Rwenzururu King visits Kasenyi after Police block

By John B. Thawite and John B. Nzinjah

The Rwenzururu King, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma, finally stormed Kasenyi fish-landing village on the shores of Lake George on Sunday after a more than four-hour police blockade against his visit to the area.

Using riot control trucks and armoured with other anti-riot gear, the police had blocked him following reports that it was dangerous for him to visit Kasenyi, a parish within Lake Katwe sub-county, Kasese.

Police had from morning until 2.30 pm on Sunday blocked the road to Kasenyi at the main junction to Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth national park, arguing that the people in the area were against his going to the landing site.

In a press statement, the Rwenzori regional police commander, Wilson Kwanya, had said intelligence on the ground and around revealed that the people of Kasenyi, who include the minority Bagabo, Kachingwe, Basongora and Banyabindi, who claim not subscribe to the Rwenzururu were against the Omusinga’s visit to the area.

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Heavy police presence at the Kasenyi-Mweya main gate junction , Queen Elizabeth national park on Sunday. PHOTO/John Thawite

The Omusinga’s visit was aimed at commemorating the Rwenzururu heroes day – when the Bakonzo, Bamba, Basongora seceded from the Toro kingdom in 1962.

It was also meant to mark the Rwenzururu environment day, in memory of the death of three Bakonzo revolutionaries, Kapolyo, Tibamwenda and Nyamutswa, who were arrested, executed and buried in a mass grave at present day Kagando hospital.

The assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations, Grace Turyagumanawe, several security chiefs, Rwenzururu and district political leaders and leaders of the minority groups, agreed at a meeting last Thursday that the planned visit to Kasenyi be shifted to Katunguru.

But later the Omusinga insisted on going to Kasenyi, arguing that it was part of his kingdom.

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NO WAY HERE: Rwenzori RPC Wilson Kwanya argues with Rwenzururu Premier Henry Kandaba (R) and his predecessor Cots Bwambale. PHOTO/John Thawite

‘Fabricated reports’

At about 2:45pm local time on Sunday, however, police finally removed the blockade to allow the cultural leader and his huge entourage to storm the landing site.

He received a warm welcome accompanied by thousands of jubilating subjects.

He addressed a huge crowd at the fish landing site during which exonerated President Yoweri Museveni and the Inspector General of Police from the security saga.

According to him, government at the top had been told fabricated reports about the security situation in Kasenyi.

Omusinga Mumbere described president Museveni as his best friend and a guiding spirit to him.

Referring to the security saga that had at first denied him entry into Kasenyi, the Omusinga asked government to always cross-check security reports from the area before reacting.

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A Rwenzururu loyalist welcomes Mumbere en route to Kasenyi. PHOTO/John Thawite

He warned Muzamiru Bisanga, a Kasese district councilor from the area, who he said was confusing government about some security issues in the district, leading government to spend lots of money in reaction to his reports.

The Omusinga expressed concern that despite their majority numbers, the Bayira were poorly represented in high government positions.

He reiterated his earlier pledge that the Rwenzururu institution would not segregate against any ethnic group in the Kingdom.

He also underlined that for centuries, the Bakonzo – also known as Bayira – have been living in peace and harmony with other tribes in the Rwenzori region.

“The Bayira, the Basongora and the Banyabindi have lived as brothers and sisters for centuries and together they have fought against suppression.”

He called on all the people living in the Rwenzori region to live in peace and to work together for the development of the area.

At the function, the Omusinga received several gifts including a cow from some of the Basongora residents.