A summary of Tribalism in Bunyoro and Uganda

By Kairagura Emmanuel

Ladies and Gentlemen, I hardly engage myself in politics and tribal debates because of what relates to the 2.

I am a pure Munyoro of the Basiita clan.

I grew with my mother  in Kyabigambire sub county, Bugahya county, Hoima district and now city.

My original home is in Kikwatamigo in Buhanika sub county, Hoima city.

I grew up leaving with Alur and Lugbara communities in both areas.

Right now, both communities own land in that area and we co exist without any bias.

In the 90s, I left Bunyoro to Buganda where I stayed for 17 years.

The Baganda named every dark skinned person including myself, Badokolo because that sounds funny in their language and yet, by then Dokolo was just a sub county and now, it is a district.

Kairagura means it is black in colour but I was also regarded as a Mudokolo.

In Acholi, I am known as Ocuc and in Lango, I am known as Ocol.

The name Abanyanya came from Buganda when Okello Bazilio and Okello Lutwa brought in the Anyanya from Sudan prisons to fight alongside with the Acholi to fight the Langi after the death of Oyite Ojok, a Lango to fight the Langi who were in military leadership by that time.

The Baganda thus named every Northener ( Langi and Acholi) Anyanya or Abadokolo.

Both the Acholi and Langi held high positions in the military during Obote2 and Military commission headed by Late Paulo Muwanga the deposing Obote.

Both military sides were very ruthless until Museveni swept them away by that time before other wars of Lakwena, Itongwa, Ekiri muttu( what is in the parcel) in Buganda Peter Otai's army in Teso, Kony, ADF,etc came in.

The Baganda coined those names due to the notoriety of people in army uniform that was meted in the entire population in Kampala irrespective of tribe.

In Bunyoro, anybody who would speak Luo would be regarded as Omunya nseeri (someone across River Nile) because of pronunciation Runyoro words in their Luo accent.

In Buganda, abadokolo for Northeners.

Know it that all the tribes can't differentiate between Acholi, Lango, Alur and Paluo also know as Chope.

Luckily, I can.

That Langi, will call anyone who crosses River Karuma, Anam.

The same way, the Banyoro call Northerners abanyanseeri( those who cross River Nile).

This a lengthy but short explanation of what is causing all this confusion in our well being in Kiryandongo.

Bunyoro has accommodated all tribes including non Ugandans since time immemorial.

Maybe, political dwelling may derail our living together. Let us find ways of developing together.

There are so many developments put here in  Bunyoro by people of different tribes which I think can't be dismantled.

All Ugandan tribes are here including tribes from outside Uganda.

For God And My Country.