Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere is coming back to Kasese District today, the place where his kingdom is located. He has been away for almost seven years. The king was not allowed to go to his kingdom because of bail conditions when he faced charges of treason, murder, attempted murder, and other crimes. He was arrested and kept in custody during a raid by security forces on his palace in November 2016.
Now that the charges against him have been dropped, the king can return to his kingdom, and this has made his subjects very happy. The committee organizing his homecoming, led by Dr. Nathaniel Mumbere Walemba, is prepared to welcome him.
Some of the king’s subjects have already started gathering in Kasese in anticipation of his arrival. They are building royal huts on Royal Hill, which represent the kingdom parliament. Some people are also drumming and singing traditional songs to welcome their king.
The king and the queen are expected to arrive at Kasese airfield on a chartered aircraft at 11 am. From there, they will go to their temporary royal residence on Mbogo Road in Muyenga, Kasese Municipality, where they will perform cultural rituals to welcome the king.
At 1 pm, Mumbere will go to the Golf Course in Bulembia Division, Kasese Municipality, to address his subjects. In the evening, he will host a royal dinner at Margherita Hotel for selected guests.
It’s important to note that senior government officials have not been invited to the king’s homecoming ceremony. Instead, they have been invited to the coronation anniversary celebrations scheduled for October 19. Mr. Nelson Tumushiime, the Rwenzori East regional police spokesperson, said they expect a large number of people in Kasese Town and have made preparations accordingly.
“We will only allow accredited individuals to be part of the convoy escorting the king. This is to avoid overcrowding around the king and in the town. We have advised people to gather at the Golf Course where the King will address them,” he explained.
The government has committed to building a new palace for the king on his newly acquired land in Kahokya, Central Division. Mr. Joseph Kule Muranga, the kingdom prime minister, said the UPDF’s engineering brigade will be responsible for constructing the palace.