Kabaka, Nabagereka visit Kasese

The Kabaka (king) of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is in Kasese district on a private Christmas holiday visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, giving a boast to tourism in the embattled Rwenzori sub-region.

"He and his wife (Nabagereka) arrived here (Mweya Safari Lodge) on Friday on a private holiday visit," the Queen Elizabeth National Park Chief Warden, Edward Asalu, confirmed.

 Asalu said Mutebi and the Nabagereka had a boat ride on the Kazinga Canal on Saturday, adding: "it is indeed a very big boost to tourism."

According to Asalu, the volume of tourist to Mweya Safari Lodge and Queen Elizabeth National Park was higher than feared after the recent skirmishes in the area.

"The security situation is calm. On average, we are conducting an average of four UWA boat rides daily, with contributing the biggest number of visitors," Asalu said saying it was a vote of confidence to the sub-region.

The Kabaka's visit comes a few days after he condemned the recent killings in Kasese which left more than 100 people dead and led to the arrest of his counterpart, king Charles Wesley Mumbere of the Rwenzururu kingdom.

 "We mourn the death of our friends who died in the Kasese violence," Mutebi said.

"We expect that the central government will do everything in its power to investigate and punish all those involved in the mass killings and to find ways of stopping it quickly," added the message in part.