Omusinga goes to court over failed visit to bundibugyo

 News by E-Society
Story by; NewVision

King Mumbere goes to court over failed visit. The Rwenzururu Kingdom in Kasese wants the constitutional court to interprete Article 37 of the Constitution.

Article 37 states that every person has a right to belong to, enjoy, profess, maintain and promote any culture, cultural institution, language, tradition, creed or religion with others.

This comes after King Charles Wesley Mumbere was stopped from travelling to Bundibugyo district.

He was due to officiate over celebrations to mark the kingdom’s peace day – the day the Bakonzo and Bamba broke away from Toro Kingdom. The celebrations were supposed to take place on June 30 at Good Hope Primary School in Bundibugyo town.

Speaking at his palace on Sunday, Mumbere asked the kingdom’s attorney general to assemble a team of lawyers who will take the case to the Constitutional Court.

“I am not ready to dialogue with the Government until the Constitutional Court pronounces itself on the matter,” he said.

Mumbere condemned the blockade, saying the Government was depriving him and his subjects (Banyarwenzururu) of enjoying their constitutional right to cherish their culture in a kingdom that is recognised. He asked the Banyarwenzururu to mobilise resources to facilitate the legal team that will present the matter to court.

Mumbere commended the Banyarwenzururu in Kasese district for remaining peaceful despite the heavy deployment of the police to prevent them from joining their brothers and sisters in Bundibugyo.

Police boss Gen. Kale Kayihura said Mumbere would not be allowed to travel to Bundibugyo for fear that violence could erupt between the Bamba/Bawisi and the Bakonzo in the area.

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Government blocks Mumbere from visiting Bundibugyo

The government has directed the Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere, to cancel his visit to Bundibugyo District to prevent possible tribal clashes between the Bamba / Babwisi and Bakonzo.

The directive followed several meetings which the government held with the Bamba / Babwisi and the Bakonzo in Bundibugyo District over a planned visit by King Mumbere today to attend the annual ‘Peace Day’ celebrations.

The day is marked in honour of the day the Bakonzo and Bamba broke off from Tooro Kingdom over alleged oppression.

The decision
“The government’s decision is final. It is well considered; it is not negotiable and it must be respected. It is taken for the good of everybody and the region at large,” the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, said on Friday.

Gen. Kayihura said the government had reached the decision after sensing a security threat and possible ethnic violence given the situation that happened in Bundibugyo last year when a similar function turned violent, leading to loss of lives.

Some Bamba / Babwisi, who question King Mumbere’s jurisdiction over Bundibugyo, are seeking to establish an autonomous Bamba / Babwisi kingdom.

“If the Omusinga (King Mumbere) is a peace maker, why should he want to cause the suffering of many people? We (government) have not stopped his function but we have advised him to take it to an area that has no controversy. Why can’t he celebrate it in Kasese as negotiations continue? We are try to protect the two hostile communities living in Bundibugyo,” Gen. Kayihura said.

Determination
However, the Rwenzururu Kingdom spokesperson, Mr Patrick Nyamunungu, said the function would go on as planned. “Rwenzururu Kingdom has never been an arm of government and therefore it (government) has no mandate to decide on her ceremonies and where they should take place. We are a fully fledged cultural institution recognised by government and we cannot be told what to do in our kingdom,” Mr Nyamunungu said.

Bamba, Babwisi object to visit

On March 20, kingdom authorities wrote to the Bundibugyo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Samuel Kazinga, notifying him of plans by King Mumbere to hold yearly celebrations dubbed “Peace Day” there.

“…Rwenzururu cultural institution is intending to celebrate its Peace Day on June 30, 2013 in Bundibugyo and the function will be in Bughendera County in Ngamba Sub-county,” the letter reads in part.

However, Mr Fulgensio Bamwitirebye, the chairperson of the Obudhingiya Bwa Bwamba Cultural institution protested the visit in a May 11 letter addressed to Mr Kazinga. “The purpose of this letter is to inform you that Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu activities, including the planned visit of King Mumbere to Bundibugyo district is unacceptable,” the letter reads in part.

“Mr RDC, you recall in the meeting we held at State House Entebbe with His Excellency the President on September 18, 2012 … the President condemned the June 30, 2012 incident in Bundibugyo emphasising that the centre of gravity for the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu activities be in Kasese and not in Bundibugyo,” the letter adds.
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Inspector General of Police visits Rwenzururu

 

The inspector General of police Gen. Kale Kayihura last evening paid a short visit to the Buhikira Royal palace where he had talks with Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma.
His visit comes just two days to the much anticipated peace day celebration that will be held in Bundibugyo district on Sunday June 30. But the celebrations are contested by the Bamba who claim that the cultural space in Bundibugyo belongs to the yet to be recognized Obundingiya Bwa Bwamba cultural institution.
On arrival in the palace, Gen. Kayihura handed gifts to the Omusinga before going in for one on one talks that last for over two hours from 7pm to about 9pm.
After the meeting, Gen. Kayihura left the palace without speaking to the press about the reason he came for the talks with the Omusinga.
The minister of information and Kingdom spokesperson Patrick Nyamunungu described the IGP’s visit as a courtesy call on the Omusinga.
Nyamunungu however revealed that the Acting Prime Minister Ivan Syauswa has summoned a cabinet meeting this morning but quickly added, it is aimed at discussing the journey to Bundibugyo

Congolese influx worry security

News by; E-Society
Story by; By Enid Ninsiima

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Milton Odongo has directed all security agencies in the district to monitor the Uganda - DR Congo border and apprehend all illegal entrants into the country.

The RDC's order follows the recent Congolese illegal entry into Uganda via Kayanja fishing village I Nyakiyumbu sub-county in Kasese.

Mr Odong was on Monday addressing residents of Kayanja fishing village about security issues and how some Ugandans could aid the return ADF rebels through the landing site.
He warned Ugandans who he said were smuggling Congolese into the country arguing them to use the legally gazette areas.

"We have not stopped you from going and coming from DR Congo but we want you to use legal means. How can MPs from both countries illegally enter either country; there is a motive behind these people which we must watch", the RDC warned .

Security agencies claim that Allied Democratic Forces, ADF rebel suspects are many in Kasese .

Security agencies have embarked on community policing programme on lake shores to show them the dangers of housing unknown people calling upon them to report to the nearest authorities for their verification.

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KASESE BOSS PUTS CASH PRIZE FOR WHOEVER LEADS TO RECOVERY OF ILLEGAL GUNS

News by: E-Society
Story By: Thembo Kahungu Misairi in Kasese April 8.

The Kasese district chairman has announced a cash prize of shillings 200000 to whoever will lead to the recovery of an illegal fire arm part of those reportedly being used by thugs to kill people and shooting wild animals.

The reward comes at a time when Lt. Col. Mawa Muhindo has taken a temporary break from office work to lead the operation against thugs who have been shooting people, killing wild animals and stealing livestock and sale the meat on the open market.

Some of the suspects arrested in the ongoing operation against the thugs with illegal fire arms.

The operation that involves the UPDF officers and police’s crime
intelligence team has been intensified in the sub-counties near the
border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lt. Col. Mawa says a few guns have been recovered in the operation but fears that more should be hidden in several places in the district, the reason he announced a cash prize for whoever volunteers information leading to a gun.
He says that most of the arrested suspects have been cooperative by leading to where some of the guns that have caused insecurity in the
area are hidden.  He however could not reveal the number of guns recovered so far saying the suspects would zero only on those and conceal others. “The operation is yielding results because key suspects are being arrested and leading the security personnel to where some guns are. I cannot reveal how many guns we have in our hands now but the operation
continues, many will come out in a few days from now”. Said Lt. Col.
Mawa. Lt. Col. Mawa claims he has handed over 20 suspects in both theft, murder and possessing illegal fire arms to police as the operation to dig out for more especially in Karambi and Nyakiyumbu sub-counties goes on. However, we could not verify the number of suspects arrested with the police because the Officer in charge of Mpondwe-Customs police post
Mr. Kawonawo decline to comment, saying the operation is still in its infancy.

In separate meetings by the district chairman with butchers and local council leaders, it was resolved that all live stock being transferred from a sub-county to another should have a movement permit signed by the Chairman LC One and the LC 3 chairperson.
The local leaders and the butchers condemned the Highway police of being negligent to their work by allowing stolen goats and cattle a free way to the market. All meat sold on the stalls outside the licensed butcheries has also been banned effective Friday April 12, 2013 after it was revealed that most of it is stolen outside the district.

UTILITIES
There are two illegal abattoirs discovered in Karambi sub-county and at the Mpondwe border post where stolen animals are allegedly skinned from. Over 20 motorcycles and house hold property worth millions have been recovered by the security operatives in the Mpondwe-Lubiriha town council.

RWENZURURU YOUTH ASK PREMIER TO RESIGN OVER INCOMPETENCE.

News by: E-Society 
Story By: Thembo Kahungu Misairi in Kasese April 8

The youth wing in the Rwenzururu Kingdom want the Prime Minister Mr.Henry Kandabu to resign with immediate effects on grounds that he has been incompetent. In a letter signed by the youth known as Esyomango Syo’businga dated  April 7th and addressed to the Prime minister, they accuse Mr. Kandabu of failing to convene cabinet meetings to discuss the matters of the Kingdom.

The letter signed by about two hundred seventy youths led by the Chairman of Esyomango Mr. Mitusera Kule Sebayanda is copied to the Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma, kingdom attorney general,
minister for youths and scouts, speaker to the House of Representatives and minister for Royal security.
The Esyomango claim that the Prime Minister has failed to mobilize for the wide visibility of the Kingdom, lacks income generation plans and not addressing problems like payment of rent for the administrative offices.

They also accuse him of failing to claim clear ownership of Engeya radio which was reportedly donated to the Kingdom by the central government.
There are reports that the main offices of the Kingdom in Kasese town have been temporarily closed for failure to clear outstanding rent bills.
However, Mr. Kandabu was not available for the comment because he could not pick his phone calls by press time.
But the Kingdom spokesperson Mr. Patrick Nyamunungu says a cabinet meeting was called this evening to discuss the letter and resolved to meet with their executive as soon as possible.
Mr. Nyamunungu says that by the constitution of the Kingdom, it is only the Omusinga who is supposed to fire or force a resignation of the prime minister.
He asked the “Syomangu” to remain calm as cabinet ministers look forward to meeting them.

SECURITY AGENCIES IN OPERATIONS TO ARREST KASESE KILLERS.

News by: E-Society
Story by: Thembo Kahungu Misairi in Kasese April 5

Different security agencies are carrying out through operations in areas around the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo to get rid of criminals who have been shooting dead civilians at night.
Within one year eleven people have been gunned down in their homes at night by unknown thugs and the latest being Baferi Kisembo a resident of Karukumiza village in Karambi sub-county, Kasese district.
Most of those killed are businessmen especially those dealing in coffee.The UPDF 2nd Division Public Relations Officer Lt. Ninsiima Rwemizuma says that different operations are ongoing by the army, the police’s crime intelligence unit and the Rapid Response Unit to arrest the key suspects and recover guns.

Currently, an unspecified number of suspects are being held by police after being hooked during the operations that started on Monday. Lt. Ninsiima reveals that the suspects under detention are led by one Swalleh a prominent taxi driver and former worker of the Uganda Revenue Authority.

In the operations joined by the Kasese District Dhairman Lt. Col. Mawa Muhindo, an AK47 gun and about sixty rounds of ammunition were recovered from Nyakiyumbu sub-county on Thursday.
Lt. Ninsiima says the security operatives are being led to the key suspects by an individual who has volunteered to give information about the suspected serial killers in the area.

A woman in whose house a gun was recovered yesterday has also been arrested but Lt. Ninsiima declined to identify her because it would jeopardize efforts to arrest her husband who is on the run.
He said that when all the key suspects are arrested, a police file will be made to arrange for their appearance in the courts of law. The Kasese district chairman Lt. Col. Mawa Muhindo says the rampant illegal guns are a result of the Allied Democratic Forces rebellion that ended in the early 2000s and the several negative forces in Eastern DRC.

GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS SECURITY AT THE KASESE BOARDER AGAINST ILLEGAL ENTRY

By; E-Society kasese

3 Congolese nationals jailed in kasese over illegal entry. The Grade II magistrate’s court sitting in Kasese on Friday sentenced three Congolese nationals to twelve months in prison over illegal entry in Uganda. Court presided over by Stephen Saabu Kabyanga heard that on March 20, 2013, the trio ntered Uganda without an entry permit or certificate contrary to section 53 of the Citizen and Immigration Act.

Court presided over by Stephen Saabu Kabyanga heard that on March 20, 2013, the trio entered Uganda without an entry permit or certificate contrary to section 53 of the Citizen and Immigration Act. Mr. Kasereka Munginateko, 49,a pastor hailing from Wicha,  Ms Kahindo Muruvungu, 45, and Ms Masika Kivuliwa, 43, all from Beni in North Kivu province were arrested while claiming to be preaching the word of God. They were jointly charged with illegal entry. They all pleaded guilty asking the trial magistrate to forgive them adding that they will never do it again.

While convicting them, Grade II magistrate Stephen Saabu Kabyanga said it is illegal to enter into another country without the legal travel documents and entry permit.

He sentenced them to twelve months in prison each or pay a fine of two hundred thousand shillings. The magistrate also said upon finishing the sentences, the trio will be deported back to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the escort of officers from the Uganda Police force.