Tension between between the government and Bakonzo community in western Uganda escalated yesterday, with the arrest of the Rwenzururu kingdom prime minister, Thembo Kitsumbire. The news came as it emerged that MPs investigating the recent bloodshed in Kasese want to meet jailed king Wesley Mumbere and President Museveni. JOSEPHINE NAMULOKI & INNOCENT KIIZA report:
Parliament’s committee on Defence and Internal Affairs wants to meet President Museveni and Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere over last month’s clashes in Kasese that left an estimated 100 people dead.
Members on the committee, which has been investigating the cause of the clashes, told The Observer that their interactions with the people of Kasese and Bundibugyo had not yielded enough information.
“[Brig Peter] Elwelu, the commander of that operation, said he received more than five calls from the president that day. When we asked what they were talking about, he said ‘just know he called me about five times’. So, we want to know what orders he [Museveni] gave him,” said Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya.
However, the MPs had no appointment yet to meet Museveni. Regarding king Mumbere, the committee wants to know how many people were in his palace when the army and police attacked it – since the clear number of the dead is unknown. According to Olanya, Brig Elwelu told them 106 people were killed. But locals say over 200 died.
MPs also want to know why Mumbere was recruiting many royal guards and how many he had. Ik MP Hillary Lokwang said the committee discovered that witchcraft misled the panga-wielding royal guards and locals into attacking the armed police.
“We also want to know what the mode of feeding [the guards] was, because their prime minister told us they were volunteers; but how can you be able to keep them for that long as just volunteers?” Lokwang said.
Five more MPs were added to the defence committee to boost its investigations. They are army representative Gen Ivan Koreta, Herbert Ariko (Soroti municipality), Stella Namoe (Napak woman), Lydia Chekwel (Kween woman) and Lyandro Komakech (Gulu municipality).
Parliament adjourned on December 8, to give this and other committees time to complete their reports and table them for debate before the House breaks off for the festive season on December 21.
PREMIER ARRESTED
Meanwhile, shock gripped Kasese yesterday after Thembo Kitsumbire, the acting prime minister of Rwenzururu kingdom, was arrested by personnel from the police’s Flying Squad in Kasese town. By press time, he was still being interrogated by the police.
At 11:45am yesterday, Thembo was intercepted in Kasese town and forced to board a white van registration number, UAK 164R from the office of the district internal security officer. His arrest, overseen by plainclothes security personnel, was witnessed by journalists.
He looked calm as he boarded the van which drove in the direction of the Rwenzori East division police headquarters in Kasese town. Sowedi Mansur, the police spokesperson for Rwenzori East, confirmed the arrest but would not give details.
ORPHANS AND WIDOWS
Meanwhile, last month’s clashes in Kasese left a trail of orphans and widows. The most hit sub-countries are: Kisinga,Maliba, Bwesumbu, Karansandara and Buhuhira.
Samson Bwaganda, a chairperson in Bwesumbu, told The Observer that at least 31 residents died, including four policemen. Bwaganda said one of civilians who died in the clashes, had two wives and 32 children who are now orphans. He listed at least seven families which lost the sole breadwinner in the clashes. Among them is Stanley Kirumbani, 47.
“Sometimes we sleep hungry and we just keep on waiting for another day to try our luck,” said Julius Bakalina, a son to Kirumbani. “Our father could not let us to suffer but since his death you cannot see any of the relatives running to our rescue,” Bakalina said.
Area police spokesman Mansur said the policemen who died left behind more than 40 children and 16 widows: “Our security personnel’s families are also suffering.”