4th Rwenzururu royal guard dies in prison
Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere (L) has lost another guard.
KAMPALA- Another Rwenzururu Kingdom royal guard has died in prison bringing to four, the number of guards who have died since their arrest in November 2016.
The family of Ezakiel Isonderya, told Daily Monitor that Ezakiel Isonderya, said to be the oldest among the over 190 suspects in prison, passed on Thursday night at the Luzira Prisons Hospital.
The cause of Isonderya’s death remains unclear as the family meets to find a way of retrieving the body.
Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere was on November 26, 2016 arrested with 200 others when the UPDF soldiers raided his Buhikira Royal Palace in Kasese Town.
The King, his former Acting Prime Minister, Mr Johnson Thembo Kitsumbire and six juveniles are out on bail since February 2017 while the rest have been on remand in Kirinya Prison in Jinja District.
Three have since died with their bodies handed to the respective families for burial.
“The Babinga Clan from Muhungulhu family with deep sorrow announces the death of one of their elder Mzee Isonderya Ezakiel that occurred at Luzira Prisons Hospital. We are not yet sure of the burial, but we shall keep updating you since he was in prison,” a communication from the dead guard's family reads in part.
Prisons Spokesperson was not available for a comment because his known telephone number was off.
Mr Siira Mutseke one of the family members, however, confirmed in a telephone interview that they have been informed of the death but they are not yet authorised to speak on behalf of the family.
Mr Mutseke said the family was making arrangements with King Mumbere’s and his co-accused to find means of claiming the body from Luzira Prison.
Background
King Mumbere and his co-accused are waiting for trial since they were committed to the International Crimes Division of the High Court two years ago. A pre-trial was supposed to be held on May 28 but the Judiciary postponed it until further notice sighting reasons that the Judges supposed to hear the case were still engaged in the trial of former Lord’s Resistance Army rebel commander, Thomas Koyelo in Gulu.
