New Rwenzururu cabinet unveils roadmap to revitalise kingdom

 The recently appointed leadership of the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu (Rwenzururu Kingdom) has unveiled a phased roadmap aimed at rebranding the troubled kingdom.

The roadmap includes restoring the strained relationship between the institution and Central Government and rebuilding the palace, which was burnt in 2016 and also constructing the royal home of the Obusinga, as well as negotiating the release of the Omusinga and his co-accused subjects.

The Rwenzururu King, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere, appointed the new administration on August 17, replacing the Prime Ministerial Commission (PMC), which has been running the institution's affairs after Mumbere and some of his subjects were arrested in 2016.

Mumbere recently dissolved the PMC, which was led by Gad Mbayahi, a schoolteacher, replacing it with a fully-fledged eighteen-member cabinet, headed by Joseph Kule Muranga as its Prime Minister.

Also appointed is the Speaker to the Obusinga Ekyaghanda, (Parliament) and his deputy, the Ekyaghanda Clerk and a twelve-member Privy Council, known as Ekyaghanda Kyembiitha, chaired by the Omusinga himself.

The road map
Unveiling the new roadmap, Muranga a retired Resident District Commissioner, underscored the need for peaceful co-existence and cooperation with Central Government and other stakeholders if the plan is to succeed.

Muranga, a former MP for Busongora North Constituency, hailed the Banya Rwenzururu (Rwenzururu subjects) for observing peace.

Mumbere and about 200 of his subjects were arrested in November 2016 during a joint security raid on the kingdom's administration offices and the Palace for allegedly engaging in anti-state acts.

Until the covid-19 lockdown early this year, Mumbere and his co-accused had been appearing before the Criminal Division of the High Court on several counts including alleged terrorism, murder and destruction to property.
Mumbere is currently confined in Kampala, pending court's decision on his case.

Prior to the current week old cabinet, the kingdom affairs have been under the management of a Priministerial Commission, which was headed by Gad Mbayahi, a teacher, Muranga said the roadmap, to start in Kasese, would be implemented in three phases starting with the construction of the Rwenzururu Palace and a home for the King to be followed by the rehabilitation and skilling of the Rwenzururu Royal Guards after their release from prison.

Muranga further said the first phase of the roadmap would also focus on massive tree planting on the Rwenzori Mountain ranges of Kasese to contain the floods and help restore the snow on the mountain.

Other first phase activities include publishing various documents, which include the Obusinga Constitution, showing how the institution runs, as well as constructing the office of the Prime Minister.

Rollout  
In phase two, which will cover five years, the cabinet undertakes to extend the tree planting to the districts of Bunyangabu, Kabarole, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo through community participation.

"However, we shall need to cooperate with other kingdoms and local governments in those districts," Muranga clarified.
Also to be implemented in this second phase is the construction of roads to connect the mountain areas.

Phase two will also see the introduction and multiplication of Merino sheep in the mountains for commercial wool, fish-farming in the lake regions especially around lakes George, Kazinga channel, Edward and Kayanja in Kitswamba subcounty.

The long-term plan, which will mark the third phase, will last 10 to 15 years and will focus on the construction of a university, a museum, tourism development, harnessing the rivers to support production like irrigation in the lower parts of the district.