Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere has, for the first time, met over 200 former royal guards after their release from prison.
The guards, who have been under incarceration for the last seven years, were charged with various crimes, which they allegedly committed in 2016 and culminated in a clash between security organs and Rwenzururu militias.
The 2016 deadly clash between Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and security operatives, including Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the Police, resulted in the storming of the king’s palace, leaving over 100 people dead including 14 policemen.
The incident also saw the arrest of 220 royal guards and the King. Mumbere and his royal guards were charged with over 70 crimes, among which, were treason, aggressive robbery and attempted murder.
However, on June 13 last year, the Director of Public Prosecution dropped all the charges against Mumbere and his subjects shortly after they had applied for amnesty.
Since his return to Kasese on October 4 last year, Mumbere had not met the former guards until Monday at Kasese Better Living Centre, located in the central division of the municipality.
During the meeting, several former royal guards recounted the devastating life they encountered while in prison and the tricky life at home after their release.
LEADERS SPEAK OUT
Breweri Malisaba Bwambale, the kingdom’s former deputy security minister, who was then second in command after the king, alleged that the entire conflict saw 180 royal guards, including 15 children, lose their lives immediately after the 2016 general election.
He, however, commended the officer in charge of Luzira Prison for the parental love he accorded them while in prison.
According to him, many attained several skills while in prison. A total of 40 royal guards were equipped with computer literacy, eight underwent basic nursing skills, while five were trained in leadership and governance.
However, according to Edwin Mumbere, the co-ordinator of the former royal guards, many of their colleagues are facing psychological challenges, especially the trauma over the storming of the palace and their time in prison.
He, therefore called for rehabilitation of the former prisoners. “When they returned, some of them found their spouses had remarried,” Mumbere said.
He also reported that most of their colleagues lost their property, including national identity cards and motorcycles, especially after the storming of the palace, as other items remain confiscated by the Police as exhibits.
“We cannot benefit from government poverty alleviation programmes because we do not have IDs,” one of the former guards said.
He, however, added that they are determined to work with the Government and the king as ambassadors of peace, unity and development.
MUMBERE COMMENDS GOVT
Mumbere commended the Government for accepting to release him and his subjects by ordering DPP to drop all the charges against them.
He also thanked President Yoweri Museveni for saving his life prior to his arrest in 2016 after the storming of his palace where scores lost live.
ABOUT ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
During the meeting, Microfinance Support Centre deputy executive director Petronila Masika said as an institution, they intend to support the royal guards with low interest loans at a rate of 8% annually.
According to Masika, the scheme will begin with giving them grants to prepare them for the loans.
