On Friday, Justice Eve Luswata okayed Mumbere's application to temporarily relax his bail conditions to allow him to travel to Kasese to bury his deceased mother, Christine Biira Mukirania following his arrest in 2016.
The relaxation of the bail conditions to allow
the Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere to travel beyond Kampala, Wakiso
and Jinja district has excited Kingdom loyalists.
On Friday, Justice Eve Luswata okayed Mumbere's
application to temporarily relax his bail conditions to allow him to travel to
Kasese to bury his deceased mother, Christine Biira Mukirania following his
arrest in 2016.
She died on Tuesday at Kilembe Mines Hospital
after losing the battle to diabetes. Justice Luswata gave Mumbere
14 days to travel to Kasese and perform the rituals needed of him as the elder
son to the Queen Mother and as King of the Bakonzo people.
A number of Rwenzururu kingdom loyalists couldn't hide their
joy when news about the court decision spread. Joy Biira, a resident of
Kitswamba applauded court for allowing the king to do at least one last thing
for his mother, bury her.
Biira said despite the confusion surrounding the
funeral of the queen mother, it was worthwhile that Mumbere has some freedom and
is seen by his subjects. "Where Mukaka (grandmother) will be burred
is not so a big issue. I simply can't wait to see my king again." Biira
said.
Alfred Bwambale, a resident of Acholi Quarters in Kasese town told
URN that Mumbere's homecoming will be another historical moment on the calendar
of Rwenzururu Kingdom. Arnold Thembo, a resident of Kisanga Cell said the people
have been waiting for the moment to interact with their king again.
Thembo
lashed at courts for barring Mumbere from convening any meetings with his
subjects other than those discussing the burial arrangements of his mother
given the long time he has spent out of the kingdom.
//Cue in: "It has been...."
Cue out: "...makes no sense."//
Shortly after being granted permission to go to Kasese on
Friday, Mumbere couldn't hide his excitement to step in his Kingdom after more
than two years of being away.
He commended everyone who helped him through the struggle to
gain the temporary freedom.
//Cue in: Exactly, I’m very…
Cue out: …rest in eternal peace”.//
It is however not yet clear if Mumbere will travel to Bundibugyo.
Justice Luswata granted him permission to travel to Kasese. At that time
Mumbere had directed that his mother be buried at Nyamirangara in Muhokya Sub
County.
However, his young brother and Rwenzururu Kingdom Chief
Prince, who also doubles as Junior Agriculture Minister, Christopher Kibanzanga
defied the directive and took the body to their ancestral land in Bundibugyo
where the old woman will be buried.
