How has the many tribes and refugee influx in Kamwenge lived Harmoniously

Compiled by;

Geoffrey Bwambale
Programme coordinator-KALI                 


                            Participants at the start of a district convention on conflict in Kamwenge

 In the photo above, with walking stick is representative of PWDs and in Black courts left is District Speaker
 while right is the Principel Assistant Secretary on behalf of CAO.

The convention of Stakeholders on conflict situations in Kamwenge District was held on 7th October well attended by key religious leaders,politicians,civil servants,representatives of youth leaders, secretary for women affairs and PWDs at district level. the district speaker Mr.Gerald Twebaze in his opening remarks said, Kamwenge has many tribes among them-Bafumbira,Batagwenda,Banyarwanda,Batooro,Bachiga among others and had  by and large been peaceful apart from the late 1990s ADF war that invaded Kamwenge after Kasese district. He further said amidist  the many tribes, Kamwenge has had high refugee influx from DR Congo but still managed to leave harmoniously.

According to the district stakeholders, Kamwenge has used a strategy of mapping out key rout causes of conflict and engaged negotiation and mediation approach to solve the would be conflict. the team asserted that tribal intermarriages,cooperatives and community groups/VSLA commonly known VISRA in the local language, all these do not segregate membership along tribes. Among the youth, the youth leaders said, football clubs between community youth and refugees youth helped the two age groups to harmoniously leave together. Formation of Savings groups based on clans in the rural areas of Kamwenge has also been respected by members. The many refugees that have been coming in and out of Kamwenge have always been sensitized on the laws of Uganda and those who acted contrary were put in jail hence. this helped communities appreciate application of the law to errant refugees hence averting the would be conflict.
Uniform provision of services to the refugee camp and the communities around. eg. the V/person Ngoma S/c shared the when a borehole is to be drilled in the camp, an other would be drilled outside the camp so that the community around is not disappointed. hence managing the would be conflict in such an area.

However, during the discussions,  participants also highlighted that although the many tribes are harmoniously staying together, there are highly reported cases of conflicts at domestic level especially caused by land sharing among children and or widows. Death in regard to this has been registered in almost every sub county. the case of neglected tropical disease known as elephantiasis in the sub counties of  Busiliva and Ganyenda also came up. This has become a big issue because the community feels neglected and as a result of this,all sub county executive including the C/Man LC.III Busiliva failed in the primary elections. Government has tried to research on this case but no direct intervention has been sought.
a Participant in stakeholders meeting sharing his view on how the Prevailing peace can be destroyed due to un prevented conflict.
 On sustaining the prevailing peace,
1. The district convention suggested that emphasis should be made in promoting Education as well as engaging youth in and out of schools on peaceful co-existence in communities. Senior CDO kamwenge said; " if a child is educated, its hard to fight for land or kill his parent asking for their shares even when it has been spent on him or her while at school"
2. The district meeting agreed that, there is need for external exchange visits as it helps leaders learn from different societies (either way) how conflicts has been managed among the many tribes.
3. The team also acknowledged the power of Civil society in continued community sensitization against tribal issues that graduate into conflict and mediating between conflicting parties.
4. The convention also recommended the continuation of religious leaders in preaching for peaceful conflict resolutions and management in their weekly congregations.

 On the conflicts at domestic level, participants recommended for intensive mass education to revert the
increasing cases of  deaths due to land conflicts and inheritance challenges across the district of Kamwenge.