A reader made comments on my response to Jim Muhwezi’s statement (published in Observer June 2010) about alleviation of poverty in his constituency of Rujumbura.
The reader’s observations, if I understood them correctly, are that:
1. I have dwelt on the ethnic divisions of Bahororo and Bairu of Rujumbura.
2. Jim Muhwezi, Rujumbura’s MP, is popular in because he has done a lot for the people in his constituency.
3. Focus should be on improving household incomes rather than dwell on the Bairu/Bahororo divide.
Let me explain why an understanding of the plight of Bairu in Rujumbura cannot be achieved without considering a historical interaction between Bahororo and Bairu. A good doctor traces the history of his patient’s illness, disaggregates the possible causes, conducts lab tests and finally identifies the cause before prescribing appropriate medication to heal the patient.
Similarly, a good political economy analyst traces the history of the problem in a particular area, disaggregates possible causes, conducts research and identifies the cause or a combination of causes before recommending solutions.
You cannot adequately analyze the poverty of Bairu in Rujumbura without understanding the 210-year interaction between them and Bahororo. Therefore a brief history of their interaction is in order and here it is for easy reference.
Bahororo arrived in Rujumbura around 1800 via their short-lived Mpororo Kingdom. They brought along a feudal (lords and serfs) and militaristic philosophy combined with Speke’s theory that non-Bahororo-Bahima-Batutsi people are “savages who could be taken as slaves without troubling issues of conscience” (D. Temple-Raston, 2005).
Upon arrival in Rujumbura,which was not part of the short-lived Mpororo kingdom, Bahororo imposed a common name of Bairu (slaves) to all clans they found whose ancestors arrived in the area 3000 years ago with short horn cattle, goats, sheep and technology, etc.
With military experience and a standing army Bahororo easily defeated un-armed and relatively peaceful Bairu, took away their grazing land and forced them to produce free food, drinks, and labor for their new masters. This system of exploitation and impoverishment continued and got worse as taxes, free public works and church tithes were added on during the colonial days. Bahororo became chiefs under the British indirect rule system.
Bairu did not benefit from independence either. Mr. Kam Karekaho-Karegyesa a Muhororo of Bashambo ruling clan, using the division of Bairu into Banyama and Baboga employed his agents who assaulted and psychologically abused those Bairu who did not support him for his parliamentary campaigns. Many left Rujumbura permanently and settled in Tooro, Bunyoro and elsewhere. Others went into exile.
Since NRM came to power, Rujumbura politics has been dominated by Jim Muhwezi, MP for Rujumbura who is also a Muhororo of Bashambo ruling clan. During his tenure as MP Bairu’s absolute poverty has increased through poor education, poor health, poor food and massive unemployment and underemployment. One wonders on which households Jim Muhwezi has devoted his poverty alleviation efforts and how Bairu, and what percentage of them have benefited from his poverty alleviation efforts and moved out of the poverty trap.
If Jim Muhwezi wanted to improve the welfare of Bairu, he should not have initiated or supported the demarcation of their land for incorporation into Rukungiri municipality. If this decision which did not follow procedures at the district council and parliament levels is not annulled as I have requested, Bairu and a few others who are the current owners of the demarcated land will become landless, because effective Jan. 01, 2011, ownership of their land will be transferred to Rukungiri municipality.
The idea of compensation is just to hoodwink current land owners because it is a drop in the ocean. They will become poorer and landless because they will not meet municipality standards and rents and will be compelled to sell at give away prices. Since the demarcated land belongs mostly to Bairu, this is a case of ethnic cleansing which authorities must address as a matter of urgency. Ethnic cleansing is a process in which one ethnic group expels (directly or indirectly) persons belonging to other ethnic groups from towns and villages.
Since most of the peasants affected are totally or functionally illiterate, they will not find work anywhere. To make ends meet, most of them will become criminals, get arrested and languish in jails.
Solutions:
1. The municipality decision should be annulled because it did not follow procedures at district council and parliament levels, so people who are mostly Bairu can retain their land.
2. Should the need to create political space remain paramount the area being appended to Rukungiri Township to create a municipality should instead be demarcated as a constituency which does not result in people losing their land.
3. Bahororo should begin to make genuine and transparent efforts to co-operate with Bairu to develop and move out of poverty in which they are trapped.