By Asuman Bisiika

All communities have a passionate attachment to what they call a glorious past.

For Bunyoro Kingdom, the glorious past was doted with heroism of epic description. This heroism was however distorted by fateful historical events whose effect was so devastating that the present-day Bunyoro Kingdom is viewed as a mere shadow of its old self.

Bunyoro Kingdom was the victim of a colonial distortion that changed the balance at a very critical time: during the harnessing of Uganda into the nation-state it is now.

The kingdom opposed the forces of the nation-state formation, a position for which it paid dearly. It lost more than three quarters of its territory.

By February 1926 when the last changes were made on the borders of Uganda, six of Bunyoro’s counties had been annexed to Buganda; a very big swathe of the kingdom formed part of Belgian Congo (now the DRC); and the administration of the Kingdom was under Buganda influence. And thus, the once powerful kingdom was brought to its knees.

Now, as the Baganda demand to be accorded the federal status they enjoyed in the 1962 Constitution, the Banyoro want the return of the territories annexed to Buganda by the colonial administration. These territories are popularly known as the Lost Counties.

According to Simon Kandole, a minister in the Kingdom of Bunyoro and a member of the militant Mubende Bunyoro Committee, the Lost Counties were Buyaga, Bugangaizi, Singo (now Kiboga district), Buwekula (some parts of Mubende District), Bugerere (Kayunga District) and Buruli (Nakasongola).

Henry Ford Mirima, Chairman of the Mubende Bunyoro Committee, says some areas of Bulemezi County formed part of Singo while others were part of Buruli. "So, one can rightly say that Bulemezi County is part of the Lost Counties", says Mirima.

Being the subject of a contentious debate during discussions that led to independence, it was decided that the fate of the Lost Counties be decided in a referendum organised by the first post-colonial government.

The source of 1966 crisis (the clash between Buganda Kingdom and Central government) can be traced to the referendum on whether the Lost Counties would revert to Bunyoro or remain in Buganda.

Milton Obote (then Executive Prime Minister) insisted that the referendum was a constitutional requirement while Kabaka Mutesa II (then ceremonial Head of State and King of Buganda) viewed it as an act aimed at ceding ‘Buganda’s legitimate soil’ to Bunyoro. The show down ended with Mutesa being exiled in Britain where he died.

Kandole says: “In preparation for the 1965 referendum on whether the Lost Counties would revert to Bunyoro or remain in Buganda, Buganda Kingdom settled many foreigners in some of the counties and forcefully assimilated the native Banyoro. Only Buyaga and Bugangaizi counties that form present day Kibaale District still retained enough Banyoro who voted to revert to Bunyoro Kingdom.”

Bunyoro’s demand for the return of the Lost Counties is likely to weaken Buganda’s bid to have a federal status. Government may be tempted to use the Bunyoro demand to divert Buganda Kingdom’s energies from the original federo demand. That is why the Buganda Kingdom establishment is shy to comment on Bunyoro’s demand for the return of territories annexed to Buganda Kingdom.

Peter Mayiga, the official spokesman of the Buganda Kingdom, says he cannot comment on the issue of Bunyoro’s lost counties.

“I do not want you to go further than that because I am not going say anything about the Lost Counties”, said Mayiga.

Dr. Nsaba Buturo, the Minister of State for Information and Government’s spokesman says that it is government’s wisdom to listen to the demands of all the people without fear or favour.

“We shall listen to the demands of Bunyoro in the same way we are listening to the demands of Busoga, Toro and Buganda. This is not an exclusively Buganda affair but a national initiative to review our constitutional regime. We would set a bad precedence to handle Buganda’s demands in isolation of demands from other kingdoms,” says Buturo.

Earnest Kiiza, the Speaker of the Kingdom’s Rukurato says that the kingdom has already communicated to the government about Bunyoro’s demand for the return of the Lost Counties.

“Everyone knows that the Baruli are being held hostage in Buganda. In fact Bunyoro has a strong case that can win the favour of all Ugandans,” says Kiiza. Kiiza adds that Bunyoro Kingdom is in touch with local leaders in Kiboga and Nakasongola districts with the view of reverting to Bunyoro.

John Majara, Masindi district chairman says that Bunyoro’s demand for federal status before the issue of the Lost Counties is resolved is like putting the horse before the cart. George Tinkamanyire, Hoima district chairman says that this is the opportunity to express Bunyoro’s long subdued voice.

Published on: Wednesday, 11th August, 2004