President Yoweri Museveni says he is happy that the Rwenzururu Kingdom's leadership has began a new chapter, which is aligned with the NRM party's vision to transform Uganda.

“I’m glad that the kingdom is now aligned with the NRM [National Resistance Movement party] vision, which has three historical missions which the Africans had failed to see,” President Museveni said, mentioning prosperity, socio-economic transformation and strategic security.

The President made the revelations on Tuesday during a meeting with Rwenzururu King (Omusinga) Charles Wesley Mumbere and his wife, Nyabaghole Agnes Ithungu Asimawe, at State House, Entebbe. 

The President's remarks were in reaction to Rwenzururu deputy prime minister Edwin Kugonza statement that upon returning to Kasese on October 4, 2023, the Omusinga launched a new chapter of the kingdom with new and refreshed objectives around peace, reconciliation but more so, socio-economic transformation of the people.

Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere speaking during the meeting at State House Entebbe

“The king has been moving around the whole kingdom and he is preaching nothing but peace, reconciliation and economic transformation through government programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM), making sense of the money which government is giving to our people and we hope this will be a game changer Your Excellency,” Kugonza said.

Museveni informed the Omusinga who moved with some of his cabinet members that the Government restored Kingdoms to allow traditional leaders to mobilise and cause socio-economic transformation of the people through, among others universal education and ensuring that everybody joins the money economy.

Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere

The President further emphasized that his government cannot make any mistake of abandoning its historical mission.

“I’m very glad to see that the kingdom [Rwenzururu] now has taken a new path and I congratulate you because we didn’t have to have an irreversible showdown because there’s no way we can abandon the principles of the NRM,” Museveni added.

Government to construct kingdom palace

President Museveni assured the kingdom that the Government will in the new financial year embark on the work of constructing the Kingdom palace in Kasese and also improve monthly allowances given to the kingdoms.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance Godfrey Kabbyanga Baluku, deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi and several ministers from the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu.

President Museveni meets Charles Wesley Mumbere the Omusinga of the Rwenzururu Kingdom and delegation at State House Entebbe.

Background

The Omusinga was arrested on November 27, 2016, with 220 others when the army and the police jointly raided his Buhikira palace in Kasese town in what the then commander of 2nd Division, Lt. Gen. Peter Elweru said was aimed at stopping acts of terrorism.  

Despite being granted bail in February 2017, the Omusinga, his former prime minister and six juveniles continued to report to the International Crimes Division of the High Court at Kololo on a monthly basis and their movements were restricted only to Kampala, Wakiso and Jinja districts.

The Omusinga and his group were charged with over 40 counts, including terrorism, treason, murder, being found in possession of illegal firearms which are a monopoly of the armed forces, and, attempted murder.

However, early this year, the Omusinga and his co-accused applied for amnesty. On June 13, 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all the charges against the king and all his co-accused saying the state had lost interest in the case.

The Amnesty Commission has since issued certificates of amnesty to 138 former Rwenzururu Kingdom royal guards with a strong warning to them to guard against committing fresh criminal acts.