For Jimmie Muhindo a housewife and mother of eight, life will never be the same following the deadly attack on Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere’s palace.

The November 27 standoff between Mumbere’s guards and the UPDF rendered her a widow. Her husband, Willy Baluku, was a royal guard. A resident of Kasese town, she said Baluku was the breadwinner and a reassuring presence in her life.

“My worry is how I am going to raise these children, more especially the youngest baby of three days,” a teary Muhindo told us.

The last time she spoke to her husband, she said, was on October 19 when the Rwenzururu kingdom celebrated its golden jubilee.

“He wanted me to bring food to the palace,” Muhindo said, revealing the subject of their conversation.

After that, Baluku kept in the palace until his death in the army raid. With Baluku’s death, Muhindo now has to carry the burden of feeding and educating the eight children.

The children are: Roset Masika,14; Gerald Kule,12, Jovia Kabugho, 8; Grace Mbambu, 5; Moses Kambale, 4; Ronald Kule, 2; John Masereka, 1 and a week-old baby.

She said some of her trying moments so far is when the baby cries yet she has to look for food for other young children. “I was looked after well by my husband and he brought whatever I asked for,” Muhindo said.

She said her father-in-law has tried to support her now but her future and that of the children remains uncertain. Willington Bwambale, the father of Baluku, said his son died while defending the kingdom he loved.

“No one forced him to join the royal guard but I think it was because of his willingness and the love he had for his kingdom and the king,” Bwambale said.

Bwambale said his son’s death hurt him given that he [Baluku] had started working for his children and family. He condemned the security forces for using excessive force.

“A spear and a panga are some of the things kept in every Mukonzo house for protective purpose. I don’t think government could use such kind of force on people who had spears and pangas,” Bwambale said.

He appealed to government and non-governmental organizations to come to the aid of the families, which lost their loved ones in the attacks.

Addressing journalists in Kasese recently, Felix Andrew Kaweesi, the police spokesperson, said government had no plans of compensating the affected families. He said all those who died in the attacks were treated as combatants. “All people who died in the exchange of fire are considered as people who died in combat,” Kaweesi said.

Meanwhile, members of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) this week embarked on a mission to restore peace and foster reconciliation in Kasese.

Henry Luke Orombi, a retired archbishop, who led the group, said while touring the district on Wednesday that the effects of the clashes in Kasese will be felt countrywide.

Ali Waiswa, the deputy mufti, condemned the unfortunate attack on Mumbere’s palace. He said there is need for inter-denominational national prayers for Kasese and the entire nation.

DROP CHARGES

In another development, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) on Wednesday urged government to drop charges instituted against Mumbere. Mumbere was last week charged with murder at Jinja chief magistrate’s court. He is due to reappear in court on December 13.

Jimmy Akena, the leader of one of the factions of UPC, said dropping charges would promote peace and help avert more bloodshed.

“The continued legal handcuffing of the king will not resolve the problems of Kasese and will only create further grievances that will at some point manifest themselves in future. The party, therefore, calls upon government to drop cases against Mumbere,” Akena told journalists on Wednesday.

The Lira municipality MP said the incidents in Kasese are being driven by economic constraints and urged that land issues in the region be resolved.

He said government should institute dialogue with all stakeholders in Kasese to find solutions to the grievances of the people there.

“It [dialogue] will generate moral confidence, a sense of belonging and ownership of government directive,” Akena said.

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