King Mumbere misses mother’s burial in Bundibugyo
King Charles Wesley Mumbere (L), in the International Crimes Division of the High Court that granted him permission to travel to Kasese for the burial of his mother. Photo by Ruth Anderah
The Sunday funeral service ahead of the burial of Rwenzururu Queen mother Christine Biira Mukirania is underway at Izahura Primary School, Harugale Sub-County in Bundibugyo District.
However, King Charles Wesley Mumbere, who secured permission from court to travel to Kasese for the burial and Kasese District leaders have shunned the funeral.
The burial will Sunday take place at the royal family’s ancestral land at Kirindi about two kilometres from the venue where the funeral service is taking place.
There is a deep rift between King Charles Wesley Mumbere and his brother, Mr Christopher Kibanzanga, the state minister for agriculture, who clashed over the burial site.
King Mumbere and the Prime Ministerial Commission of the Kingdom wanted the Queen mother to be buried at her Nyamirangara Estate in Muhokya Sub-county in Kasese District on Tuesday but Mr Kibanzanga picked the body from the mortuary in Fort Portal and took it to Kirindi village in Bundibugyo.
On Friday, a series of meetings between the Prime Ministerial Ccommittee of the kingdom and Mr Kibanzanga didn’t build consensus on where to bury the Queen Mother.
The funeral service is being led by the retired Bishop of South Rwenzori Diocese in Kasese District.
Government is being represented by Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi.
Other officials at the burial include among others; Mr David Kalubanga, the Minister of State of Public Service, Mr Vincent Ssempijja, the Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi.
About 100 people will access the burial ground where numerous UPDF soldiers have been deployed.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Sabiiti Muzeyi is still camping in the area. Police vehicles are patrolling Bundibugyo town.
READ:
Court sets conditions for Rwenzururu king to attend mother’s burial
The king was allowed to travel for his mother's burial in Kasase but told to return to Kampala in 14 days
RELATED STORY:
My mother can't be buried in a bush, says minister Kibazanga
We are three sons of Nyamusinga, Biira Christine Mukirania, Kibanzanga Christopher, Kibanzanga William and Mumbere Charles Wesley Iremangoma. Why is it that my other two brothers are incapable of surrendering their private pieces of land to the Kingdom to act as a Royal Cemetry?
