KASESE DISTRICT: THE POLITICS

OF MARGINALIZATION AND
SOCIAL EXCLUSION
BY
GILES KAHIKA
MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE CONSULTANT
UGANDA MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

JUNE 2017
Introduction
The current political situation in Kasese District is part and
parcel of the challenges of nation building, national
integration and statehood in Uganda.

The situation has had incidences of violence including the

Rwenzururu armed struggle which started at the dawn of
independence.
Introduction
The tribal clashes in Kasese and in the Rwenzori Region are
based one main factor:

 ethnicity being a rallying point for political and cultural

identity in the midst of marginalization and social
exclusion in the political and governance processes of
state in Uganda.
Introduction
The purpose of this presentation is threefold:
I. To reflect on the causes of “seeming” marginalization and social
exclusion.
II.To re-examine where we the people of Kasese are in the politics of
Uganda under the NRM government.
III.To chart a way forward by way of re-asserting our place in the
mainstream politics of Uganda as “equals” with other nationalities.
Governance in Uganda
The National Resistance Movement took over the reign of
power in 1986. With its 10 point programme, the NRM
government has made great strides in establishing a
governance system aimed at enhancing nation building and
national integration.
Governance in Uganda
 Inorder to enhance good governance in Uganda, the NRM government has
implemented policies and emphasized the following:
Promoting accountability
Conducting public affairs transparently
Being responsive to the needs of the citizens
Equity and inclusiveness in the conduct of public affairs
Following the principles of the Rule of Law
Participation of all stakeholders in public management and
governance
Governance in Uganda
While the NRM Government has recorded successes in
practicing good governance in Uganda, the people of Kasese
have not fully enjoyed the fruits of good governance.

Although we have achieved a lot in as far as service delivery

is concerned, the people of Kasese are still marginalized in
some aspects of governance.
What is Marginalization?
Marginalization is a situation where by a group of people
in society lack the capacity to influence the “powers that
be” to have their voices heard.

Marginalization in terms of access to political power and

influence is a state of powerlessness – having no voice
which is capable of positioning one in the political process
of the state.
What is Marginalization?
Marginalization is a state of being outside the mainstream
political and governance processes and activities – a state
of being excluded from the social networks of governance.
What is Social Exclusion?
A process in which individuals or people are blocked or denied
full access to various rights, resources and opportunities that
are normally available to others.

Itis a form of discrimination in terms of lack of a voice, lack of

recognition and lack of capacity to participate in the socio-
economic life of the country.

* Social Exclusion – is exclusion from the mechanism of power and

influence.
I want to emphatically state it clearly that we people of Kasese
District are marginalized and socially excluded from the
politics and processes of governance. Before I show you how
marginalized the people of Kasese are, let us first examine the
factors responsible for the marginalization.
Causes of Marginalization
1) Failure on the part of the District political leaders to do
effective mobilization of the different groups in the District.
Groups such as:
 Elders
 Religious Leaders
 Youth
 Women
 Intellegentsia
Causes of Marginalization
2) Personality disagreements and clashes among the top
political leaders of the District – coupled with selfishness of
some based on the “I should be the only one” syndrome.

3) The failure to craft a united voice – united political focus on

the political affairs of the District.
Causes of Marginalization
4) Failure on the part of the District political leadership to
work out an advocacy and lobbying strategy – a strategy of
lobbying government to address the significant issue of social
inclusion in the governance processes of the state.
Kasese District Profile
My concern here is to look at and reflect on aspects of the
Kasese District population.
The Population of Kasese District

1991 2002 2014 2016-2017

723,400
343,601 523,033 694,992
(estimated)
Kasese District Profile
The 2014 Population by Tribe
Bakonzo 662,764

Banyabindi 16,331

Basongora 15,897

(Source: UBOS Population & Census Report 2016)

*The statistics for the Bagabo and Bakingwe minority tribes are not
available.
Issues
(i) While there is a political issue in Kasese District of not
attending to concerns and interests of the minority tribes, it
should be recognized that their numbers are very small.

(ii) While it is legitimate and necessary to address the concerns

of the minority tribes, the voices and concerns of the majority
Bakonzo should not be underrated. The Bakonzo have a big
voice because they are a big population.
Issues
(iii) Any strategy aimed at resolving the “the seeming” tribal
conflicts in Kasese District should have a “win-win” approach
in order to achieve a lasting solution.
The Problem
Currently, the people of Kasese and Kasese District as a
whole is in political quagmire. The quagmire we are in is
likely to buttress the marginalization and social exclusion
that has since bedeviled us.
The Problem
Two things have happened that have worsened the situation
rendering us voiceless:
1) The dropping of the only Cabinet Minister hailing
from Kasese and therefore leaving us politically
empty handed.

2) The assault on the cultural institution.

The Problem
Politically, these two events broke and smashed the “bridge”
between the people of Kasese and the NRM government. The
question is:
 Which route do we take to engage government?
 Who will amplify our voice?
 Which channel should we use?
 Where should we pass to reach the powers-that-be?
The Problem
The problem we have and which we have had right from
colonial rule is one of marginalization and social exclusion
both in terms of service delivery and access to the political
and governance processes of the state.

Let us look at the following record regarding political

appointments and accessing positions in the governance
framework of the state.
The Problem
1 Deputy Minister
1962 - 1971
1 Ambassador
1 Deputy Chairperson PSC
1971 - 1979
1 General Manager ATM
1 Director of Intelligence
1 Deputy Minister
1979 – 1985
1 General Manager
1 District Commissioner
The Problem
1 Minister
1 Deputy Minister
1 Member of the HSC
4 RDCs
1 Chairperson, LGFC
1986 – To Date 0 Permanent Secretary
0 General Manager
1 Member of Board of Directors

0 Member of National Commissions

The Problem
Let us look at the following to see where we are:
 Boards of National Institutions and Commissions
 Bank of Uganda
 National Medical Stores
 National Drug Authority
 Uganda Investment Authority
 Uganda Revenue Authority
 Uganda Petroleum Authority
The Problem
 Public Service Commission
 Judicial Service Commission
 Education Service Commission
 Health Service Commission
 PPDA
 National Planning Authority
 Uganda Communication Commission
 Uganda Road Fund
 Uganda National Roads Authority
The Problem
 Uganda National Examinations Board
 Uganda National Council of Science and Technology
 Equal Opportunities Commission
 Uganda Human Rights Commission
 National Citizenship and Immigration Board
 Uganda Land Commission
 Uganda Law Reform Commission
 Electricity Regulatory Authority
The Problem
 Electricity Regulatory Authority
 National Information Technology Authority
 National Council for Higher Education
 Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation
 Uganda Tourism Board
 Uganda National Bureau of Standards
 National Social Security Fund
 Diary Development Authority
The Problem
 National Water and Sewerage Corporation
 NEMA
 Uganda National Meteorological Authority
 Uganda Railways Corporation
 National Forestry Authority
 Civil Aviation Authority
 Uganda Wildlife Authority
 Amnesty Commission
The Problem
So, as people of Kasese, where are we in these national
institutions and their commissions and boards?

This is a typical example of marginalization and social

exclusion.
Opportunities
We may seem to have no hope politically because of:
I. The sweeping of all top elective positions in the District
by FDC party.

II. The assault on the cultural institution.

Opportunities
These two issues have rendered the people of Kasese to be
branded “rebels”.

“We are the only people of western Uganda who do not

support government – we welcome and host Kiiza Besigye –
we dine and wine with him.”
Opportunities
However, all is not lost. We have an opportunity that we can
capitalize on.

Kasese District has a very good number of NRM members.

NRM members need to be mobilized to discuss real political
issues focusing on the priorities in the NRM party manifesto.
Opportunities
NRM party leaders in Kasese should desist from the practice
of fronting personal interests at the expense of the NRM
party membership.

 Where do we go from here?

The Way Forward
The initial steps the people of Kasese should take to come
out of the political quagmire and assist government in
addressing the seeming marginalization and social exclusion,
is to handle and implement the following recommendations
as a way forward:
The Way Forward
1) To demystify the issue and classification of Kasese people
being rebels and anti-government.
The NRM leadership and all members in Kasese should come
together and brainstorm on how to engage government on
ways and means of strengthening political support for the
NRM government as a way of weakening the opposition.
The Way Forward
2) To convince government to recognize the need for an
affirmative action to be worked out for the sons and
daughters of Kasese to access employment.
Special opportunities for accessing employment should be
made as one method of addressing and actualizing social
inclusion in the political and governance processes of the state.
The Way Forward
3) To create a mechanism of political consensus building on
the District issues so that harmony can prevail to act as a
bridge head to national resources, opportunities and services at
national level.
The Way Forward
4) To structure a strategic platform of engaging government
to understand the plight of the Bakonzo on the issue of
accessing the “national cake” – the Bakonzo have not had a
fair share of the national cake in terms of political
appointments and other strategic positions in the governance
structures of the state.
The Way Forward
5) To make arrangements for opening up a debate on the
Cultural Institution for all political shades of opinion in the
District to deliberate on its pros and cons with a view of
having a District consensus on how to make the Cultural
Institution a transformed organ that can contribute to the
development of the area.
The Way Forward
I have a firm belief that once these and other
recommendations are analyzed and understood, they can
easily crystallize into a formidable agenda to start a process
of addressing the issues that have made the Kasese people to
remain marginalized and socially excluded.
Thank You For Listening
To Me