
“After close to seven years of no occupancy, the once glamorous palace of the Obusinga wa Rwenzururu lies in ruins. Overgrown grass and dilapidated structures are what Charles Wesley Mumbere found when he returned to his kingdom” (NBS Television, 04.10.2023).
The day of the 27th November 2016 will not be lost on us. As the mass-graves was hastily built and the people who killed was buried. The Buhikira Royal Palace was burned down, while Royal Guards and others was killed. As the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Special Forces Command (SFC) had “shoot to kill” orders, as they where trailing the “Kirumamutima” aka “The Strong Hearted” and even the ones that was supposed to work for the “Yiira Republic”. Which all has ceased and never heard of since the day of the massacre in Kasese.
The culprits and the ones in-charge on that lethal day has been living lavish. They have gotten promoted and gotten into good graces with the government. While the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and 217 others was kept behind bars for years. They were all charged with serious offences and blocked from being on bond. Some died behind bars as the years went on from 2016… and that just show the sinister side of all this. People didn’t just die on that one day, but other victims happened later as a consequence of the brutality of the state.
That’s why it is hard to celebrate today. I see the pictures and the crowds celebrating the Kings return to Kasese. That’s all long overdue and the charges pinned on him was all “political”. It was done to undermine the Rwenzururu and the Rwenzori sub-region, which has for the most part voted for the opposition of late. Therefore, to take down the King would be a fitting message from the authorities.
They used a “terrorist” threat and “insurgency” as a way of masking their own interests in Kasese. That’s who defended their atrocities and massive murder spree. The November Day in 2016 will be forever marked in memory. As the burning palace and the knowledge of a massacre went down, which have never gotten rectified. There been no honest investigation or arrests of the ones who ordered it. That’s because this was accepted and done so from the top. The victims became the “culprits” and the “criminals” while the actual ones are left off the hook. That’s the double tragedy here…
That’s why it’s not strange that the King comes back to a destroyed court. His palace is gone and whatever that remains is only a faded memory. As he has been years in exile and in prison. Him and his fellow guards all suffered. Not only the lives of loved ones, but also loss of ordinary life. They couldn’t return or rebuild. These people was stuck in prison and couldn’t fix things again. The victims couldn’t mourn or even try to grief. They were in a legal jeopardy and seemingly there was no return in sight.
We know the Generals involved will not be touched. They are above it all and so is anyone else. Therefore, a real investigation could only happen after a transition of power and possible new leadership of the Republic. Because, the current one doesn’t targets its own and the ones loyal to its causes. That’s why we know the ones behind Kasese massacre of 2016 gets away with it. Not because its righteous or fair. No, because of titles and statures within the regime.
A regime that don’t mind the killing, murder or massacre to stay in power. It sent a signal and a region was hurt. A region that is still hurting and without answers. They deserve it, but will not get it currently. That would undermine the powerful ones today and the ones who wants to be in power tomorrow. Peace.










