BY DAVID WALUGEMBE
For the team planning the grand homecoming of Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere, the stakes are high. The royal monarch is set to return to his kingdom after nearly seven years, an event that will mark a significant milestone in the history of Rwenzururu.
Residents of Kasese, the central town of the Rwenzururu Kingdom and other areas that make up the Rwenzururu kingdom are fervently prepared for their king’s homecoming, scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023. After spending over six years away from his kingdom, Omusinga Mumbere’s return is anticipated to be a grand event.
The planning committee for the homecoming activities, led by Clarence Bweimbale, moblised Omusinga’s subjects to raise about UGX 9 billion. Part of the funds will be used to purchase property that will generate income for the Obusinga, the cultural institution of the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
In June, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew treason charges against Omusinga Mumbere. He was arrested in November 2016, following a raid on his Kasese palace by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), resulted in a long legal battle.
Following the withdrawal of charges, the king appointed a committee of 60 individuals to organise for his homecoming ceremony. The committee, led by Dr Nathaniel Walemba Mumbere, includes key figures from the kingdom and local government, reflecting a broad representation of the Rwenzururu community.
Dr. Walemba expressed the committee’s intention to make the event a unifying experience, promoting peace and development in the Rwenzori region. To fund the event, the committee moblised people to raise Shs6b, mainly from supporters of the kingdom. Sub-committees were established to devise strategies to raise the required funds.
The king expressed his desire for his homecoming to be a memorable event, considering the time he has been away from the kingdom and his subjects.
Support for the king’s homecoming is also coming from political groups. The National Unity Platform (NUP) party recently donated Shs10 million to the Rwenzururu Kingdom, fulfilling a pledge made by NUP principal, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, during his national mobilisation tour.
For the Rwenzururu Kingdom, the return of Omusinga Charles Wesley signifies a moment of healing, reconciliation, and unity. It marks the end of a challenging period and ushers in a new era of hope and unity, a sentiment that resonates with the eager anticipation of the king’s subjects.
