The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Works has launched investigations into the fire outbreak that gutted part of the Rwenzururu royal palace in Kasese District.
Last week, a structure that doubles as the home of the Rwenzururu cultural leader Charles Wesley Mumbere and the office was set ablaze by unknown people. The burnt structure was the only remaining house in the palace and contained cultural items.
On Wednesday a team led by Irene Kobusinge an investigator with the national building review board-NBRB in the Ministry of Works were in the district to establish the possible causes of the fire outbreak. Kobusinge says that after the findings, they will produce a report that will inform both the security agencies and the kingdom in their next course of actions.
Kobusinge, however, was uncertain of when the preliminary findings will be established.
She equally says the findings could aid residents neighbouring the palace to establish their safety.
Geoffrey Kaheebwa, the in-Charge of Law Enforcement at the National Construction Review Board, said they are going to pick samples of relevant materials including iron bars, bricks and blocks among other building materials to guide their investigations.
Joseph Kule Muranga the cultural institution’s prime minister says the intervention from NBRB is a relief to the many questions they have been receiving from the subjects regarding the incident.
But Yeresi Biira a local in Base camp upper cell thinks such money spent on the investigations should have been channeled into the construction of the new palace that was promised by the government.
She questioned the relevancy of investigations yet the palace is dilapidated and unable to offer future accommodation without complete rehabilitation.
Last year the government committed to construct a new palace and a residential home for Mumbere.
In November 2016, the government raided this palace and the Rwenzururu kingdom’s administration block. Both facilities remain closed after police declared them scenes of a crime.
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