Mumbere's trial suspended

The pre-trial hearing of the Omusinga (king) of Rwenzururu, Charles Wesley Mumbere on charges of murder and terrorism, has been put off until a date to be mentioned in future.

The King and 159 others are battling charges of murder, terrorism, robbery and malicious damage to property that stem from the 2016 Kasese killings.

According to the senior communication officer of the judiciary, Solomon Muyita, the pre-trial hit a snag because one of the judges, Michael Elubu, is engaged in the trial of former Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo, who is battling 67 offences, related to killings in Northern Uganda.

He also revealed that the court and the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) have some logistical challenges.

"The pre-trial has been put off further notice because the accused persons are many and the DPP needs resources and time to prepare their evidence," Muyita said.

The prosecution alleges that Mumbere and his subjects allegedly committed the offences in April 2016 at the Rwenzururu palace, Bukara Village, Kabonero sub-county, and at Nyabutsi village, Karangura sub-county in Kabalore district.

The prosecution further alleges that the crimes were indiscriminately committed without due regard to the safety of others or property when the accused directly or indirectly involved themselves in the murder of police officers, army men and members of the public.

About 100 people, including 16 police officers, were killed in the attacks following clashes between security forces and suspected Rwenzururu kingdom loyalists.

This was after a group of alleged royal guards of Mumbere hurled an improvised grenade at Uganda People's Defense Forces and Police officers, as they patrolled Kasese town.

The joint security forces responded with gunfire that sparked off retaliation attacks by suspected kingdom loyalists on Police posts across the district.