Minority group ask Gov’t to prioritize their needs.

By Alex Gahima

The Batwa communities in Kisoro district have asked Government to recognize them as key stakeholders in the nation building process by involving them at all levels of decision making.

The call was made yesterday during the first ever, consultative meeting between Kisoro district Local Government leadership and Batwa representatives.

The meeting that was facilitated by United Organization for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU) laid ground for the Batwa delegation to present their issues directly to the Kisoro district LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana and members of District Executive Committee (DEC).

The mode of language, during this extraordinary meeting was Rufumbira and not English as is always the case at district meetings because the Batwa could speak a word of English.

Originally forest dwellers, the Batwa, who now live in the areas of Kisoro, Bundibugyo, Kabale and Rukungiri districts are almost entirely landless, following a Government directive to have them evicted from the protected areas of Mount Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Echuya forest.

The peculiar group, largely depend on perpetual begging for food and money, an act that is locally referred to as “Gusega“

A handful of Batwa in Kisoro have managed to adapt to the everyday life pressures that befall other tribes and people in the area including, owning and cultivating land for food, seeking further education and even getting married.

These achievements, though common to most men have come through great sacrifice to the handful of Batwa who are now reaping benefits of leading an ordinary life.

Yeremiah Dusabe, a Mutwa and Board chairman of UBODU says, he is grateful to Government for allowing Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like UBODU and others to operate, empowering them to take up the mantle to fight for the Batwa.

He says despite Government’s stand on free education for all, Batwa children are still lagging behind and it’s unlikely that this will ever change, unless Government intervenes.

“Though education is generally free, schools are known to ask for some money for reams of paper and other basic necessities at schools. Once a Mutwa child tells his or her parent and they don’t have the money, that is the end of learning for that child, Dusabe explained.

Alice Nyamihanda says more than 7 Batwa have graduated from higher learning institutions making them competent to apply and get jobs at the district level however due to lack of representation, so many opportunities pass them by.

“We have two University graduates who studied Social works and Social Administration, can’t these be recruited by the district. When shall we also have political representation, just like the Ik tribe in karamoja region”, Nyamihanda stressed

Batwa Pleas fall on hardened ground

The land rights officer at UBODU Winfred Mukandinda says Batwa are still faced with problems of injustice and discrimination.

According to Mukandinda, Batwa who have developed the courage to report a case at Police of assault, theft, domestic violence and other related cases is often turned away because of their low quality of life.

“It is really heart breaking that these Batwa who are victimized are often bribed to keep quiet while others are deliberately bullied by other people who under look them”, Mukandinda explained

Mikingo Batwa Special Case.

The Batwa community in Mikingo village, right behind the Kisoro district Administration block have shocked and puzzled many, who have had the opportunity to see and interact with them.

Dirty looking and vulgar speaking human beings, the Mikingo Batwa have eroded what little good there is to say, about the Batwa in Kisoro Municipality.

Sources in the office of LCV chairperson have said certain individuals and groups designed for the gullible Batwa at Mikingo to continue living in squalor, as means of making money out of them.

Attempts to have the Batwa removed from the land behind the district offices to somewhere more suitable have failed several times.

Kisoro LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana says the Batwa at Mikingo are being used by some people who are making money out of them.

Bizimana says it is important to recognize that the Batwa have, for long been sidelined by Government and other communities however a mindset change is vital.

“The Batwa in Kisoro can no longer afford to live with their heads buried in the sand because the world is far more challenging and people do not have time to baby sit others, Bizimana explained

Secretary for Production Doreen Dusabe says Batwa Organizations’ like UBDOU needs to aggressive sensitize the Batwa about available opportunity to access food, health care and education, like everyone else.

Back in 2021, a landmark judgment ordering the Government of Uganda to take responsibility for its illegal evictions of the Batwa was celebrated by the indigenous forest people as the most important stage yet in their long struggle for recognition of their constitutional rights.

The decision which is now under appeal in the Supreme Court of Uganda leaves the fate of the indigenous minority group of the Batwa hanging in the balance.