President Museveni has caoe under intense criticism for suggesting that elective leadership positions in the oil-rich Bunyoro region be exclusively occupied by ethnic Banyoro.

A collection of law makers, an academic, politicians and analysts accuse President Museveni of promoting sectarianism and setting the country on a dangerous path of ethnicised politicking in breach of the Constitution.

Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the Leader of Opposition, told Sunday Monitor by telephone yesterday that the President is trying to apply the divide-and-rule tactics that the colonialists employed to overrun resistant African communities.

"The monster of tribalism will come back to eat him and he will have nowhere to run," said Prof. Latigo, "It is very sad because you cannot divide your country the same way the President is doing. You will only have conflict."

The Agago County MP said President Museveni has used the creation of new districts to polarise previously harmonious communities and setting one against the other so that all of them become weak and vulnerable to his political manipulations.

Renown Makerere University political historian, Mr Ndeebesa Mwambutsya, said the President's highly divisive missive (published in full on page 4), appears packaged to appease the Banyoro who were clamoring for a share of the newly-found oil wealth, but it will "open a Pandora's box" for the country.

"In Uganda, a President's statement is taken as a policy and what Mr Museveni said will incite the Banyoro against immigrants and this will infect the whole country; contradicting national integration and the President's patriotism project," he said.

"Everyone is going to see politics through ethnic lenses and ethnic minorities are going to be marginalised yet they are the majority in some constituencies. This is against the constitution and Mr Museveni needs to retract the letter," he warned.

In the July 15, 2009 letter, President Museveni supposes that the solution to the problem of ethnic conflict, especially the Bakiga-Banyoro animosity, is "ring-fencing" key elective posts such as Parliamentary seats, district and sub-county chairs for natives.

"[Part of the solution is] is ring-fencing the positions of Member of Parliament in the whole of Bunyoro region for the indigenous people except for the special constituencies created around Rutete (Lutete) and Kisita resettlement schemes," the President wrote.

But this pronouncement, now fodder for regime critics will likely deepen the wedge between the Banyoro and immigrant populations, including their archrival Bakiga community and other Bafuurikis like the Alur and Lugbara.

Shadow Information Minister, Mr Christopher Kibanzanga told a press conference at Parliament on Friday that he would sue the President over the remarks. "An election is about winning the people's trust and confidence irrespective of one's tribe," he said, "The President's directive should be resisted; they constitute treason."

The Penal Code Act criminalises acts of dividing people along religion, tribe, ethnicity and any person convicted of any such offence is liable to imprisonment for up to five years. But President Museveni -- for now -- is shielded by constitutionally-provided immunity that shields sitting Presidents from criminal prosecution, except after he leaves office.

The President's latest directive is understood to have been informed by secret intelligence briefing and anther government-commissioned investigation into the tribal tensions in mid western Uganda.

Another report of a special Cabinet committee led by Ms Beatrice Wabudeya, the minister for the Presidency, is expected to be submitted for inter-ministerial consideration next month.

Critics say the Constitution guarantees every Ugandan the right to live in any part of the country, vote or be voted in any election as long as they are of the majority age - 18 years - and not encumbered by other considerations.

"Let the Banyoro be good and the Bakiga shall vote for them and vice versa," Mr Kibanzanga said, warning that implementation of the directive would turn natives against immigrants across the country.

The President's proposals did not come as a surprise, though. In 2002, Mr Museveni forced Mr Fred Ruremera , a Mukiga who had been elected as chairman of Kibaale District, out of the seat following agitation by some Banyoro. He was later to be replaced by one Mr George Nyamwaka, an indigenous Munyoro.

Yesterday, immigrants representing Bunyoro's Buyaga and Bugangayizi constituencies reclaimed from Buganda Kingdom in the 1960s strongly protested President Museveni's proposal saying it shall only serve to create more tension here.

Bugangaizi woman MP, Ms Marble Bakeine who is a Mukiga by tribe, dismissed the proposal as unconstitutional saying Ugandans have a constitutional right to live wherever they desire.

"We cannot be the same people to talk about political integration and federation of East Africa and Africa with such a proposal but I trust the Wabudeya committee and let's wait for the outcomes," she said.

Buyaga County MP, Mr Barnabas Tinkasiimire, another Mukiga MP attacked the President saying he is plotting for his own downfall. "We shall challenge the proposal in all the courts of law. He should have better things to do other than inciting the country into political divides. As an individual who grow up there, I relate very well with the Banyoro and the proposal is totally against the Constitution," he said.

Ms Beti Kamya was one time involved in a wrangle with the President over tribal sentiments ironically welcomed the President's proposals saying "he has finally walked the Uganda Federal Alliance talk".

"Leaders should be regional to fight for regional equity. Whereas political parties are national, the leaders there cannot lobby since they are controlled by their parties. He is now speaking the language of Uganda Federal Alliance of block voting," Ms Kamya who also spearheads the nascent Uganda Federal Alliance party said.

She added, "It does not mean that when you promote your tribe you hate others".

Hoima woman MP, Ms Beatrice Byenkya refused to comment on the proposals saying the President was misunderstood.