KAMPALA – The Omusinga of Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere has vowed to move to the International Crimes Division of the High court to have his bail conditions overturned in order to enable him go back to his kingdom in Kasese.
It is now three years since the tribal clashes that saw hundreds of Mumbere’s subjects lose their lives and others in jail.
In his application that the kingdom’s prime minister Alfred Makasi says is yet to be filed by king Mumbere himself, the king contends that it is justifiable to lift his travel ban to districts of Kabarole, Kasese, Bundibugyo which make up his Rwenzuru Kingdom.
According to the application, the king says he has taken long without visiting his home, family, relatives and his subjects yet he is not aware when the trial will commence.
Makasi says the King will mainly strengthen his application to the fact that the state has completed its investigations into the offenses of Terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery, malicious damage to property and attempted murder which were brought against him and that sanity has since returned to his kingdom.
He adds that the king has already given instructions to lawyers of Kiyonga, Asasira and company advocates who have since drawn the application which also among other things seeks to waive the heavy security guarding him and deployed at his home in Muyenga to enable him free access to his visitors and subjects.
Mumbere who is on bail says whereas he acknowledges security concerns from the state, he needs to go back and re-organise his kingdom which was burnt down during an Army attack in November 2016.
In April 2017, Justice Eva Luswata granted King Mumbere bail from Luzira prison and imposed several conditions including limiting his travels to only districts of Kampala, Jinja and Mukono.
The judge also ordered that his home be heavily guarded to screen his visitors.
Justice Margret Oguli-Oumo has extended Mumbere’s bail to the 12th/April 2019.
