KASESE – President Museveni last week told a group of Bakonzo elders to counsel their youths and encourage them to shun violence, sources at the meeting have intimated to The Observer.
Museveni was addressing them during a meeting at State House, Entebbe on December 13. It came weeks after clashes between the security forces and royal guards allied to Rwenzururu kingdom killed more than 100 people.
After the clashes, Charles Wesley Mumbere, the Rwenzururu king, was arrested and charged with murder and terrorism, among others. At the meeting, Museveni promised that government support to the kingdom will continue.
According to sources, he also urged the clan leaders to defend the constitutional mandate of the kingdom and shun those people who wish to use the kingdom for political gain.
Museveni told the elders that their request for the king to be granted bail would be looked into. The president reportedly empathized with hundreds of families, which lost their dear ones and reechoed government’s commitment to uphold and preserve the identity and existence of the kingdom.
He warned that there are elements within the kingdom who, either by default or intent, are trying to engage in criminal activities. These, he said, would be dealt with according to the law.
The elders requested that the arrested suspects should be screened and the innocent ones released. The eighteen clan elders recommitted themselves before the head of state that they will continue to support the cause for peace and harmonious coexistence of various ethnic divides in the region.
The team agreed to jointly work for the cause of peace, through an inclusive model of all members of the community such as religious leaders, local leaders, civil society, kingdom officials, the youth and opinion leaders to promote and foster peace initiatives.
Christine Muhindo, the special presidential advisor on Rwenzori issues, brokered the meeting attended by 18 elders. The president advised the elders to coordinate with him through Muhindo, describing her as his hotline.
In another meeting of only clan leaders in Kasese over the weekend, it was agreed that they hold another meeting with Museveni. The meeting nominated Ezra Bukundika, an official of the kingdom, to design a program that shall lead to peace in the sub-region. The program shall cover the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kabarole and Ntoroko.
Speaking to The Observer this week, Bukundika urged the public to remain calm and to shun information aimed at putting the kingdom in bad light.
“We appeal to people of the region to stay calm and refrain from any acts that could cause breaking the law, as this team amicably intervenes to provide a lasting solution to this conflict. Peace is a fundamental right for all, and we should work jointly to embrace and promote this treasure,” he said.