Ethnic violence, rioting in Uganda

Last week’s deadly rioting that resulted after the central government refused the king of Buganda, Uganda’s largest ethnic group from traveling to one of his counties, left over 20 people dead and property worth billions of shillings destroyed. During the riots, 5 radio stations were taken off-air and several journalists arrested. President Museveni has denied responsibility for causing the rioting. The president is putting the blame on the opposition which he says, is trying to use ethnic violence to attain what he called selfish interests. For many rioters, the violence was a vehicle to vent their anger against the regime. With many youths unemployed and without hope for a better future, the riots provided an opportunity for looting and causing all sorts of mayhem. Without the government re-thinking its priorities, this may well be a tip of the iceberg as we fast approach general elections in 2011.