KASESE

The Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu cultural institution has launched a triple campaign to raise sh9b to fund the homecoming of its leader, Omusinga Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma slated for October 4.

Omusinga Mumbere has been out of his kingdom since November 27, 2016 when he and scores of his subjects were arrested in a joint security raid on his palace based in Kasese town, for allegedly engaging in criminal acts.

However, the omusinga and his 217 co-accused were later released after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all the charges against them on June 13, 2023.

The omusinga, who turns 71 on November 14 this year, is still in Kampala where the Government is still taking care of him and his family.

Omusinga appoints

Since his release, the omusinga has appointed a 70-member organising committee for his homecoming, chaired by the vice-chancellor of Kasese municipality-based Rwenzori International University, Dr Nathaniel Mumbere Walemba.

Dr Walemba said the Omusinga’s return would include his homecoming reception, the purchase of Springs International Hotel found in Kasese municipality owned by former army commander, the late Maj, Gen. James Kazini as well as the coronation anniversary.

Kazini hotel purchase offer

The Obusinga bwa Rwenzuru’s Prime Minister, Joseph Kule Muranga, said he had received a purchase offer, worth sh4.6b, from the hotel management. Muranga said according to a purchase offer from Ngamije Law Consultants and Advocates, the main broker in the transaction, the hotel, sitting on 10.6 acres of land is located in the neighbourhood of the kingdom premises on the Kasese-Kilembe road.

The letter

According to the letter, dated June 17, seen by New Vision, the facility has 34 rooms, 14 cottages, an entertainment centre, a big swimming pool, conference hall and a presidential suite.

“The management of the hotel is offering to sale the hotel to Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu so that it can be utilised as a palace for the king upon his return to his kingdom,” partly says the letter.

“In case of any interest to purchase the hotel, all negotiations should be done through this law fi rm because it is the main broker in this transaction,” says the letter endorsed by counsel Kasoba Thembo on behalf of the law firm

Meeting resolves

The first organising committee meeting, which attracted members from Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kabarole and Bunyangabu resolved that the names and money contributed by the Rwenzururu subjects through either, Dr Walemba and Eng. Rev. Gabriel Fataki, the committee treasurer, must be banked on the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu construction fund in Centenary Bank, Kasese branch, account 310001492 or mobile numbers 0713766221 or 0772988313 belonging to Walemba and Fataki respectively.

The meeting also resolved to award certificates depending on the amount of money donated to the cause sh5m and above will be awarded a platinum certificate, while those who contribute sh3m-sh4.9m will get gold and silver to those who give sh2m-2.9m. Sh1.1- sh2m will fetch bronze, sh0.5m-1m ordinary and from sh10,000 to sh499,000 will be awarded the “Others” certificates.

By press time on Thursday, the bank account and the mobile numbers had been publicised to prevent fraudsters and the multi-billion project was already attracting supporters from within and outside Uganda.

Top leaders

Amis Masereka Asuman, the outgoing Bunyangabu district chief administrative officer, was appointed to chair the Omusinga’s homecoming sub-committee. Gad Mbayahi, a former acting Obusinga Bwa Rwenzuru premier, is to head the coronation preparations.

The Obusinga Bwa Rwenzuru Deputy prime minister who is also the finance, Edwin Kugonza will chair the sub-committee spearheading the purchase of Kazini Hotel.