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KASESE - President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the Omusinga (King) Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma of Rwenzururu Kingdom to rally behind government in fighting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists.

During celebrations in Kasese as Mumbere celebrated 57 years, since he ascended to the throne of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, Museveni, Thursday asked the leadership of the Kingdom to maintain good relations with the government to address the challenges of poverty, diseases, unemployment, and the criminality of the desperate and defeated ADF terrorists.

In a speech read by Vice President Jessica Alupo, Museveni said the ADF camps in Eastern Congo have been destroyed, by the UPDF.

King Charles Wesley Mumbere carries out a coronation anniversary ritual in one of his palaces located at the royal hill in Basecamp. (All Photos by Samuel Amanyire)

“Their desperate attempts to distract the UPDF’s efforts in DRC, by murdering soft targets in Uganda, i.e. school children, traders, foreigners, etc, will be the final chapter of their existence, anywhere on earth. I encourage the people of the Rwenzori region to back the security forces, by exercising constant vigilance, in order to identify, isolate, and wipe out the wrong elements, in your communities,”.

Kasese has recently experienced three bloody attacks by the ADF, the latest being the October 17 killing of two foreign tourists and their driver in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The festivities, Museveni said are “proof that the King and the Kingdom, occupy a central place in the social and cultural lives of the people of this area.”

The King of Rwenzururu Kingdom, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere with Queen Agnes Ithungu Asimawe chat with Vice President Jessica Alupo during the 57th coronation anniversary at Golf-Course Kasese.

Museveni added, “The NRM government supports the legitimate interests of the Bakonzo people and other Communities, in Uganda, to freely organize and express their unique cultural norms, customs, and languages. Therefore, I am happy to observe that the King, who is the recognized custodian of the Bakonzo culture, is now back in his Kingdom, to perform his royal and cultural duties.”

The function with twin celebrations (OBR 57th coronation and the 14th Kingdom recognition anniversaries) which attracted a mammoth crowd of people took place at Kilembe Mines Golf Club course in Kasese municipality.

Guests included representatives from the Obundingiya Bwa Bwamba (OBB), Koch cultural institution, and a delegation from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Mumbere speaks out

Addressing the gathering, the Rwenzururu King thanked the president for “affording” him and his co-accused an “opportunity to return home” after all the charges were dropped.

“We need to reciprocate this magnanimity by pursuing peace and reconciliation,” said the Omusinga.

The Omusinga said the president’s wise leadership has brought hope to not only his family, Kasese but also the entire Rwenzori region.

Mumbere with Queen Agnes Ithungu Asimawe, among other kingdom officials arrive at the 57th coronation anniversary at Golf-Course Kasese.

He pledged that his administration would concentrate on a five-pillar rebranding agenda which includes reconciliation, peace building, unity in diversity, mindset change social- economic and cultural transformation.

He explained that Rwenzori had for too long faced various incidents that have divided the area.

“It’s time to heal those wounds and come together as one person. Let us extend a hand of friendship to those who have been estranged,” he added.

Mumbere was arrested together with over 200 of his subjects on November 27 2016 on allegations of various criminal offences of treason.

However, the state dropped all the charges against Mumbere and his co-accused on June 13, 2023, nearly seven years after they were arrested.

Peace Mutuuzo, the minister for gender and cultural development expressed disappointment with increased cases of defilement in the Rwenzori region and tasked the cultural institutions in the region to fight the vice.

Mutuuzo also charged cultures in the Rwenzori region to cooperate and guard against politicizing the institutions.

Godfrey Kabbyanga, the state minister for ICT and national guidance said that the region is facing two key problems including ADF and implementation of government programs especially, the Parish Development Model (PDM) because of the big and highly populated administrative units.