The homecoming organizing committee, along with the three pillars of the Kingdom, which include the Royal Family, Kingdom Veterans, and Chieftains, had initially set a budget of Shillings 9 billion for this event.
The Charles Wesley Mumbere homecoming organizing committee is
facing challenges in meeting the budget as the day approaches. Mumbere's return
is scheduled for October 4, 2023. The homecoming organizing committee, along
with the three pillars of the Kingdom, which include the Royal Family, Kingdom
Veterans, and Chieftains, had initially set a budget of Shillings 9 billion for
this event.
Out of the total budget, approximately Shillings 4.6 billion
Shillings will be allocated to the Royal Springs International Hotel, formerly
owned by the late Gen. James Kazini, where the main event will take place. However,
Joseph Kule Muranga, the Kingdom Premier, revealed that they are yet to reach
half of the estimated budget.
He appealed to area legislators to help mobilize funds from
friends and make their own contributions to bridge the financial gap. Muranga
expressed optimism that many of the pledges would be fulfilled by the end of
September to facilitate proper planning for the return of their King, Charles
Wesley Mumbere.
//Cue in: “As we talk now….
Cue out: …raise that money.”//
Despite the current shortfall, he reassured the kingdom
loyalists that the function would proceed as scheduled and urged local leaders
in the district to engage the community in raising the necessary resources. In
a related development, Robert Kyagulanyi, the leader of the National Unity
Platform (NUP) party, has made a contribution of Shillings 10 million toward
the event.
The funds were delivered by the party's Secretary-General, Lewis
Rubongoya, to cultural institution leaders. Kyagulanyi pledged the party's
support and confirmed his attendance at the event during his nationwide tour in
Kasese last month. It's worth noting that in June this year, the Director of
Public Prosecution dropped all charges against King Mumbere and dozens of his
subjects.
King Mumbere, along with more than 200 kingdom subjects, had been
arrested in 2016 following a raid on the Buhikira royal palace in Kasese Town,
led by the army. While the last batch of 62 freed royal guards returned to
Kasese last month, King Mumbere is still awaiting his homecoming.
Basaija is a graduate of Uganda Christian University (UCU-Mukono) holding a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication.
He is a currently pursuing a fellowship in Gender Communications at Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications Nairobi, Kenya and expected to graduate in 2025.
He also boosts of numerous training's in the journalism arena.
Before joining URN, he had served as documentation support personnel, radio presenter and a news editor.
