Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere, during the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) thanksgiving event at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kamaiba cell, central division of Kasese municipality on Sunday, October 8, 2023, expressed his condemnation for the 2016 clashes between the then royal guards and security operatives. This tragic event resulted in the loss of 103 lives, including 87 royal guards and 16 police officers.
Mumbere acknowledged the devastating impact of the clashes, emphasizing that the use of powerful weapons, including mortars and grenades, resulted in significant loss of life and extensive damage to property at his palace. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the conflict.
The king attributed the outbreak of violence in 2016 to a few individuals within the kingdom’s leadership who pursued selfish interests. Additionally, he pointed to external factors, mentioning “enemies of the kingdom” who spread false information to the government. These false reports included claims of a plan to create a state known as ‘Yira state,’ which Mumbere disavowed.
Furthermore, Mumbere mentioned that some OBR subjects had contributed to rising tensions by intimidating people of other tribes, suggesting they would be displaced from Kasese, with their property taken over by the Bakonzo ethnic group. This escalation of hostilities eventually led to the deadly clashes.
King Mumbere emphasized his commitment to remaining nonpartisan in political matters, urging politicians to refrain from involving him in political issues as the kingdom sought to start a new chapter. He called on the people to reject discrimination and tribalism, promoting peaceful coexistence among individuals of different backgrounds.
Mumbere also announced that his coronation anniversary was scheduled for October 19, 2023, and clarified that his 2016 arrest did not signify the kingdom’s demise. Queen Agnes Ithungu encouraged subjects to embrace the five pillars of the re-branded OBR institution: reconciliation, peace, unity, mindset change, and social-economic transformation.
Reflecting on the events of 2016, national guidance state minister Godfrey Kabbyanga, who had been a leader in the OBR, acknowledged mistakes made by the OBR leaders that contributed to the deadly clashes. He described three groups within the leadership, each with different intentions, which eventually led to misunderstandings and conflict.
Kabbyanga mentioned that one group aimed to use the institution for electoral purposes, another group sought to create a state (YIRA state), and the third group, represented by individuals like Dr. Walemba, focused on preserving the cultural institution’s identity, considering it the most genuine among the three groups.
