Rwenzururu queen discharged

By John B. Thawite, 

HER Royal Highness Nyabaghole Agnes has been discharged after delivering a Prince to Irema-Ngoma Charles Wesley Mumbere, the Rwenzururu cultural leader.

The Rwenzururu spokesperson, Godfrey Kabyanga, confirmed Saturday that the bouncing baby prince left Kampala International Hospital in the afternoon.

Government has footed all the hospital bills, which are worth several millions of shillings," Kabyanga said, declining to divulge the amount of money.

"The baby and the mother are o.k and throughout her labour up to now the Omusinga has kept by her side," Kabyanga said.

He said the prince, who weighed 4.1Kgs at birth and his parents would travel to Kasese and that the prince would be named after eight days in accordance with Bakonzo traditions.

"I am not yet sure when we are coming home because we still want the child and the mother to stabilise," Kabyanga said.

The birth of the prince is a blessing to the kingdom. While we are all anxiously waiting for government to recognise it on October 19^th, we also receive another gift of the prince," Kabyanga said.

Presiding at the South Rwenzori diocesan donors' conference August 30th, President Yoweri Museveni said he had agreed to recognise the Bakonzo and Bamba cultural institution, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu.

"Mumbere has written to me proposing October 19 for confirmation and I have agreed," he added.

Museveni said he wanted to recognise the institution a long time ago, but he could not because of the disagreements between the supporters and the opponents of the institution in the Rwenzori region.

Meanwhile congratulatory messages continue to exchange hands on FM radios, public gatherings and on the internet.

"Your Majesty Omusinga and Her Royal Highness Nyabaghole, congratulations upon the delivery of the Prince. This is wonderful news to all of us. We have reason to celebrate," wrote London-based David Nguru.

Pastor Simon Bwambale Haggai (currently in the Philippines) says in a Lukonzo internet message that the Queen has started off well.

"May the Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori Mountains" shower the prince, his mother and Omusinga Mumbere with all the blessings," he says.

Ibrahim Asuman Bisiika, a journalist, writes, "People. Let's praise the Lord. But please see attachment for my poetic creation on the issue. Asuman."

"This is a special moment for the Royal Family and the people of the Rwenzoris. Congratulations," says another message.

The Bamba-Bakonzo king will also to mark his 43rd anniversary since he took over the Rwenzururu Kingdom after the death of his farther, Isaya Mukirania Kibanzanga.

Kibanzanga was among the Bamba fighters who led a rebellion against the Toro kingdom, demanding independence in 1962.

The author is the Kasese District Information Officer