The ancestors of Batutsi and Bahororo originated in southern Sudan and
trekked southwards with their long horn cattle. They reached Rwanda
and Burundi in late 15th century. They conquered, dominated and
exploited indigenous Hutu people. A feudal system of governance was
introduced in Rwanda, converting Hutu into serfs (John W. Right 2006)
... like in medieval Europe.
In mid-17th century, a group of Batutsi from Rwanda founded a short-
lived Mpororo kingdom in northern Rwanda and southwest Uganda (present
day Ntungamo and parts of Kabale district). It lasted less than 100
years and disintegrated from internal conflicts. In Mpororo kingdom,
Tutsi or Bantutsi changed the name to Bahororo (the people of
Mpororo). Bahororo name included Bantu people found in the area.
Therefore not all Bahororo are Batutsi. In fact when Bahima occupied
areas vacated by Bahororo, the people in those areas became Bairu or
commoners. Since Bahororo did not want to be treated as commoners they
conveniently became identified with Bahima until they captured power
in 1986 and reverted to Bahororo identity. That is why many Ugandans
and foreigners still do not understand Bahororo as a distinct group
from Bahima and continue to refer to Uganda rulers as Bahima. It is
the Batutsi/Bahororo group from Rwanda who are ruling Uganda with
support of Bahima!
The disintegration of Mpororo kingdom did not end Bahororo identity.
They retained it wherever they went: to Rujumbura where they sought
refuge around 1800 and elsewhere in Uganda including in Ankole where
some stayed. Although the name Mpororo went out of use and did not
figure on any map of Uganda, “But her people, dispersed as they were
[many returned to Rwanda where prospects were better], have
tenaciously remained Bahororo in everything but geographical
terminology whose absence does not seem to have made any impression
upon them. During the colonial period, right up to independence,
petition upon petition was to be lodged [by Bahororo in Ankole] with
colonial officials for the creation of a Mpororo district based on the
reconstitution of their former kingdom. That their attempts failed is
of far less importance than the fact that those attempts were made for
this proved that they had not lost their identity” (Karugire 1980).
They retained their identity intact because Bahororo men do not marry
outside their ethnic group. Avoiding to intermarry or mix with other
ethnic groups has enabled them to keep their secrets about dominating
indigenous people of Bahutu in Rwanda and Bairu and increasingly other
Ugandans.
The social revolution of 1959 resulted in loss of centuries of Batutsi
dominance over Bahutu in Rwanda. Many Batutsi fled Rwanda to
neighboring countries. However, a section of French-speaking Batutsi
believed to be Bahororo sought refuge in farther away English-speaking
Uganda where their Bahororo kin and kith lived. They were well
received and many got absorbed into Bahororo families instead of
staying in refugee camps to be returned home when the political
situation improved. This arrangement has had tremendous costs as shown
below.
According to B. L. Jacobs (1965) one of the factors that favored
accommodation of Batutsi refugees in Ankole is that “Mr. Kangaho,
Member of Legislative Council, maintains that the cattle and refugees
can be accommodated in Ankole”. By the end of 1963 some 35,000
refugees with 15,000 head of cattle had entered Uganda. “One-third of
these refugees appear to have settled with relatives in Uganda [mostly
in Ankole and Kigezi increasing human and animal pressure on limited
land and pasture] and never became a serious charge on the Uganda
government” (Jacobs 1965). Increased population pressure in Kabale in
particular induced migration out of the district. Human and animal
pressure in Ankole in concert with drought forced many Bahima and
Batutsi with their cattle to drift out of Ankole into many parts of
Uganda especially in Buganda where they now constitute a formidable
and influential group in economic and political affairs.
Many Batutsi women married influential Uganda men who facilitated the
refugees' families to gain political and social acceptability in many
parts of Uganda especially in Ankole and Buganda (Dixon Kamukama
1997).
These Batutsi refugees believed to be Bahororo who had returned to
Rwanda when Mpororo kingdom collapsed assumed a superiority complex
over Ugandans. Similarly, Bahororo of Ankole and Rujumbura maintained
their superiority over other Ugandans especially the Bairu of
southwest Uganda who had become politically important since
independence because of their numerical superiority and education. The
combined numbers of Batutsi/Bahororo of Uganda and Batutsi/Bahororo of
Rwanda remained numerically insignificant in political terms to change
the democratic course at the polls. Batutsi/Bahororo determination to
dominate Uganda and Rwanda forced them to embark on military training
initially in Tanzania and Mozambique as a tool for regaining political
control which they now have in Uganda since 1986 and in Rwanda since
1994 with foreign support.
When Museveni lost the 1980 elections he used the excuse of rigged
elections to embark on Luwero guerrilla war with support of Tutsi
mercenaries to the tune of 25 percent. Some Batutsi and possibly of
Bahororo identity played more important roles in directing and
commanding guerrilla activities than Ugandans. Some of them have
occupied key political, military and public service positions after
Okello's government was overthrown in 1986.
In return for their support, Museveni armed Batutsi through RPF/A to
mount a military attack beginning in 1990 until they captured power in
Rwanda in 1994. Until then Ugandans did not know that key officers in
Uganda's security forces, key government institutions and private
sector were in the hands of foreigners. Many Batutsi who had held key
positions returned to Rwanda but it is believed that some stayed
behind and are still very powerful.
There are allegations that Museveni has interfered in Burundi politics
in favor of Batutsi and in 1996 he together with Kagame launched a
military attack and removed Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire from power in
1997. Under the leadership of Museveni Batutsi/Bahororo have embarked
on the Tutsi Empire project which they tried to achieve by military
means and have not succeeded so far. Now Museveni is using political
and economic tools of the East African economic integration and
political federation to realize Tutsi Empire project with all the
attendant problems that may throw the great lakes region into a very
unstable situation because there will be resistance no matter who
supports Museveni.
In Uganda Bahororo have decided to dominate every aspect of life:
political, military, police, intelligence and economic sectors to
consolidate power into their hands and to use Uganda resources
including aid money to improve their lot at the expense of Ugandans.
Experienced Ugandans are being marginalized or pushed into exile and
replaced by weak and incompetent officials similar to what Czar
Nicholas II of Russia did on advice of Rasputin before he was forced
by his generals to abdicate.
It is no wonder that while Uganda is a rich country in natural and
human resources and has received generously from the donor community,
Ugandans have remained poor and vulnerable with Uganda itself declared
a failed state. The abundant resources have been used to meet wasteful
lifestyles of Batutsi/Bahororo clan.
In order to keep political power into their hands indefinitely, it is
reported that Bahororo have devised a scheme to enable them to
dominate all top positions of major political parties particularly NRM
and FDC.
As Ugandans become enlightened and dialectical, they are questioning
every thing that comes their way. With this questioning mind, Ugandans
are demanding to know the background including family trees of leaders
from the lowest to the highest level in the land to avoid the
possibility of Uganda being taken over by foreigners. The presence of
foreign voters in 2011 elections and alleged involvement of French-
speaking black mercenaries in Uganda has raised worry to a higher
level calling for corrective measures to be taken – and quickly – to
arrest and reverse Bahororo monopoly of power.See More
trekked southwards with their long horn cattle. They reached Rwanda
and Burundi in late 15th century. They conquered, dominated and
exploited indigenous Hutu people. A feudal system of governance was
introduced in Rwanda, converting Hutu into serfs (John W. Right 2006)
... like in medieval Europe.
In mid-17th century, a group of Batutsi from Rwanda founded a short-
lived Mpororo kingdom in northern Rwanda and southwest Uganda (present
day Ntungamo and parts of Kabale district). It lasted less than 100
years and disintegrated from internal conflicts. In Mpororo kingdom,
Tutsi or Bantutsi changed the name to Bahororo (the people of
Mpororo). Bahororo name included Bantu people found in the area.
Therefore not all Bahororo are Batutsi. In fact when Bahima occupied
areas vacated by Bahororo, the people in those areas became Bairu or
commoners. Since Bahororo did not want to be treated as commoners they
conveniently became identified with Bahima until they captured power
in 1986 and reverted to Bahororo identity. That is why many Ugandans
and foreigners still do not understand Bahororo as a distinct group
from Bahima and continue to refer to Uganda rulers as Bahima. It is
the Batutsi/Bahororo group from Rwanda who are ruling Uganda with
support of Bahima!
The disintegration of Mpororo kingdom did not end Bahororo identity.
They retained it wherever they went: to Rujumbura where they sought
refuge around 1800 and elsewhere in Uganda including in Ankole where
some stayed. Although the name Mpororo went out of use and did not
figure on any map of Uganda, “But her people, dispersed as they were
[many returned to Rwanda where prospects were better], have
tenaciously remained Bahororo in everything but geographical
terminology whose absence does not seem to have made any impression
upon them. During the colonial period, right up to independence,
petition upon petition was to be lodged [by Bahororo in Ankole] with
colonial officials for the creation of a Mpororo district based on the
reconstitution of their former kingdom. That their attempts failed is
of far less importance than the fact that those attempts were made for
this proved that they had not lost their identity” (Karugire 1980).
They retained their identity intact because Bahororo men do not marry
outside their ethnic group. Avoiding to intermarry or mix with other
ethnic groups has enabled them to keep their secrets about dominating
indigenous people of Bahutu in Rwanda and Bairu and increasingly other
Ugandans.
The social revolution of 1959 resulted in loss of centuries of Batutsi
dominance over Bahutu in Rwanda. Many Batutsi fled Rwanda to
neighboring countries. However, a section of French-speaking Batutsi
believed to be Bahororo sought refuge in farther away English-speaking
Uganda where their Bahororo kin and kith lived. They were well
received and many got absorbed into Bahororo families instead of
staying in refugee camps to be returned home when the political
situation improved. This arrangement has had tremendous costs as shown
below.
According to B. L. Jacobs (1965) one of the factors that favored
accommodation of Batutsi refugees in Ankole is that “Mr. Kangaho,
Member of Legislative Council, maintains that the cattle and refugees
can be accommodated in Ankole”. By the end of 1963 some 35,000
refugees with 15,000 head of cattle had entered Uganda. “One-third of
these refugees appear to have settled with relatives in Uganda [mostly
in Ankole and Kigezi increasing human and animal pressure on limited
land and pasture] and never became a serious charge on the Uganda
government” (Jacobs 1965). Increased population pressure in Kabale in
particular induced migration out of the district. Human and animal
pressure in Ankole in concert with drought forced many Bahima and
Batutsi with their cattle to drift out of Ankole into many parts of
Uganda especially in Buganda where they now constitute a formidable
and influential group in economic and political affairs.
Many Batutsi women married influential Uganda men who facilitated the
refugees' families to gain political and social acceptability in many
parts of Uganda especially in Ankole and Buganda (Dixon Kamukama
1997).
These Batutsi refugees believed to be Bahororo who had returned to
Rwanda when Mpororo kingdom collapsed assumed a superiority complex
over Ugandans. Similarly, Bahororo of Ankole and Rujumbura maintained
their superiority over other Ugandans especially the Bairu of
southwest Uganda who had become politically important since
independence because of their numerical superiority and education. The
combined numbers of Batutsi/Bahororo of Uganda and Batutsi/Bahororo of
Rwanda remained numerically insignificant in political terms to change
the democratic course at the polls. Batutsi/Bahororo determination to
dominate Uganda and Rwanda forced them to embark on military training
initially in Tanzania and Mozambique as a tool for regaining political
control which they now have in Uganda since 1986 and in Rwanda since
1994 with foreign support.
When Museveni lost the 1980 elections he used the excuse of rigged
elections to embark on Luwero guerrilla war with support of Tutsi
mercenaries to the tune of 25 percent. Some Batutsi and possibly of
Bahororo identity played more important roles in directing and
commanding guerrilla activities than Ugandans. Some of them have
occupied key political, military and public service positions after
Okello's government was overthrown in 1986.
In return for their support, Museveni armed Batutsi through RPF/A to
mount a military attack beginning in 1990 until they captured power in
Rwanda in 1994. Until then Ugandans did not know that key officers in
Uganda's security forces, key government institutions and private
sector were in the hands of foreigners. Many Batutsi who had held key
positions returned to Rwanda but it is believed that some stayed
behind and are still very powerful.
There are allegations that Museveni has interfered in Burundi politics
in favor of Batutsi and in 1996 he together with Kagame launched a
military attack and removed Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire from power in
1997. Under the leadership of Museveni Batutsi/Bahororo have embarked
on the Tutsi Empire project which they tried to achieve by military
means and have not succeeded so far. Now Museveni is using political
and economic tools of the East African economic integration and
political federation to realize Tutsi Empire project with all the
attendant problems that may throw the great lakes region into a very
unstable situation because there will be resistance no matter who
supports Museveni.
In Uganda Bahororo have decided to dominate every aspect of life:
political, military, police, intelligence and economic sectors to
consolidate power into their hands and to use Uganda resources
including aid money to improve their lot at the expense of Ugandans.
Experienced Ugandans are being marginalized or pushed into exile and
replaced by weak and incompetent officials similar to what Czar
Nicholas II of Russia did on advice of Rasputin before he was forced
by his generals to abdicate.
It is no wonder that while Uganda is a rich country in natural and
human resources and has received generously from the donor community,
Ugandans have remained poor and vulnerable with Uganda itself declared
a failed state. The abundant resources have been used to meet wasteful
lifestyles of Batutsi/Bahororo clan.
In order to keep political power into their hands indefinitely, it is
reported that Bahororo have devised a scheme to enable them to
dominate all top positions of major political parties particularly NRM
and FDC.
As Ugandans become enlightened and dialectical, they are questioning
every thing that comes their way. With this questioning mind, Ugandans
are demanding to know the background including family trees of leaders
from the lowest to the highest level in the land to avoid the
possibility of Uganda being taken over by foreigners. The presence of
foreign voters in 2011 elections and alleged involvement of French-
speaking black mercenaries in Uganda has raised worry to a higher
level calling for corrective measures to be taken – and quickly – to
arrest and reverse Bahororo monopoly of power.See More
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