Prime
How King Mumbere absence stifled Rwenzururu activities
The Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu administrative offices in Kasese Town, which have remained closed for the last four years. PHOTO/JOEL KAGUTA
What you need to know:
- The king’s arrest left the kingdom in uncertainty, pain and hopelessness, with subjects staring at a total collapse of the cultural institution.
Omusinga [King] Charles Wesley Mumbere’s long stay away from his Rwenzururu Kingdom has not only caused immense pain to his subjects but also paralysed several projects in the cultural institution.
The Omusinga and several other kingdom officials, including former prime minister Johnson Kistumbire, and more than 100 royal guards were arrested following a military operation at the king’s Buhikira Royal Palace in Kasese Municipality in November 2016.
The operation was commanded by the current Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Peter Elwelu.
In this file photo taken on March 24, 2018, then Commander of the Land Forces, Maj Gen Peter Elwelu (left front row), the new Commandant of Military Police, Col William Bainomugisha (right back row) and the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Brig Sabiiti Muzeyi (right) arrive at Makindye Police Barracks for the handover ceremony of Sabiiti on March 24, 2018. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
The group was then transferred to Kampala from where they were paraded in court in Jinja on several charges, including murder and terrorism.
Their arrest left the kingdom in uncertainty, pain and hopelessness, with subjects staring at a total collapse of the cultural institution, which was officially operationalised by the central government in 2009.
According to current kingdom prime minister Joseph Kule Muranga, the king continued his reign while in prison. He immediately elected a ministerial committee chaired by Mr Balulu Mbayahi in 2017 to initiate negations between the government and Obusinga. The committee was also tasked with the role of speaking to local communities on peace restoration.
In 2018, a second ministerial committee chaired by Mr Muranga was also instituted by the king.
He said the old palace and the kingdom administration building were all marked and secured as scenes of crime and have since remained inhabitable.
“The old palace was raided and the few remaining structures got burnt in 2022 by unknown people,” Mr Muranga said.
Restricted. Some of the houses in King Mumbere’s palace were set ablaze during the attack in the palace.
The premier said the central government has since bought land at Shs150 million on the Kasese-Mbarara Road, about 3kms way from Kasese Town, with plans to establish a new palace there.
“The kingdom is waiting for UPDF engineering department to come and commence the construction works,” he says.
Mr Martin Safari, the chairperson of Central Division in Kasese Municipality, said they are ready to receive the king. Central Division hosts the dilapidated Buhikira Royal Palace.
“As you are aware, the king cannot return to Buhikira because of the bloodbath that happened there. Government has since committed to constructing the king a new palace. Let them do it quickly since land has been bought already,” Mr Safari said.
Kahokya Cell where the new palace is to be built is also located in Central Division.
Stalled projects
The absence of the king also saw major development projects halted.
“The Rwenzururu Heritage University and Rwenzururu Nyabajhole Foundation for development stopped,” said Mr Muranga.
The former kingdom minister for education and sports, Mr Ferigo Kambale, in a recent interview, said before the arrest of Omusinga, some subjects were benefiting from a State House scholarship programme, which has since been scrapped.
However, the institution’s bursary scheme is still on. Following the arrest of the Omusinga, some schools abolished the singing of the Rwenzururu Kingdom anthem for fear of victimisation.
At least 134 royal guards arrested alongside the king were released a few days to the 2021 elections. However, 11 royal guards died while in prison on remand.
The annual coronation celebrations and other cultural days were also stopped in the absence of the main celebrant, the king, who was even barred from travelling to the area as part of his bail conditions.
Journalists tour the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace following the raid in November 2016. PHOTOS BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
The November 2016 killings followed long-standing tensions between the government forces and the kingdom, comprised of ethnic Bakonzo in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts.
Rwenzururu loyalists
Name
A1 Mumbere Charles Wesley,
A2 Monday Stanley,
A3 Kabugho Jose
A4 Kigoma Keirumba
A5 Thaghembua Joram,
A6 Bwambale Joshiah,
A7 Muhindo Moses,
A8 Bwambale Issa,
A9 Kule Friday Alias Katwanga,
A10 Mukuhi Herekia.
A11 Mukuha Hezeron,
A12 Bwambale Joshua,
A13 Biira Regina
A14 Kule Fenehasi,
A15 Baluku Tasi
A16 Muhindo Marry,
A17 Kalegha Julius,
A18 Bwambale Mbaraga,
A19 Kule Munabu,
A20 Muhindo Johnson,
A21 Mbusa Bughura,
A22 Mumbere Julius,
A23 Mumbere Johnson
A25 Kibinduka Ismail,
A26 Masereka William,
A27 Mulongo Timothy
A28 Baluku Alfred
A29 Muhumuza Jusi,
A31 Bangahema Nicodem,
A32 Ntomera Samuel.
A33 Musoke Friday,
A34 Kule Jockus.
A35 Buteka John Thembo,
A36 Baluku Zephanas,
35 A37 Bwambale Eric
36. A38 Bwambale Majid
A39 Bwambale Emmanuel,
A40 Bikanja William,
A41 Mumbere Muthebuli,
A42 Manyindo Labbson
A43 Isemusoro Zephanus.
A44 Muhindo Ismail
A45 Bihandi Sanyu
A46 Mate Yusuf
A47 Muhindo Basighanirya,
A47 Malebo Zakeli,
A49 Kabugho Adrine.
A50 Musoki Jovia.
A51 Bwambale Malisaba Besweri,
A52 Mulengiro Thembo,
A53 Kule Magid
A54 Kambale Siraj.
A55 Mumbere Edwin
A56 Butsilo Alex.
A57 Muhindo Sisunzu,
A58 Asiimwe Mbambu,
A59 Ramulha Peace.
A6o Nzenda Alice.
A62 Muhindo Charles.
60. A64 Masereka Hezekai B,
A65 Bwambale Edson,
A66 Kiteme Joseph,
A67 Muhindo Muthabali Joackim,
A68 Matoka Zeveri
A69 Marave Eagle,
A70 Bakedia Christopher,
A71 Mbusa Nickodemus,
A72 Masereka Manimpa,
A73 Kule Moses,
A74 Kibungura M. Yosia,
A75 Masereka Edison,
A77 Kahuju Johnson Baluku,
A78 Thembo Yusufu,
A80 Bughuli Ivan,
A81 Muhindo Alfred,
A83 Masika Getrude,
A84 Kinyamusithu Denize,
A85 Thungu Annet,
A86 Biira Enid,
A88 Bwambale Mudesto,
A89 Drum Tom Sinamakosa,
A90 Kule Wisely,
A91 Mumbere Jimmy,
A92 Mutina Nasson,
A93 Bihamba Luka,
A94 Kule Joseph,
A95 Bihura Ivan,
A96 Mumindo Julus,
A97 Maridadi Saulo,
A98 Bwambale Edward,
A99 Ithungo Perecia.
A100 Rugheya Maseraka Justus
A101 Bahala Zakeri
A102 Mbusa Mbakania Remegia.
A103 Mutende Bwambale Charles
A104 Bwambale Nason,
A105 Bwambale Thahera,
98. A106 Baluku James
A107 Masereka Arastin,
A109 Bisathu Grace
A110 Masika Justine.
A111 Kabugho Alice.
A112 Masereka Tadei.
A113 Mumbere Samson,
A114 Bwambale Joakim
A115 Bwambale Samson,
A116 Bwambale Bakyengana K
A117 Bwambale John Andrew.
A118 Masereka Kanjela
A119 Kabugho Jenipher,
A120 Bahagondi Daudi,
A121 Mathumu Kule Gidion,
A122 Agaba Isaac,
A123 Kahuju Eric.
A124 Aliganyira Jackson
A125 Thembo Amoni,
A126 Bwambale Wilbert.
A127 Masika Jolly
A128 Kule Wilfred,
A129 Mbusa Nehemia,
A130 Bwambale Amon
A131 Muhindo Chrispo
A132 Masereka Justus,
A133 Bwambale Faguson.
A134 Lyahinda Tasimwa.
A135 Byabu Meres
A138 Baisirirya Isaac,
A137 Mumbere Onesmas,
A138 Muhindo Johnson,
A138 Kabugho Provia,
A140 Mubungu Olivia,
A141 Bijwanga Yokasi,
A142 Masereka Eric Alias B.
A143 Bwambale Amon
A144 Masereka Joseph,
A145 Bagunda Nelson Thembo.
A148 Kamalha Rabson,
A147 Nzangura Emmanuel.
A148 Bwambale Hagayi,
A149 Baluku Josam,
A150 Tibamwenda Sezi,
A151 Mbahimba Almon
A153 Maate Joseph Ernest,
A154 Byakumba Zakeli,
A155 Bengehania Hamada,
A156 Mbusa Mustapha Saad.
A157 Mbiitso Josephat,
A160 Mbathulhagwo Johnson
A162 Bwambale Benon,
A163 Bwambale Saidi,
A164 Gabona Gabriel
A165 Thembo Raubeni,
A166 Kule Eriabs Kikunde,
A167 Kule Manasi Alias Muhesi,
A168 Bwambale B Dison,
A169irenge Robinson,
A170 Thembo Edson,
A171 Bwambale Jeremia,
A173 Kule Eriva Sibendire,
A174 Yowas Wasesera,
A176 Nsekanabo Nehemiah,
A177 Matirimwenda Thembo Ezron,
A179 Kabugho Charles Katoko,
A180 Muti Rauben,
A182 Wilson Karemire Muhindo,
A183 Mukindo Kenneth,
A184 Bwambale Bukedya Yokas,
A185 Kikaya Joshua.
A18s Baligasaki Josef Alias Yafes,
A187 Kalemire Zaria Eagle,
A188 Kibichabo Marcoplo Ezra
A189 Mutonya Dan,
A180 Bakedya Andrew
A191 Bikona Daniel
A182 Musuka James.
A193 Kaitango Bugere
A194 Muhindo Ramishangi,
A195 Bwambale Bahingana
A198 Baluku Jimmy,
A197 Masereka B Stephen.
A198 Bwambale Benson
A203 Masereka N Sira David
A204 Wakina Gadi Bwambale.
A205 Baluku Owemveka
A206 Makoma Abel.
A207 Kule Charles
A208 Bwambale Nelson,
A209 James Isebana
A210 Mugisa Bikoba Jamil
A211 Bwambale Gideon,
A212 Bakulha Alex.
A213 Kule January
A214 Sibanza John.
A215 Paluku Katekwamahwa J
A216 Muliki Juma,
A217 Muhindo Elias.
A218 Thembo Ali,
A219 Maate Jafar.
A24 Kabororo Kezia,
A30 Bwambale Vicent,
A63 Bulhandibu Samuel,
A79 Bwabale Eric.
A87 Bwambale Dan
A159 Kule Peti Alias Brown
A172 Masereka Milton
A181 Wasesere Bony,
A199 Tibenda David Bwambale
A200 Kigoma Sunford
A220 Masereka Daniel Bwima.
A61 Masereka Mikidadi,
A76 Sande Bagenda A108 Sondekia Zakaria,
A158 Thembo Yoana,
A161 Baghendane Erisa,
A175 Ngabutaki John,
A178 Bazara Kalinda
A201 Baghenyi Yosam,
A202 Masereka Richard S
