Mumbere hailed the President Museveni for having spearheaded the restoration of monarchies in the country.
“I thank President Museveni for restoring kingdoms; they can help government to mobilise the population for to engage in development,” he said.
He also commended the President for amicably addressing the recent Buganda riots in which several people died and property worth billions of property destroyed.
Mumbere was Monday launching a commemorative tree-planting campaign in the Rwenzori region, with the planting of more that 1,200 tree seedlings at a royal forest at Rukoki, the district headquarters.
The tree-planting is one of the activities to mark the 43rd coronation anniversary of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu slated for October 19th and to be officiated by President Museveni.
He pledged that once restored, the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu is determined to support government and urged the Banya Rwenzururu to appreciate President Museveni’s efforts to have the kingdoms restored.
“Cultural leaders should respect and cooperate with Museveni because it took him a lot of effort to convince his tot government officers to accept the idea of restoring kingdom in this country,” he said.
Kingdoms were abolished in 1966 during the first Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) government led by former president Dr Milton Obote.
They were restored by the article 246 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution but since then the Obusinga is yet to be recognised on 19th October.
Presiding at Church of Uganda South Rwenzori Diocesan donors' conference and 25th founding anniversary August 30th, the President announced that that he had agreed to recognise the long-awaited Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and that he would attend the Obusinga 43rd anniversary.
“I assure you RDCs who are here that the people of the Rwenzori will support the NRM government,” he said attracting applause from the audience.
The gathering included Rwenzururu Prime Minister, Constantine Bwambale and the security minister, Thembo Kitsumbire and civil servants led by the Chief Administrative Officer, Giles Kahika.
Mumbere added, “I am not an NRM but I can see that Museveni is handling things well. I hope that when it comes to giving, Yoweri Museveni deserves to be given,” he said but did not explain.
He recalled that when he was still living in America, the NRM government used to facilitate his flight into and out of Uganda and provide him with state house security during his tour of the Rwenzori region.
He said that despite the disagreements with defence minister Dr Kiyonga over the Obusinga, the too used to have top discussion meetings to iron out their differences.
“We discovered that without the two of us interfacing, we were leading the Rwenzori nowhere,” he said.
Now Kiyonga is doing more of my spokesperson’s job and even doing more foreign affairs advocacy than God Frey Kabyanga (the official Obusinga spokesperson).
Mumbere’s announcement exited RDCs Barnabas Bamusede Bwambale (Masaka), David Masereka (Nakasongola) and Captain James (Kasese), who were present at the function.
Captain Mwesigye hailed the Omusinga for spearheading the environmental campaign said it was in line with government’s conservation programmes.
The district chairman pledged the district’s support to the campaign and urged all the people in the region to emulate the Omusinga, who had earlier knelt down in the dust to plant trees at the function
