Gov't: No charges against Mumbere yet

Internal affairs minister Gen. Jeje Odongo addressing the press in Kampala. Photo by Miriam Namutebi.

The Police have not yet preferred any charges against the Omusinga (king) of Rwenzururu, Charles Mumbere, although the force had earlier indicated he could be charged with treason.

Internal affairs minister, Jeje Odongo, however, said possible charges against Mumbere will be known after the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

Mumbere is currently being held at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja district.

The minister was delivering a comprehensive statement about the events in Kasese over the past weekend during a press conference at Uganda Media Center in Kampala on Tuesday.

"There are no charges against Omusinga yet. That will be known after the ongoing investigations and our police officers are on the ground in Kasese (for investigations)," Odongo stated.

Fresh clashes between security forces and suspected Rwenzururu kingdom loyalists erupted on Saturday after a group of alleged royal guards of Omusinga (king) of Rwenzururu hurled an improvised grenade at Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and Police officers.

The UPDF and Police were patrolling Kasese town when the improvised grenade was reportedly hurled at them. The joint security forces responded with gunfire which sparked off retaliation attacks by suspected kingdom loyalists on Police Posts across the district.

Fleeing from gunfire, some of the suspected loyalists sought refuge in the palace of Omusinga Charles Mumbere on Saturday. The UPDF ordered the Mumbere to direct the kingdom loyalists to get out of the palace or let the government forces in, but the orders were reportedly ignored.

On Sunday, the joint forces forcefully gained entry into the palace, opening fire on the suspected loyalists inside the facility.

About 100 people, including 16 police officers, were killed in the attacks in Kasese on Saturday and Sunday.

The security forces reportedly lost six guns during the attacks. Over 90 people, mainly civilians were killed in similar attacks by suspected Rwenzururu kingdom loyalists in Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts in 2014.