THE BEGINNING OF POLITICS OF INTRIGUES IN ANKOLE.

By Musa Rwamigoye 

 

Many people especially the young generation may think that they are the champions of politics of intrigues, they forget that Ankole had deadly political architects in 1960. To understand the beginning of politics of intrigues in Ankole, one must knowledge or history of Kumanyana movement. In fact, it is said that among the achievements of Kumanyana movement was the election of two Protestant cultivators as Enganzi of Ankole ; Zakaria Cowley Kanyijuka Mungonya 1949 and Kesi Nganwa 1955.  

 

 

 

After ZCK Mungonya had been appointed Minister in the Central Government, Omugabe Sir Charles Gasyonga preferred county chief of Rwampara E.Cook , son of Aloni Muyinda, the first Anglican Reverend in Ankole. His choice was technically opposed on the grounds of academic qualifications. E. Cook was not educated like Kesi Nganwa. At that time, Kesi Nganwa was serving as the supervisor of Anglican Native Schools. 

 

 

The beginning of politics of intrigues in Ankole is traced way back in 1958 when Ishengyero was electing members of legislative Council LEGCO. History has it that formation of political ethnicity camps in Ankole begun to take shape in that election. It was then that Bahima Protestants – Catholic Bairu to form alliance in Ankole. From there and then, ethnicity political camps became to be disease in Ankole politics. However, the influence of Omugabe in Inshengyero helped two Protestants to be elected to LEGCO; Constantine Baranga Katiiti and William Wycliff Rwestiba son of Rev Canon Yoweri Buningwire. It was done in that way to please members of Kumanyana Movement who were fighting to have a mwiru elected as a member of LEGCO and when C.B Katiiti was elected, members of ishengero who belonged to Kumanyana movement felt happy. On the other hand, William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba, a muhima was also elected to represent the Hima group. Mr. Rwetsiba was replacing Mr. E. Kapa who was a Munyarwanda but formerly representing the interests of Bahima. Suddenly, E.Kapa had died one year before the LEGCO elections of 1958.

 

 

Note; The 1958 LEGCO elections will never be forgotten in the history of Ankole. Foristance, on 16th December 1957, elite women from Nyamitanga demonstrated against Ishengyero and Omugabe. The elite catholic woman were demonstrating also to have the right to vote for LEGCO members. The catholic women were forced to demonstrate after Omugabe and Inshengyero were trying to block universal adult suffrage, which would have given them a chance to vote. The logic behind this demonstration was to a catholic also voted in as a member of LEGCO. Gertrude Kabwasingo Byanyima, wife of Boniface Byanyima was the top leader of elite women from Nyamitanga that wrote a letter to Omugabe.

C.B Katiiti came from Sheema and he was a mathematics teacher at Mbarara High School and later became its first Ugandan headmaster in 1953 (to 1958) after the departure of the last British head teacher, Clement Pain. Also the other member Mr William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba was from mbarara and Teacher at Ntare School 1955-1957. He had also taught at Budo Kings College 1945-1949. Above all, he was a son prominent Religious Leader Rev. Canon Yoweri Buningwire, former Dean Ruharo Cathedral .

 

INTRIGUES IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 1961 IN NORTH EAST ANKOLE.

 

First and foremost, when we talk about North East Ankole, many people especially the GEN Z develop stress to allocate it. For those that maybe interested in knowing it, communities that formed it are; Kashari, Ibanda, Nyabushozi and Kazo.

 

 Hon Byanyima Boniface Muyongoma was the first Member of Parliament to represent North East Ankole in Uganda’s 1st Parliament from October 10, 1962, until February 1971 when Idi Amin staged a coup on Obote I Government. Now, the question is how did Byanyima Boniface join the 1st Parliament of Uganda . Hon Byanyima Boniface was a staunch Anglican but married to Gertrude Kabwasingo Byanyima a staunch Catholic. Surprisingly and by God’s grace, both subscribed to Democratic Party DP and above all, they were pioneer of DP in the entire Ankole. 

 

In the pre-independence parliamentary elections held in the lead-up to Uganda’s independence (around 1961–1962), Byanyima Boniface on DP ticket contested with a UPC candidate William Wycliffe Rwetsiba who had been a member of LEGCO. Records shows that communities that formed North East Ankole Constituency have never had another election full of intrigues like that election. First and foremost, opinion polls were balancing as both candidates had equal chances of taking home the victory. However, Mr William Wycliffe Rwetsiba was seen as the candidate likely to win the elections since he was seen as experienced politician compared to Byanyima. Hon Rwetsiba having been a member of LEGCO, he was observed as the best choice However, things turned and Hon Byanyima Boniface ended up winning.

 

Here comes in Intrigues;

First, Hon William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba was a son of prominent Religious Leader in Church of Uganda. His father was Rev. Canon Yoweri Buningwire , the first Anglican priest in Ankole. Above all, Buningwire had links with Ankole Kingdom since his church related education matters begun from the Mugaba Palace during the reign of Omugabe Edward Suleiman Kahaya II (1895–1944). 

Secondly, Hon William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba had served two years as a member of LEGCO representing Ankole. Therefore, he was seen as the best choice since he had already acquired experience on matters of national leadership. Above all, he had already mastered the art of party politics. Its on record that Hon William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba was the first Munyankore to form a political party in Uganda in the year 1958. Hon Rwetsiba and his fellow colleagues from Ankole formed Uganda People’s Union in 1958. According to the records left behind by its founders, it well stated that the party was formed to unite all Ugandans and fight the status quo and pride of DP and UNC . History shows that UNC and DP centered on Religion and tribe. 

Thirdly, William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba had been the founder of UPC, a political party that selling like hot cakes in all parts of Uganda . It is recorded that UPC was formed by Obote and Rwetsiba in 1959 after Obote Seceding from UNC . Obote and his group that seceded UNC united with UPU and formed UPC and the first president of the party formed was William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba.

Again, William Wycliffe Kananura Rwetsiba was seen as the best choice because by the time he contested he had been appointed Parliamentary Secretary equivalent to Clerk to Parliament of today . Therefore, when Rwetsiba contested with Byanyima, voters saw him as the best choice. 

 

Note; Byanyima Boniface who had contested on DP ticket had a humble background Since he was born from the family of know cattle keepers from Buhweju. Born in 1920, Boniface Muyogoma Byanyima is a great-grandson of Kyamufumba Kya Ndagara Rwamigano, eldest son of Omukama Ndagara, the last King of Buhweju. In his early years he lived in the court of Chief Ndibarema in Nsiika, Buhweju. 

 

Byanyima started school at Kinoni Primary school where he is said to have completed three classes in one school year, moving on to Mbarara High School for Primary four. A gifted and disciplined student, he won a scholarship to Kings College Budo. He excelled at Budo and entered Makerere University College, where he studied Education. After graduation in 1951, he was posted to teach at Bishop Tucker Theological College, Mukono. Among his students were the late Bishops Amos Betungura, Yustace Ruhindi and Misairi Kauma among others.

Later, Byanyima Boniface returned to Mbarara High School as a teacher. Records shows that he was a devoted teacher, who brought out the best from his students. He was known to be extremely punctual, strict but kind and approachable. He well known of helping needy students that had passion to study. Before marrying Gertrude Kabwasingo, his home used to host a number of students he assisted to attain education.

By the time of contesting for parliamentary elections, he had already made a name in Ankole. All parents that had children at Mbarara High loved him because of his humility and philanthropist heart. 

 

In 1954, Byanyima went to Exeter Universty in the UK to pursue a post-graduate diploma and on completion he returned to Mbarara High School. As Independence approached, Byanyima was persuaded by friends to contest the Ankole North East constituency. He said he joined DP because it represented the interests of the excluded. 

 

Wait for the next phase and see how intrigues took part in the tight election between Rwetsiba and Byanyima.