Jul 21, 2006

Batwa: Bundibugyo Leaders Ask Minister Migereko to Apologise to the Batwa Tribute


Bundibugyo district leaders have asked Energy Minister Mr Daudi Migereko to apologize to the Batwa tribute (pygmies) for alleging that they were a threat to the extension of electricity to the district
Bundibugyo district leaders have asked Energy Minister Mr Daudi Migereko to apologize to the Batwa tribute (pygmies) for alleging that they were a threat to the extension of electricity to the district. The call was made during a meeting on Monday where the district woman MP Jane Alisemera stopped a demonstration they had organised against Migereko's remarks.

Migerego last week raised uproar in Parliament when he told MPs that the extension of power to Budibugyo had been delayed for fear that Batwa would climb electricity poles and get electrocuted.

While answering to MP Alisemera's question as to why there has been delay to connecting Bundibugyo to the national grid, Migereko said developers don't want to endanger the Batwa.
Following the remarks, residents of Bundibugyo organised a demonstration that had been slated for Monday 17. Alisemera called off the demonstration and asked residents to wait until the dateline of September given by Migereko elapses.

The LC5 Chairman Mr Jackson Bambalira asked Alisemera to tell President Museveni to send Migereko to Bundibugyo to apologize to the Batwa and the residents in general. He said the 73 pygmies who are in the district had been integrated within the communities and could not be a threat to the extension of electricity. We don't climb electricity poles but like any other person, we climb trees, which have edible fruits. Do electricity poles have fruits or firewood? Hasn't Migereko climbed a tree in his village for a fruit? That was an abuse to us and he should come here personally and apologize," he said.

But Migereko told Daily Monitor by Phone yesterday that he sees no reason for apologizing. He said the process of extending electricity to Bundibugyo delayed because the financers had asked government to carry out an impact assessment study to find out if Batwa's lives would not be endangered.