Mumbere’s coronation set for October 19
Jul 29, 2009
A State recognised coronation of the King of the Bakonzo and Bamba, the Omusinga, Charles Wesley Mumbere, is set for October 19. Mumbere’s principal private secretary, Noah Nzaghale, recently disclosed that a committee to organise the coronation had alr
By John Nzinjah
A State recognised coronation of the King of the Bakonzo and Bamba, the Omusinga, Charles Wesley Mumbere, is set for October 19. Mumbere’s principal private secretary, Noah Nzaghale, recently disclosed that a committee to organise the coronation had already been put in place.
The 22-member committee is chaired by Masaka resident district commissioner Bamusede Bwambale. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend the ceremony.
The ceremony coincides with the 43rd anniversary of Mumbere’s ascension to the throne of the Rwenzururu Kingdom after the death of his father, Isaya Mukirania, in 1966.
Mukirania led the Bakonzo and Bamba into rebellion against Toro Kingdom when he stormed out of the Rukurato (parliament of Toro) in 1961 following Toro’s refusal to share key positions in the monarch with the Bakonzo and Bamba.
Mukirania was coronated King of the Bakonzo and Bamba by the clan’s chiefs and elders in 1965. Mumbere succeeded him in 1966 and continued with the struggle of the Bakonzo and Bamba with support from the Basongora until August 15, 1982 when he abandoned the armed struggle and turned to dialogue.
The following year, the Government sponsored Mumbere for further studies in the US where he stayed until last year when he came to settle in his Kingdom. His final decision to settle at home followed several government sponsored visits to his subjects.
Meeting the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu interim cabinet led by prime minister, business tycoon Costantine Bwambale, Mumbere urged his subjects to jealously guard against what he called bad elements who may want to disrupt the October 19 ceremony.
Four other people have been claiming kingship of the Obusinga. They are Bob Makoma, a Kasese-based lawyer, Swalleh Basikania, who is based in Kampala, Robert Bwambale, a grandson of one of the Bakonzo fighters who was killed in 1921, and one Kisalitha who is based in Kampala.
A State recognised coronation of the King of the Bakonzo and Bamba, the Omusinga, Charles Wesley Mumbere, is set for October 19. Mumbere’s principal private secretary, Noah Nzaghale, recently disclosed that a committee to organise the coronation had already been put in place.
The 22-member committee is chaired by Masaka resident district commissioner Bamusede Bwambale. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend the ceremony.
The ceremony coincides with the 43rd anniversary of Mumbere’s ascension to the throne of the Rwenzururu Kingdom after the death of his father, Isaya Mukirania, in 1966.
Mukirania led the Bakonzo and Bamba into rebellion against Toro Kingdom when he stormed out of the Rukurato (parliament of Toro) in 1961 following Toro’s refusal to share key positions in the monarch with the Bakonzo and Bamba.
Mukirania was coronated King of the Bakonzo and Bamba by the clan’s chiefs and elders in 1965. Mumbere succeeded him in 1966 and continued with the struggle of the Bakonzo and Bamba with support from the Basongora until August 15, 1982 when he abandoned the armed struggle and turned to dialogue.
The following year, the Government sponsored Mumbere for further studies in the US where he stayed until last year when he came to settle in his Kingdom. His final decision to settle at home followed several government sponsored visits to his subjects.
Meeting the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu interim cabinet led by prime minister, business tycoon Costantine Bwambale, Mumbere urged his subjects to jealously guard against what he called bad elements who may want to disrupt the October 19 ceremony.
Four other people have been claiming kingship of the Obusinga. They are Bob Makoma, a Kasese-based lawyer, Swalleh Basikania, who is based in Kampala, Robert Bwambale, a grandson of one of the Bakonzo fighters who was killed in 1921, and one Kisalitha who is based in Kampala.