for Mwenge Central in Kyenjojo District, emphasized the need to involve the elders in the social and economic conflicts of the area.

According to Butime, it is important to champion harmonious coexistence among different ethnic groups in Tooro and it is a task of the Forum to ensure peace prevails among the people.

Tooro is home to different tribes including the Bakonjo, Bamba, and Bakiga.

Ethnic differences have taken center stage during the elections, especially in Kyenjojo District where there are Batooro and the Bakiga ethnic communities. In the district, both Bakiga and Batooro have lined up candidates who vie for the same elective offices.

The Bakonzo and the Batooro have also had historical differences spanning four decades. In 1966, the Bamba and the Bakonzo formed the Rwenzururu movement and waged war against Tooro after they accused Tooro of mistreatment.

Butime also advised the people of Tooro to learn the culture of entrepreneurship, and also conserve culture and nature.

TPC started in 2016 with the aim to galvanize unity in Tooro across geographical locations, religions, tribes, professions, and economic status for self-definition and identification of aspirations.

The conference, a brain-child of the Isaazi ly’Abantu bakuru Aba Tooro– or Tooro Elders Forum is meant to bring together various stakeholders to discuss key issues and priorities of the people of Tooro and to promote unity.

Butime says that the other brainchild of TPC which is successful is the Tooro Education fund which has been able to financially support bright but poor students.

*****

URN