Court starts hearing Mumbere bail terms review application

The High Court in Jinja has started hearing Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere’s bail terms review application.
The hearing presided over by Justice Michael Elubu, kicked off Monday in the presence of Mumbere’s lawyer, Mr Alfred Makasi and the Principal State Attorney, Ms Margaret Nakigudde.
Mr Mumbere, who was in the company of his wife Agnes Ithungu, wants his bail terms relaxed so that he accesses his kingdom and interact with his subjects.

His movements are restricted to the districts of Kampala where he currently resides, Jinja and Wakiso.
Through his lawyer who is also the Kingdom Attorney General, the King wants to start reporting at the International Crimes Division (ICD) Registrar’s office instead of Jinja.

“Your Worship, we are requesting to allow the King to start reporting to the ICD registrar as it is with the Prime Minister, Mr Johnson Thembo Kistumbire, because it inconveniences him,’’ Mr Makasi submitted.
However, Ms Nakigudde said Court should give them ample time, arguing that they are still making some consultations on whether the King will be safe if he returns to the districts mentioned in the Application.
Justice Elubu gave the State up to September 27 to make a decision and adjourned the hearing of both Mumbere’s bail application review and bail period to October 2.

Speaking to journalists after the session, Mr Makasi said Court granted bail to King Mumbere and Mr Kisumbire but denied them access to Rwenzururu Kingdom - conditions they want relaxed.
On April 27, the King filed a petition at Jinja High Court seeking to review what he described as ‘such harsh bail terms’, specifically the one that has restricted him from accessing his subjects since November 27, 2016 when he was arrested and detained at the now defunct Nalufenya detention center.

The King, Mr Kisumbire and over 200 loyalists were in November 2016 arrested after police and the military raided his palace looking for suspected militias believed to have taken refuge there.
The raid led by the then Brig Peter Elwelu, the UPDF 2nd Division Commander left more than 100 people dead, including 14 police officers while over 200 people suspected to be Royal guards remain in detention at Kirinya prison in Jinja as they wait for their trial in the ICD. Elwelu was later promoted to major general and appointed as the commander of land forces.
The King faces criminal charges including treason, terrorism, murder, attempted murder and aggravated robbery.

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