KASESE- Rwenzururu Kingdom has suspended all peace meetings organised by non-governmental organisations in Kasese and Rwenzori region.
According to Mr Gadi Mbayahi, the chairperson of Rwenzururu Kingdom’s Prime Ministerial Commission made the announcement on Monday.
The prime ministerial commission manages the affairs of the kingdom on behalf of the Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere, whose movements are currently restricted to Kampala, Wakiso and Jinja as part of his bail condition.
He said the decision to suspend the public dialogues and other meetings related to the quest for peace is informed by the fact that little has been done about the kingdom demands.
Since November 2016, when as a joint team of security forces raided Mumbere’s Buhikira Royal Palace in Kasese, several civil society actors especially NGOs in the region have been holding meetings in an attempt to find a lasting solution to the instabilities.
The officials of the Kingdom have also been participating in the meetings where causes and possible solutions to the conflicts in the region would be discussed.
Mbayahi says the Kingdom officials have used a lot of resources in terms of finance, expertise, intellect and time in the hope that their advice would be taken in so that peace can prevail in Kasese in the last two years in vain.
He claims that the different actors including civil society and government have remained reluctant on some of the solutions towards peace-building in Kasese.
Mbayahi also stresses the need for government to offer aid to orphans and other vulnerable children as practical means of pacifying the Rwenzori.
“How do you come from Kampala or wherever that you’re preaching people about peace? People who commit more grave sins than our people are being bailed out yet ours remain incarcerated. Surely why do we continue attending peace meetings?,” the premiere wondered.
He also revealed that the institution remains open to only meetings that will negotiate the release of their king and his subjects.
However, Francis Happy Muhindo, the programmes manager Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice, says the decision taken by the kingdom administration is ill informed.
Muhindo says it is important for Mbayahi to understand that lasting peace only starts with change of mindset.
“The work we do is not about how many schools or hospitals we build. Trust me if it was that we would have finished long time ago. This is about mindset, perceptions and ideology. Changing these is a very gradual process that cannot take two years only.” Muhindo said.
He advises Rwenzururu kingdom to revisit its decision and continue engaging in all the peace missions in the area.
