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Buhweju County Francis Mwijukye with Fresh wounds after the attack on Sunday.
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Following the incident at Rwanyamabare catholic church, Buhweju district in which Buhweju county Mp Francis Mwijukye was wounded on Sunday afternoon, the family of the late G.W.Burimbare have come out to respond to the alleged accusations of the attack.
In a statement released, the family contends that the land on which Rwanyamabare church is constructed belonged to them since 1600’s under the ownership of their Great grandfather, Nyakyiiga.
Nyakyiiga is believed to be the man who brought back Muguta ya Butaho (a General in the military history of Buhweju) after he had been fatally injured and disembowelled, back to the courtyard of Kabundami III.
According to the family, Nyakyiiga later handed over the ownership of the land to Nyakityaabire, who in turn passed it on to Kihambo, who also in turn passed it on to Rubane, then to Baraahire and on to George Wilson Burimbale.
It is G.W. Burimbare, who bequeathed it to his son and heir Frank Benon Ndebesa Kamugisha, who is still alive to date.
Source of the fight
According to the family, Hon. Francis Mwijukye being a Catholic and area MP, used his position and mobilized believers to attack workers who were carrying out ongoing construction works at the site, claiming the land belonged to the congregants.
This prompted the workers to respond to the attack that caused deep injuries on MP Mwijukye’s forehead, and several others.
MP Mwijukye is a member of the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA) an influential body that brings together Mbarara Catholics working in Kampala.
‘’We are the oldest Basingo family in Buhweju and have occupied and utilized this land long before the coming of the missionaries and, by extension, were there before the Catholic church came to be’’. Said the family in a joint statement.
They added that; ‘’This land has thus belonged to the family for generations as detailed above. We are, therefore, not landgrabbers and some selfish-seeking individuals want to portray, but rather the rightful landlords of the said land’’.
The family however regretted the incident but vowed to engage authorities and stakeholders to avoid further escalation.
‘’We regret the incidences and continue to engage authorities and stakeholder to avoid further altercations’’. The statement read.
Meanwhile, MP Mwijukye is currently receiving treatment at one of the health facilities in Mbarara city.
