By John Thawite

The Rwenzururu king has warned politicians against canvassing for votes from the kingdom.

“Politicians had been promising air until the Government recognised our kingdom,” Charles Wesley Mumbere said.

He said President Yoweri Museveni and the Government were not to blame for the delay in recognising the kingdom, saying it was due to conflicts among the Bakonzo and Bamba communities.

“Though we are supposed to be non-political, we must support the Government because the cultural institution cannot operate independently,” Mumbere said while opening the kingdom’s first parliament at the Obuhikira Royal Palace in Kasese town recently.

The Government recognised the Obusinga on October 19, 2009.

Over 200 legislators from the districts of Kasese, Kabarole, Bundibugyo and the eastern DR Congo were sworn in by the speaker, Geoffrey Sibendire.

Mumbere, who was flanked by Queen Agnes Ithungu Asiimwe, said he had appointed representatives from Congo to cater for the Bakonzo, known as Banande, who are the majority there.

During the session, the kingdom finance minister, Godfrey Kabyanga, presented a budget of sh136.8m for the 2010/2011 financial year.

He said he expected to raise the money from contributions from the district local government, schools, churches and the business community.