Rwenzururu King Returns Home After 7 Years Away From His Kingdom

Charles Wesley Mumbere, the head of the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu culture, has finally come home after nearly seven years away.

Charles Wesley Mumbere makes a triumphant entrance into Kasese town after being arrested in 2016 together with more than 200 of his royal guards during an attack on the palace.They were accused of terrorism, treason, and murder among other things, but the accusations were eventually withdrawn in June of this year.

While delivering her speech, The Gender and Culture Affairs State Minister, Peace Mutuuzo Urged the OBR to maintain peace and unity in Kasese district and the whole of Rwenzori sub region.

Additionally, the King’s movements were limited to Mukono, Wakiso, and Kampala. The Central Government has since demanded closer connections and mutually beneficial collaboration with the Rwenzururu Kingdom.

Earlier In Kasese Municipality, preparations for His Majesty Charles Wisley Mumbere Iremangoma, the Rwenzururu King, who will return home on Wednesday, were under way.

While speaking to The New Light Paper, Joseph Muranga, the OBR prime minister, confirmed that king Mumbere will be airlifted from Entebbe airport to Kasese at around 11:00 AM.

Additionally, Lt. Joe Walusimbi the Kasese RDC said that Mumbere’s security will be improved with the royal Brigade from UPDF and the former royal guards will not be allowed to take over the King’s Security.

The xylophone leader of Kitoro cell, Mr. Fred Bwambale Waitha, confirmed that playing had begun as part of the preparations during a mini-survey our reporter conducted this afternoon. 

Meanwhile, in Mumbuzi cell, residents are reportedly raising money to purchase a bull for roasting, according to Mr. Samson Mutahunga, the area Local Council One chairperson. Speaking are Mr. Mutahunga and Waitha…

According to Mr. Kinyanya Bwambale, the chairperson at Delta Boda-Boda stage, the chairpersons at various Boda-Boda stages and Coco-Cola Taxi Park in Kasese town were busy raising money to buy goats for roasting to express their happiness for King Mumbere’s homecoming. Speaking is Mr. Kinyanya.

The Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere of Rwenzururu will be coming home after the DPP dropped the charges filed against him , and 217 others. Mumbere has been facing charges of murder, treason and aggravated robbery.

According to our sources from court revealed to us that Proceedings are continuing for the former Prime Minister of Rwenzururu, Johnson Thembo Kitsumbire.

He confirms that he did not apply for Amnesty, like the others, because he doesn’t know what it means.

On Tuesday when the case returned for pre-trial conferencing, the state represented by Lilian Omara, Marion Benbella and Jackline Okui told court that the accused had applied for amnesty.

“The DPP is not opposing the amnesty but is facilitating this process. The DPP has therefore entered a nolle prosequi for the 218 accused persons for all the offences they are indicted of,” Omara told court.

She noted that the proceedings are therefore discontinued.

Speaking in response, trial judge, Alice Komuhangi Kaukha ordered  that those on remand at Jinja Main prison and Luzira prison  and those on bail  should be discharged.

The charges

Mumbere was arrested together with royal guards in November 2016 after a joint operation by the army and police led to storming of his Buhikira Palace in Kasese Town in which 136 people were killed.

Mumbere was later airlifted and detained at Nalufenya police station in Jinja district but was granted bail by the High Court in Jinja
The Omusinga and his royal guards face several charges of treason, terrorism, murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery and malicious damage to property.

He recently started negotiations with government over amnesty that would see him and over 200 royal guards pardoned and released.

By the time the charges were dropped today, seven years had passed since the Kasese attack.

Whereas Mumbere was released on bail, he has since been stopped from stepping foot in Kasese unless granted permission by court.

On the other side, a big chunk of his royal guards were granted bail, others  died in prison while some are still prison.

However, two of the royal guards including Thembo Kitsumbire and Kamada Mashereka didnt benefit from the amnesty and were ordered to return to court next month.

The charges now remain against former Prime Minister Thembo Kitsumbire and Hamada Masereka. The case was being heard in the International Crimes Division of the High Court. Justice Alice Komuhangi has ordered that they should be discharged accordingly.