UPDF continues their occupation of Kasese, as they detain the King and burns his Palace!

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“We suspect that the attackers might have acquired weapons from Congo” – AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi

As there been reported that even as the siege of Rwenzururu Kingdoms Palace at Kasese, the levels of killings of Royal Guards, Soldiers, Police Officers and Civilians; as well as their reports of Crime Preventers that we’re sent from Fort Portal to Kasese to settle scores with the civilians.

The Ombusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere we’re arrested and taken by helicopter to be questioned at in Kampala. What is been showed online is disturbing pictures of civilians killed in the streets and carried away by the Police Officers and Soldiers, pictures I don’t want to share, but is possible to see on Facebook. Its brothers and sisters, who could have been our kin. That been called terrorist by the Authorities, but before trial killed in the midst of streets of Kasese, as the Security Operatives sealed the town and also went with all force towards the Buhikira Royal Palace, where they killed a dozen of Royal Guards and casualties on the way.

Earlier this morning the gunshots and bullets have been fired around the palace as it has continued from yesterday. It’s been heard in the streets around the palace so the Automatic Weapons has been used by the Army and Police to stop the men at the Palace.

While the Uganda Police Force under the Intelligence of Kaweesi pounds on the creation of “Yiira Republic” like the useful tool it is, because it resurface every-time the Authorities knocks on the Palace in Kasese. This proves the inevitable excuse of the Security Organziation. The Army has claimed they have killed 41 militants, if so they are partly the Royal Guards of the King of Kasese, that the

“Now, UPDF second division spokesperson Capt.Arthur King Timbaganya says the death toll is increasing. He however says the force will further update the media later. He adds that they are engaging the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu king and leaders in closed door meetings aimed at bringing back peace to the region” (91.2 Crooze FM, 27.11.2016).

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“Update: 23 royal guards,13 police officers dead. Omusinga insists on keeping his guards while army wants them to surrender” (NTV Uganda, 27.11.2016).

Today the Army as they have airlifted the Omusinga and yesterday the Queen detained at Kabarole, they have taken it further and even lit the Palace on fire to prove their ill-intent against the Kingdom.  The king himself will during today be transferred to Luzira Maximum Security Prison while waiting for charges as he was besieged from yesterday.

A look into the History as the Mengo Palace has also been attacked by the Government back in the day. As they didn’t want to comply with then President Obote, as the King didn’t want his Kasese District put into four districts. Therefore the President Museveni sent his guns to silence the Kingdom with force and forcing him to comply.

“The 1966 Crisis:

On 15 April 1966 with the  Parliament surrounded by troops, Milon Obote introduced without notice a new constitution to be voted upon that very day. It was passed without debate and the Prime Minister informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that they would find their copies in their pigeonholes. This constitution came to be known as the Pigeonhole Constitution. Amongst other things, the federal constitutional status of kingdoms was abolished and the office of Prime Minister merged with that of the President and all executive powers became vested in Milton Obote.Milton Obote declared Uganda a republic” (…) “The Kabaka and his kingdom establishment at Mengo refused to recognize the supremacy of the pigeonhole constitution, insisting on the 1962 consitution. On 24th May 1966 the Uganda army under the command of General Idi Amin but on the orders of Obote stormed the Kabaka’s Palace. . The Kabaka managed to escape and went to exile in Britain where he later died from” (Fortuneof Africa.com – History of Uganda).

One of killed Royal Guards ID Card!
One of killed Royal Guards ID Card!

So now the UPDF has under another General or Operative attacked a Royal Palace and forced the King out of it, this after killing dozens of Royal Guards, which they also did earlier in the year. This is revising of the history under Dr. Milton Obote, but in the name of President Museveni who tends to repeat history, with just more flawed outcome and modern excuses like the Yiira Republic, which hasn’t been in the lingo except for when they attack the Palace.

Today there are even reports that people are still hiding in Kasese, for instance at the Springs Hotel International in the Central Kasese.

“Security source tells us over 130 royal guards have been arrested in the raid on the palace” (Raymond Mujuni, 27.11.2016). If so this with the levels of killings from the soldiers are the total guards of the Palace into the levels of 160 or 170. Because the reports of killings yesterday we’re 32 Royal Guards, together with all the other who died over the 48 hours shows the ill-intent of the Security Organization.

This here is not over. There will come more and the reported numbers of civilians, soldiers, royal guards and Police Officers who has lost their lives, and all the ones that has been hurt by the violence, as I am sure there even Crime Preventers with machetes who has hurt fellow citizens in the will of the President. Peace.

Update: On the Kasese skirmishes at the Rwenzururu Royal Palace!

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There been movement as even on NBS TV AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi has gone with numbers from the Police Force, who has taken part of the skirmishes at the Palace today. This is where they have attacked the Palace of Ombusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere.

The numbers which now are more than earlier there are reported up to 46 Royal Guards (NTV Uganda figures are saying 32 Royal guards) and up to 10 Police officers who have lost their lives, than they have not counted the Special Operatives from the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). Also, there reports of numbers about 40 civilian casualties. One of the UPDF men that are down is a Mayor.

Hon Yokas Bihande stated this earlier today:

“The situation is very tense in the whole District. Many cultural sites were attacked. Bulemba in Ihandiro the grave of Isaya Mukirania; kagando the grave of Kapolyo Tibamwenda and Nyamutswa was burnt down; the cutural site at Kabwe in Kisinga is right now under attack; Buhikira Royal Palance is sarrounded and the Queen was detained at the Police station in Fort Portal. Thats how the situation is. So as you go to sleep pray to God to make the people of Rwenzururu Kingdom react to this situation in a sober manner. God save the King and the Kingdom” (Bihande, 26.11.2016).

All roads into Kasese have been sealed-off so there, the UPDF believes the attacks at Kabarole earlier this month was made by the Royal Guards.

What the New Vision reports after the Skirmishes in the Palace today are: “The police and the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) recovered an AK47 gun during an operation to secure the Rwenzori region” (the New Vision, 26.11.2016).

So the worth of using massive force in the whole region was for one gun, is that what the National Resistance Movement newspaper is saying? Is that all the dead civilians, the dead police officers, the dead soldiers and other casualties!

This was reported from Arthur King Timbaganya:

“UPDF/UPF conducted another operation against armed criminal groups/camps in Rwenzori region/Kasese. 12 armed gangs some wielding SMGs, matchets, spears pangas were killed in areas of Maliba, Bugoye, Kagando, mubuku and Kasese town. 10 police officers killed at Malina, Mubuku, Kagando, Bugoye. 01 UPDF soldier and 03 police officers were injured. 08 suspects arrested by police for interrogation. 01 SMG belonging to police was lost to the gangs. 01 police pick up burnt at Kagando. 02 full SMG magazines, matchets, OBR uniforms, Military shoes recovered at Hihandiro hills . The town is now calm with UPDF and UPF patrols. The people of Rwenzori are assured of their right to security. The operation is to rid off the region Kirumira Mutima’ armed gangs that are establishing ‘milintary’ camps aimed at threatening the peace of the people of Uganda and especially Rwenzori region” (Timbanganya, 26.11.2016).

The Agnes Ithungu Nyabaghole Queen of the Kingdom was earlier in the day arrested and is detained at Kabarole Police stateion. She was on her way on the way to Kampala when she was arrested.

Little material damage of the day: “Police truck burnt in Kagando as reprisal attacks continue in Kasese”.

This here is what I could get until now. The situation isn’t clear and numbers-game of dead shouldn’t be important now. Families have lost the loved ones, both of soldiers, police-officers, civilians and royal-guards. What should worry is how the Army can just besiege a royal institution and kill, without statements and therefore the different rumors are coming. Like the Yiira Republic, ADF or the Kirumiramutima.

Unconfirmed is that there are over a 100 civilians who are wounded.

So now that they claim that the Royal Guards we’re behind the earlier clashes in the Kabarole area, while today the Royal burial sites has been put on fire as the Royal Palace has been sieged and attacked by the army. Together with the Police Officers who has claimed that the Operation is under way and everything will go well.

Well, if the amount of lives and the unnecessary violence is needed for an operation like this, like an occupation force in their own country. They have now done the same with the Flying Squad earlier in the year after the General Election, which seems like it is repeatedly attacked to stop the Kingdom from exists.

We can just wonder and questions when is going on, or if it is just that the UPDF on order from Mzee wants to make kingdom silent. As he wants Kasese District into four districts, but that is just talk for the moment.

We will see what kind of statements the Kingdom, the UPDF, the Police and other civil society in the Rwenzori or Rwenzururu will say, as the coming hours and days will remind us of the violence and killings. What is sure is that there been too much of it this year in Kasese and Rwenzori as they have been targeted by the NRM and their Security Operatives. Peace.  

Rwenzururu Prime Minister says kingdom is ready to talk with government (Youtube-Clip)

The Army besiege and kills Rwenzururu King’s Royal Guards at the Palace in Kasese!

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“If you had any plans of coming to town,please dont” – A Plea from a Kasese resident!

There is risen tension and problems in the Rwenzori and Rwenzori Sub-Region as the Kabarole skirmishes and today the Kasese town has been closed off by the UPDF who has put the Obusinga bwa Rwenzuru Charles Wesley Mumbere. The UPDF has closed the office of the King; also the Palace has been under siege as the King is there with his Royal Guards.

The DPC of Kasese said this:

“Guys don’t worry we just having a small operation in town and we fully incharge..but ofcourse just keep where u are until we are done..lest u become a victim of circumstances”.

Heavily-armed elite units of Uganda’s armed forces have been heavily deployed in Kasese District following clashes with armed militants in Rwenzori region on Thursday night. The UPDF overran several bases of a militia group linked to the radical Rwenzururu Kingdom. At least 12 people died in the clashes though locals say the number could be much higher. Since then, the UPDF have been increasing deployments in the area to thwart attempts of a possible breakout of violence” (Grejeen News Uganda, 2016).

“The attackers are not yet identified. They are gangs. If you remember just recently , schools were closed, a health centre closed and they were scaring people so we thought we should take action,” said UPDF spojesperson Col Paddy Ankunda.

So the DPC is saying the army will violently charge against civilians if they are in the area of the UPDF. This again, proves the elements of the army who at times just occupy their own and takes control with force and no thoughts of the locals or why they are attacking the Kingdom, again!

All shops have been closed and usually busy streets are deserted as the UPDF and gun-shots around the Palace. None of whom is the reason or why the UPDF again starts battling in Rwenzori. At the Palace there been a stand-off between the Royal Guards, the Police Force and the Army. As the NRM regime continues to fight the Kingdom with all force, as they have done since before and after the General Election in 2016. Wonder why the Army has issues with the Kingdom now. There is one confirmed dead on the side of Kingdom Mbusa Kabwe. But the numbers that the Army has killed this time around is unsure.

The UPDF and UPF are claiming a youth counter-terrorist group who has taken their own tax in the area. Well, this is here is directly again aiming against the kingdom, not some random rebels as they claim. So their validation of the attacks seems weak and like excuses more than actual intelligence. People have been forced by the Army to evacuate the town with hands-up as the streets we’re taken with mambas and rifles.

Its again blamed on a group called: “Kirumiramutima” the Strong hearted, though they just surface every-time the UPDF rolls in with heavy gear into town like morning dew; they pop-up, as there speculated that the King resisted to be taken into custody and therefore the Royal Guards are sealing off and fending of the Army and Police for the sake of his safety. There been reported up to 4 Royal Guards killed in the skirmish from the UPDF. The Spokesperson for UPDF confirm they have shot 18 persons in Kasese District, they claim their fighting insurgents from the Allied Defense Force (ADF) that has been inside Democratic Republic of Congo, but it’s heritage is from the Rwenzori region. Captain Arthur Timbagnya has confirmed this.

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But what boggles me than, that the Royal Guards are not ADF or Strong Hearted, why are they killing more Royal Guards as they did during the skirmishes in March? What is up with the UPDF hatred for the Rwenzururu Kingdom?  There are some who even say 8 Royal Guards has been killed, wonder if the Army has plans to finish off the king to as they are clearing his guards of apparently. This report comes from the OC CID and OC Station of Maliba in Buyisumbo Sub-County who confirms.

The thing we should also wonder about, this comes a month after the King didn’t accept the request of the Republic to try to split the District. Something the Central Leadership has proposed in the past. That he did on the 20th October, and now the Army besiege his Palace.

“The proposal which was tabled in a meeting of the Kasese NRM Caucus and the NRM Executive Committe together with the selected NRM leaders at State House Entebbe on Wednesday seeks to split Kasese into four districts of Bwera, Hima, Kasese & Katwe. “When my people are together, i dont have a problem. I agree with the split of Kasese district because a district with over a million people can not provide everyone service delivery , decentralisation removes friction based on sectarianism” said Mr.Museveni” (Sonnie News, 13.10.2016).

So if it that the reason, that the King doesn’t want to comply with the wish of the President as he has to show force to silence the Royal King with his Special Operatives to prove who is the Grand Leader and who orders are just. Therefore the new skirmishes happen as the King doesn’t want to follow the President. Therefore the President and his Army says it is radical elements, but that might be radical because he doesn’t want Kasese to become scattered.

While we’re on it:

“According to an eyewitness, loud gunshots and military movements are audible and visible in what is the ‘frontline’ of UPDF and the Yiira separatists who were armed with spears and arrows face off” (…) “Speaking to Lydia Tumushabe police spokesperson for Rwenzori region, a combined security operation has taken over Nyamuswa to containing the ferocity of the ‘Esyomango’ a popular group with the Rwenzururu king though still visible in embalmed t-shirts” (…) “A local leader who preferred anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said tension has been brewing in the area with bickering between the Bakonzo and the Batooro over the proposed secession” (…) “Yiira State is said to be a wish for some officials and supporters of Rwenzururu Kingdom. However, Rwenzururu King Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere previously said the Yiira Republic is being agitated for by his subjects in eastern DR-Congo. There are many ethnic Bakonzo who live in eastern DRC” (Kasese orugambo hottest secrets and rumours news bulletin’s post, 26.11.2016).

So the Yiira Republic comes dusted up like relic who nobody has seen or heard about since last skirmish. But a succession between Bakonzo or Batooro seems more likely as they also want to regain status as Kingdoms on the same level as the Rwenzururu King Mumbere as he is a Bakonzo. But that is all talk right now. If the wish for a Yiira republic where real, than the fights would have continued all year and the people would have come with force, as they have been silenced since the last time the Ugandan Army went into town.

Also reported that two policemen are feared dead in the battles, three are feared to be dead, by the battles on the outskirts of Kasese (Raymond Mujuni, 26.11.2016) .

So there are many reasons for this, either thing that counts is the wish for power or control, the others are just that the UPDF and Police needs to validate their return and killings of Royal Guards, which they have done before with different reasons. Something that they tried to force and didn’t silence the violence when IGP Kale Kayihura visited Rwenzori neither was happening when President Museveni came with his rifle. Peace.

Uganda: MUK Letter – “Payment of Salaries of Staff” (25.11.2016)

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Uganda Telecom Press Statement on the Economic Situation of the Company (25.11.2016)

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Kabarole Clashes: Guns and Machetes Recovered (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNruVcCe2KY

“Security has been beefed up in kabarole district as a joint operation of the police and UPDF continues a search for dissidents believed to be in the hideouts in the hills a day after eight were killed in a shoot out
Bodies of those killed have been retrieved and guns and machetes recovered” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Uganda: Letter on Officer’s of the ‘Food Security and Rainfall Awareness Country Campaign’ (18.11.2016)

uganda-awareness-campaign

Opinion: President Museveni decree ordered closure of Makerere; which is the reason for the deceased innocent new-borns at Kawempe!

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This saddens me and eats my heart out, as much as the knowledge of the famine in Isingiro and the lacking systemic enterprise or structure of the Ugandan Government, which is continuing to faltering, not serve the public. This has proven earlier in the year of other hospitals without X-Ray machines, lacking medicines and ordinary sanitary products. Together with the only Cobalt 60 Teletherapy Machine in the country at the Uganda Cancer Institute at the Mulago Hospital Complex we’re broking down and not having planned to be changed.

On the 1st November the President Yoweri Museveni closed down the Makerere University and its affiliated programs because of strikes that have occurred during the year. This is happening since the staffs at the Academic Institution haven’t gotten paid for months upon months, while the students want their lectures to be paid. What the outcome of it came quickly as the Mulago Hospital we’re telling that their programs of interns we’re suspended together with the closure of the University.

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Key Information from 11th November:

“Dr Asuman Lukwago, the outgoing ministry of health permanent secretary, said the education ministry was responsible for the university and therefore, there is nothing his ministry could do to save the situation. “We would be contradicting ourselves. Ministry of education is responsible and not us as ministry of health. There is nothing we can do,” Dr Lukwago told daily Monitor in a phone interview” (Namagembe, 2016).

So because of First Lady Janet Museveni lacking integrity and ability to sort out the issues internally in the Ministry of Education the biggest Hospital and others are hurt. It is visible that the decisions have repercussions of the lacking leadership in the Ministry of Education and under Minister Janet Museveni who hasn’t carried out her position; since she hasn’t been able to sort out the allocation and the central leadership of the famous University.

“The initial health care is available but there is a shortage of specialists,” Dr Bangirana said. To improvise the available staff, Mulago hospital spokesperson, Enock Kusasira said the hospital has resorted to giving more attention to critical cases considered as life threatening.“We are concentrating less on out patients especially those whose cases are not life threatening,” Kusasira said. At the hospital, patients have to wait for hours before seeing the health workers. The case is not different from other affiliate hospitals and health facilities” (Namagembe, 2016).

Certainly the situation at the Mulago and affiliated Hospitals has been put into trouble with the suspension of Makerere. When the Ministry of Health Sarah Achieng Opendi has to defend the records of the actual numbers of deceased infants you know the system, the structure is rotten to the core. This isn’t really working and the innocence is dying. They are just read the statement in today’s Monitor!

31 New-borns deceased:

“The reports, according to Hon. Opendi asserted that the issue arose after the closure of Makerere University and the subsequent withdrawal of Senior Health Officers (SHOs) from the facility. “The Ministry of Health would like to strongly refute these allegations as baseless and a total misrepresentation of facts,” she said” (…) “Since the withdrawal of Senior House Officers on Nov 1, 2016 to date, Mulago Hospital has unfortunately lost 31 newborns,” she said adding that the deaths were majorly as a result of severe birth asphyxia and complications associated with prematurity” (…) “Severe Asphyxia is largely caused by prolonged labour, which is a consequence of late referrals. According to this statistics, Mulago Hospital has lost approximately one newborn per day due to unavoidable circumstances,” she added” (Mugume, 2016)

There is surely and have been deceased infants and babies during the famine and cause of the Isingiro, where the Republic and the government have dropped sorry loads of food-relief to the staving public; which has waited for months upon end. Sort of the same way the empty pockets of Makerere University lectures has been short-changed for months upon end. This is systemic maladministration from the head. What is worst is that the ones that are in charge are walking away, but the ones affected are being hurt. It is the innocent, the kids, the rural families; the ones are not MPs with flashy cars, lavish salaries but no taxes and all other perks. The same month that Makerere is closed the Income Tax Amendment that stops MPs for getting tax and the same month the MPs add-on more fees for “service car” in their duty.

The new-borns are dying at Kawempe Hospital, a Hospital that is affiliated with Mulago Hospital Complex. The Promise from Enock Kusasira we’re more a pre-warning than facts of their mission. They couldn’t control the effect of the closure of Makerere, as the President didn’t think of the effects or knew of the effects. His micro-management has caused severe effect for dozens of lives, not only the students that have their studies postponed and their degrees put-on hold. But the lives at Mulago and affiliates have been hurt.

The innocent children born into the world, doesn’t care about misrepresentation, taxation without representation or skimming funds. They care about their sanitary, loving mother and father; and occasionally food. They don’t care about the flashy cars for the MPs or the Ministry of Health Sarah Opendi’s resignation to the force of Janet Museveni.

Each family that has been affected by the decision of the President should be asked for forgiveness from the state, they lost their new-born. They lost their kid and the future of new-born something that should been made sure by the state. The State lost their way when they are responsible for the neglect of taking care of the mother and her baby at the hospital. That is supposed to be a safe-zone and make sure the families are in good hands. Each one of them are one too many to lose. The President has their souls on his hand, since he caused the effect and made the decision to suspend Makerere University. That has in return cause the innocent loss of lives.

This is how much that the President cares about the civil service, his teachers, his ministries and the citizens. He offers a Visitations Committee instead of allocating funds and giving way so that the Makerere can open and save life. More the public display of utter nonsense is more casual than actually acting on the loss of life. The innocent lives dies while the President orders are lingering, not only at Kawempe Hospital, but at the regions of Isingiro and Karamoja; the President couldn’t care less as the help showed has to be shown on the NTV and UBC before he cares.

The reckless policies and ineffective are now insulting to the public in Uganda, time for President Museveni to take charge and show leadership; has to make the right decisions and might even have to cough up some ghost-monies, some other shadow funding to pay his civil servants at the Hospitals and at the University! Peace.

Reference:

Namagembe, Lilian – ‘Health ministry stuck as Mulago crisis deepens after Makerere closure’ (11.11.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Health-ministry-Mulago-crisis-deepens-Makerere-closure/688334-3448994-747buj/index.html

Mugume, Paul – ‘Minister Opendi Speaks Out on Neonatal Deaths at Kawempe Hospital’ (23.11.2016) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/minister-opendi-speaks-out-on-neonatal-deaths-at-kawempe-hospital/