Security Minister Gen. Elly Tumwiine has questioned the silence of Buganda Kingdom on the “genocidal talk” propelled by rioters who last week protested the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi- Bobi Wine, the powerful opposition candidate in the Presidential election campaign.
Tumwiine, an army man who speaks with command and power, without mentioning names wondered why some institutions where “these Baganda” allegedly belong had not come out to distance themselves from these tribesmen who erected roadblock beating up anyone identified as Munyankore or another tribe.
The charged former army commander said Wednesday on a national broadcaster- UBC that this genocidal language is more dangerous than the physical participation of rioters because the narrative is very inciting.
“We heard this genocide language that accompanied the violence where the so called representatives and I don’t know if they represent Baganda actually, but I have not heard the leadership of Baganda come out to either own or disown these people,” he said.
He added: “These people were threatening other tribes. I am waiting to hear anybody saying these people are not speaking on our behalf. It is not in the interest of any tribe for anybody to speak in a genocidal language and nobody comes out to disown them and label them as individuals and criminals.”
But the moderator of the talk show, put it to Tumwiine that there is no evidence the peddlers of this sectarian talk were Baganda and therefore required to retract his statement, which the soldier ignored.
Shortly after the eruption of unrest in Kampala and other neighbouring towns over Kyagulanyi’s arrest in Luuka district, audios of unidentified people speaking vernacular (Luganda) circulated widely on social media.
They called upon fellow Baganda to immediately get rid of Banyarwanda and Banyankore.
Police said the perpetrators have since been arrested and will face justice in the Courts.
Gen. Tumwiine applauded the security apparatus for crushing rioters and quelling protests in “just two days.”