A formerly rebelious King of Rwenzururu kingdom in Western Uganda who allegedly had conspired with a neighbouring Congolese cultural chiefdom to form a break-away Yiira republic seems to have reformed.
However, Rwenzururu kingdom maintains it has no intention of establishing a Yiira Republic.
President Yoweri Museveni who in 2016 ordered the army to storm the Kingdom’s seat of power and unleash leathal scotched earth punishment announced on Wednesday that he had met and held discussions with the rebelious king.
“I’m delighted that during our meeting, we reached an understanding that we won’t repeat any regressive conflicts,” Museveni said in a statement via X platform.
The Ugandan leader said, “I held a meaningful discussion today (Wednesday) at State House, Entebbe with His Highness Charles Wesley Mumbere, the Omusinga of the Rwenzururu Kingdom. I am happy that the Kingdom has outlined new objectives centred around peace, reconciliation, and socio-economic transformation, aligning perfectly with our vision and historic mission in the NRM.”
The November 2016, Military Attack On Rwenzururu
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Commanded by Lt. Gen Peter Elwelu stormed the Rwenzururu Kingdom in Kasese district killing more than 100 people.
Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere and more than 100 Royal Guards were arrested. Many spent more than four years in detention charged with several counts of murder and terrorism among others.
Lt. Gen Elwelu said the people who died during the raid deserved what they got.
The attack carried out on November 26 and 27 2016, came after the Rwenzururu king refused to hand over the guards whom the army accused of engaging in clandestine activities.
In April 2017, community activists compiled lists of dead and missing people, identifying 115 adults and 15 children killed on November 27 at the palace. Those killed on November 26 were not included.
The killings followed long-standing tensions, unresolved grievances, and sporadic violence between the government and the Rwenzururu kingdom, comprised of ethnic Bakonzo people, in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts in Uganda’s Rwenzori region.
