Mumbere royal guard dies in police custody

On duty. Some of the Rwenzururu Kingdom royal guards at one on the shrines at the kingdom palace in Kasese District. PHOTO BY MORIS MUMBERE.

What you need to know:

  • Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi said Bwambale had been detained at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja District, but that he was evacuated to Bombo Military Hospital for treatment when his health condition degenerated.
  • While appearing on NBS TV on Friday morning, presidential spokesperson Don Wanyama said fresh charges will “soon” be “slapped” on the Omusinga.

KAMPALA. One of the detained royal guards of Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere has succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the fight at the king’s palace on November 27, the police have confirmed.
The deceased was identified by Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza as Bosco Mbusa Bwambale, 36, a resident of Lhuhwahwa village, Kajwenga parish, Kisinga Sub-county, Kasese District.
Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi said Bwambale had been detained at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja District, but that he was evacuated to Bombo Military Hospital for treatment when his health condition degenerated.
Bwambale, according to Mr Kaweesi, was one of the 137 “royal guards” who were arrested during the attack on King Mumbere’s palace and were detained at Nalufenya.

“We communicated to the relatives and they collected the body for a decent burial,” Mr Kaweesi said. Ms Kiiza said Bwambale was scheduled for burial yesterday in Lhuhwahwa village.
It was not immediately clear how many of the other detained royal guards are in critical condition, but a statement by Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, the Defence and army spokesperson, which was published in Daily Monitor yesterday, suggests a considerable number of injuries among the guards.
Lt Col Ankunda wrote: “UPDF evacuated (from Mr Mumbere’s palace), by air, 17 injured guards to General Military Hospital, Bombo for specialised treatment.” We would not immediately establish the fate of the 17 injured persons the army spokesperson refered to.

The detention
The royal guards have been detained in Nalufenya since November 27, and until today, 13 days later, they have not been charged with any offence. According to the law, a suspect is supposed to be held in police detention for a maximum of 48 hours (two days) after which he is either produced in court or released on police bond.
Mr Mumbere, who was also arrested on the day of the assault on his palace and detained in Nalufenya, was charged with murder of a policeman which occurred months before the assault on the palace and was remanded in Nalufenya Police Station.
While appearing on NBS TV on Friday morning, presidential spokesperson Don Wanyama said fresh charges will “soon” be “slapped” on the Omusinga.