Museveni Warns Rwenzori Leaders Against Repeating Past Mistakes

President Yoweri Museveni has delivered a strong message to leaders in Uganda’s Rwenzori region, warning them not to repeat historical errors that have fostered instability and hindered development. His remarks coincide with the national rollout of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a flagship government program intended to economically empower Ugandans at the grassroots level by channelling resources directly to parish communities.

Historical Context: Echoes of Past Violence

The Rwenzori region has a troubled history of political and ethnic tension, most notably marked by the violent 2016 confrontation between Ugandan security forces and the Rwenzururu Kingdom’s royal guards in Kasese. The clashes led to a tragic loss of life, with numerous guards and civilians killed during military operations targeting the royal palace.

Rwenzururu is a kingdom in western Uganda, located in the Rwenzori Mountains on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Following the events, King Charles Wesley Mumbere of the Rwenzururu Kingdom was arrested and charged with serious offenses, including treason and murder. Many of his followers were detained or fled the region. The episode left a lasting scar on the region’s political landscape and remains a reminder of how quickly local tensions can escalate into national crises if not addressed properly.

Development Under Scrutiny: Safeguarding the PDM

Museveni’s latest warning is linked to the proper execution of the PDM. While the initiative holds promise for poverty alleviation, there have been reports of fund mismanagement and corruption in various regions. The president has ordered strict accountability measures, insisting that anyone involved in misappropriating public funds must be prosecuted without leniency.

He also stressed that local leaders must take personal responsibility for ensuring that the program benefits its intended recipients. Any official who fails to act decisively, particularly in areas such as environmental enforcement or program monitoring, risks arrest or dismissal.

Cross-Border Dynamics: Ethnic and Security Interlinkages with DRC

The Rwenzori region shares not just a border but also deep ethnic ties with communities across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially the Nande (Yira) people. Historically, this connection has both enriched the region and contributed to its vulnerabilities.

Armed groups such as the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU), which later merged into the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), operated along these porous borders, recruiting from local populations and leveraging grievances. These historical insurgencies were enabled, in part, by cross-border ethnic linkages and weak state presence.