People tell or write stories to record experiences and draw lessons for others to emulate or to avoid. History is being repeated in parts of Uganda and extended to the rest of the country in subtle ways difficult to understand. Some leaders in the NRM government took advantage of the victory euphoria and introduced laws like anti-sectarian to silence those who had grievances of a sectarian nature, violating their human rights twice (exploiting them and then denying them the right to speak). As Bahororo in the country with their epicenter in Ankole and Rukungiri consolidate their political, economic and military dominance in Uganda, it is important for Ugandans to understand what is in store for them. Those who disagree with the story, feel free to rebut but in a civil manner.
Bahororo are Nilotic people and Batutsi from Rwanda. Their defining characteristic is that they adopt local names and local languages but men do not marry from other tribes so they have remained Nilotic. They avoid marrying women from other tribes principally to keep secrets to themselves. They also fill sensitive and strategic public positions with Bahororo people. Because of their extensive network, they know where these Bahororo are outside of Ankole and Rukungiri and outside of Uganda. Because of careful camouflage, it is difficult to know who Bahororo people are. You have to construct the family tree.
From time immemorial Bahororo women overwhelmingly from lower social classes are encouraged to marry influential or potentially influential men including in royal courts from other tribes to break into their secret circles, expose their political ambitions and preempt their moves. Bahororo believe in zero-sum games and use military, political, economic and psychological instruments individually or in concert to knock their opponents out of the game. When they co-opt others for convenience including those they despise, they keep them on the fringes of power and discard them in humiliation when they no longer need them. As you read the story below try to see any similarities in your community or at work.
Bahororo believe they are more intelligent and more physically attractive than others. They also believe that God created them as superior warriors with a gift to rule others in perpetuity. British explorer John Hanning Speke who had prejudices against Negroes (black people) made matters worse when he falsely described Bahororo ancestors as white people who brought civilization to the great lakes region. Museveni (a Muhororo) believes there is no Ugandan that matches his intelligence. Kesaasi believes there is no woman in Uganda more beautiful than a Muhororo woman or her cousins. Bahororo believe they have military and administrative superiority over others witness the number of generals and heads of public bodies. Ipso facto, Bahororo believe they have a right to be richer than others irrespective of how they accumulate wealth. Bahororo have used psychological tool effectively to stay on top in southwest Uganda which is being extended to the rest of the country.
When Bahororo arrived in Rujumbura at the start of the 19th century, they found Bantu people who were wealthier and healthier and more civilized than they. Because Bahororo fought all the time to protect or steal cattle for survival, they arrived in Rujumbura with military experience which they used effectively against Bantu people who lived peacefully with one another or resorted to diplomacy to settle disputes. Bantu pastures for short horn cattle were taken over for grazing long horn cattle causing Bantu cattle and all its benefits to disappear. Bantu goats supplied meat to Bahororo depriving Bairu of animal proteins except mutton which Bahororo do not eat because they despise sheep. Because sheep do not do well in Rujumbura, there was not enough mutton.
Bantu people who were subsequently dubbed Bairu or slaves of Bahororo became cultivators having lost their cattle. This deliberate dispossession of Bairu, introduced a division of labor. Bahororo became pastoralists and Bairu cultivators. Pastoralism became a noble profession while cultivation a despised one. Therefore cultivators became economically and socially despised people who scratched the soil for a living. Bairu were thus defined as people who do not drink milk. To make matters worse most of the food produced by cultivators was consumed by pastoralists supposedly for providing protection to Bairu. The latter therefore did not have enough food in quantity and quality and their physical growth was impaired. To make up for lost animal protein, Bairu ate protein-rich grasshoppers which Bahororo do not eat because they get protein from adequate supply of meat and milk. Bairu were therefore despised by Bahororo for eating grasshoppers. Inadequate and unbalanced diets contributed to short stature of Bairu (Bairu children in wealthy families who eat balanced diets are as tall as Bahororo!)
Psychologically, Bahororo have consistently despised Bairu for being poor, short, ugly, and tillers of the land and eaters of grasshoppers. This has had an indelible negative and inferior impact on Bairu including even those who are highly educated and experienced. The few that have resisted and resented this inferiority complex are being denied the right to speak out by such laws as the anti-sectarian one. Consequently, Bairu have been systematically marginalized and impoverished to keep them in their place. The recent incorporation of Bairu land into Rukungiri municipality without consulting them is yet another step to keep them down forever. Without functional education and land (which has essentially become municipal property) they are finished. The dispossessed peasants are angry and frustrated but cannot complain for fear of nasty repercussions. Authorities have interpreted this silence to mean consent.
In terms of deprivation, what is happening in the rest of Uganda has some resemblance to what has happened in Rujumbura. Peasants are losing land to the rich elite (Ugandan and foreign), children are getting poor education and adults cannot find jobs. As a result they are eating poorly and children’s physical and mental development is being stunted. Whereas Bairu are despised by Bahororo for scratching the soil and eating grasshoppers and blamed for their predicament, the rest of Ugandans who are in trouble economically are being blamed by Bahororo or their agents for being lazy and drinking too much and therefore responsible for their predicament. Like Bairu, they have suppressed their anger and frustration because they are afraid of repercussions for demanding their rights. Uganda has become a police state.
The second psychological weapon Bahororo have used on Bairu effectively and are extending to the rest of the country is the infamous test taken by three brothers Kakama (king), Kahima (king’s cattle keeper) and Kairu (slave or servant). It is alleged that their father was too old to determine the respective roles of his sons. He decided to give them a test of balancing a pot of milk on their laps without spilling any throughout the night. Kakama did not spill any. He was graded the most intelligent and made king. Kahima lost half the milk and was graded second and made the keeper of the king’s cattle. Kairu spilled all his milk. He was not only marked third but also stupid and for that he and his children would serve his brothers and their children for ever.
As they grew up Bairu children (of Kairu) were told this story repeatedly that they came to accept their inferior and stupid position in life and to be ruled by Bahororo. Since independence in 1962, Rujumbura constituents have been represented in parliament almost uninterrupted by Bahororo. Many Bairu still believe that Bahororo are endowed with special leadership qualities. And when Bairu try to compete for the seat, they are castigated by their fellow Bairu for entering pasture where they are not allowed to graze. Or they distance themselves by publicly associating themselves with Muhororo candidate to avoid trouble. Consequently all key positions in public service and at the political level have been filled by members from the same Bahororo household and none in Rujumbura has raised a figure to protest. And yet Bairu have the most qualified and experienced professionals.
At the national level, Ugandans have heard President Museveni saying many times that he will not hand over power until a capable person becomes available. He is implicitly saying that he will hand over power to an intelligent and capable person like himself. You can guess who this person will be when the time comes!
Writing this article involves some risks. The story has been written so that Uganda children and adults in present and future generations should not be subjected to the psychological trauma described above. They should resist any pressure to reduce them to second and third class citizens in their own country. The UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are clear on this point. All people are born free and equal in rights and dignity.