African Insights Blog Newsletter

September 13. 2009

Uganda - Three Days of Riots in normally peaceful Kampala (September 2009)

A Muzungu’s (Westerner's) take on the Kampala riots (September10 – 12, 2009)

September 10, 2009 was like most mornings in Kampala, the neighborhood was quiet, there was chatter from the nearby school, the fish seller ringing his bell as usual, a woman selling fresh beans, and I was sitting down at my computer writing emails to a group of people coming to Uganda.  Another person had written whether Uganda was safe to visit and I was answering in my usual glowing terms that “Uganda” was one of the safest destination in Africa…

While I was typing away at my Kansanga apartment, the Prime Minister of the Buganda Kingdom (Katakkiro) John Baptist Walusimbi was on his way to Kayunga to make final preparations for the visit of the Kabaka Ronald Mutebi  (King) of Buganda, the largest mini-nation (ethnic group) in Uganda.  There had been some trouble there in the previous days as young people representing the Buganda community had clashed with police on several occasions, at one time chasing the police out of town. 

The Police and military blocked the Prime Minister before he could reach his destination in Kayunga.  Soon afterwards the mobile phones started to ring in Kampala, Radio Stations broadcast what had happened, the rumor began that the police had arrested the Prime Minister (Katakkiro) of the Buganda Cultural Kingdom.   

Erroneous information, but the power of rumor took root.  Rioters began to hit the street coming from the Kisekka Market, a place where you can find anything from parts to tires for vehicles.  Tires were brought into the streets, fires started, young people came from everywhere, the confrontation, the riots, the feelings of the government was against the Baganda people came to the forefront, the riots began and soon spread to other areas of Kampala such as Natete, Wandegeya, Kawempe. 

A factory owned by an Indian businessperson was burned, stores owned by Indians and Ugandans were looted, terror spread quickly.  The police entered the fracas but in many cases, they were outnumbered and out maneuvered by rioters. 

My phone began to ring with friends letting me know that downtown and surrounding areas were ablaze; on the government TV station it was business as usual, parliament was in session, conducting business while outside in the streets all hell was breaking loose.

My neighbor who is from the western region from Uganda received a phone call from her son who is a military officer in Statehouse, he advised her to stock up on food and stay home.  I sent my trusted Boda-Boda Motorcycle Taxi driver to buy some bread.   

Things turned quiet in my neighborhood, even the birds seemed to sense that something was up in Kampala.  Some local TV stations began to show live images of what was happening downtown and in some of the outlying areas.  Protesters had roadblocks everywhere…shops closed their doors and put up shutters, Owino market (large second hand clothing market) closed, traffic in town came to a standstill.   

The police used tear gas, water cannons to disperse crowds.  The military was called in and by now, there were reports of live ammunition being used.  One of my friends came rushing to house shouting, “they are fighting in the streets.”   

Well there was fighting, rock throwing, burning of vehicles burning of stores, roughing up of people, some people dying, mostly by stray bullets, people being beaten by frustrated police officers.  Others sang the Buganda Anthem and other Kingdom songs,  Radio station broadcasted up-dates, callers reported what was happening, by that evening CBS FM radio which was the Buganda Kingdom radio show was taken off the air by the government for violating the electronic media act and inciting people to take action in the streets.   

That night on local TV stations there were reports on the riots, the number of dead varied, Mulago Hospital emergency ward was flooded with victims of the riots. 

Public transportation simply came to a halt. Kampala looked like something out of a movie on TV.  The comments of people demonstrating recorded by reported were angry at the actions by the government, rumors were flowing like the River Nile. 

One picture gripped me of a police officer guarding the body of high school student Geoffrey Andama, shot dead, his school backpack beside him, people passing by on their walk home; a picture that needed no words. 

Buganda Kingdom and Uganda Government officials sparred verbally on TV; it seemed that things had come to an impasse with no resolve on the horizon. 

A sad night for Kampala… 

Buganda Kingdom officials (a cultural institution over 600 years old, that today has no political power, but whose leader is revered by most who belong to the Baganda People) insisted that the Kabaka as a Ugandan Citizen had the right to visit any area in the country since that was guaranteed under the constitution. 

The government insisted that a small minority within a minority of less than 10,000 Banyala in the area,  originating from the Bunyoro Region of the country, had formed their own cultural institution needed to be consulted and an invitation had to be given by them, otherwise the government could not give a guaranty of security for the Kabaka.  As I heard that, I wondered whether the local King of the Banyala minority group needed to ask the Kabaka for permission if he wanted to come to Kampala. 

Sadly, there was no appeal by anyone on the TV debates for peace, for a stop to the violence; there was only the pointing of the finger. 

President Museveni made a lengthy speech on TV regarding cultural institutions and how the former government of Milton Obote had eliminated them, how it was he who restored them, even against the advice of most other leaders in his movement.  He showed feelings that he now he was betrayed by the very people whose cultural institutions he had restored. He also spoke of calling the Kabaka and that he had spoken to him for the first time in two years, that his phone calls had been ignored and that the Kabaka had no change in plans to visit the Kayunga area. 

September 11 -  while in the USA there were commemorations regarding the 9-11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, Kampala and its suburb were ablaze for the second day.  Images of a burned out police station and the 25 vehicles ruined vehicles were seen across screen, people running in the streets, Mamba military vehicles cruising the streets.  The chief of police saying that he was exploring with the Attorney General “shoot to kill” orders to his men and women out on the streets if they were attacked by rioters. 

The Buganda Kingdom officials insisted that the Kabaka would make his visit to Kayunga on Saturday September 12.  Things seemed bleak. 

People stayed home from work, stores remained closed, transportation prices increased, at the main hospital the bodies kept piling up, medical personnel in blood stained white coats, greeting “screaming in agony” new arrivals as they reached the emergency ward.  Petrol stations were closed down and guarded so that they could not be blown up or the fuel be stolen for Molotov Cocktails. 

Tourist arriving from Entebbe stopped on the Entebbe highway, what a welcome that must have been to a country where usual greeting is “you are most welcome.”  Tour companies kept their clients inside of hotels while mayhem ruled in the streets, 30 some frightened Indians took refuge at the Central Police Station, glad to have escaped with their lives while their shops were looted. 

Near my house the road was blocked by youth, some people reported gunfire in Kansanga on the Gabba Road, blocking traffic, but soon it was cleared. 

At roadblocks manned by Baganda, youth people were asked if they were Muganda, which clan they came from and what their totem was.  Rumors abounded.  A reporter was arrested as he left a TV talk show; three more Radio Stations were shut down for inciting rioters.  More people died, more wounded. 

At the end of Day 2- Kabaka officials announced that the King would not be visiting the Kayunga area for Buganda Youth Day, but it would rescheduled for another day.  I think that there were sighs of relief everywhere in Uganda and probably a lot of behind the scenes negotiations and talks. 

Saturday the 12^th of September-Things quieted down, some Taxi Vans ran into town, there was a heavy military and police presence, foot patrols could be seen everywhere.  In some suburbs violence resumed, but things were better. 

The Buganda Kingdom issued a statement of condolence to the families who had someone die during these days…also asking people to refrain from violence and to go home.  At the end of the 3 days 27 people had died, including two students and one police officer, many wounded, both rioters and police. 550 rioters had been arrested, 4 radio stations shut down, countless of vehicles burned including buses, stores looted and burned. 

The police chief asked the police and military to refrain from using live bullets and excessive force. 

The Kabaka and President set up a meeting to take place in the near future. 

On the evening of Saturday, September 12, things were returning to normal, at least on the surface. 

May the lines of communication be open between President Museveni and the Kabaka Ronald Mutebi.  May they come to a solution to the problems and misunderstandings between the two institutions. 

Hopefully I will be able to tell those desiring to visit this country, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, that it is one of the safest places to visit in Africa…from Kampala where reason and sanity has prevailed over emotions…jon

African Insights Blog - June 10, 2009  Is Uganda Safe for Travelers?

Here are some of the past Blogs Newsletter available on line