Six Rwenzururu royal guards granted bail

Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Six Rwenzururu royal guards released by the International Crimes Division of the High court on Monday arrived in Kasese district on Thursday amidst calls for the government to consider withdrawing all charges against the suspects.

The six are part of the more than 200 royal guards that were arrested in 2016 following a joint security raid on Buhikira royal place, in which more than 100 people lost their lives. The guards were picked together with the Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere and arraigned in Jinja High court on various offenses including treason, murder, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery among others.

Omusinga was later released on bail but restricted to moving within Kampala, Wakiso, and Jinja districts. In January last year, the court released 138 royal guards on bail. The suspects applied for bail on grounds of ill health and psychological disorders such as stress resulting from a long stay in prison while on remand. The additional six royal guards released on Monday are; Eriya Kule Sibendire, Daudi Bahangondi, Bwambale Bahingana, Julius Masereka Regyeya, Yowas Rubasesera, and Joram Thaghembwa.

Joseph Kule Muranga, the Rwenzururu Kingdom prime minister told URN in an interview that the six years the suspects have stayed in prison without being sentenced is enough punishment and it would only be just that government considers forgiveness and reconciliation. Muranga said that most of the suspects have aged, and obeyed all the bail conditions and the institution is working towards rehabilitating them.

Muranga noted that on both sides of the government and the cultural institution, there were some mistakes committed but the focus now should be on how the two institutions can reconcile and work together.

Muranga blamed the 2016 skirmishes within the cultural institution on people who fussed it with politics. He hoped that the remaining 61 royal guards will also get bail soon as they continue to persuade the government to drop all the charges against them.

While in Kasese on Wednesday, Museveni without divulging details said Mumbere had written to him and the two will see how to sort the out issues. His statement followed demands from local leaders led by the district LCV, Eliphazi Muhindi requesting the president to release their cultural leader and the remaining royal guards.

Muranga however said that he did not have any details regarding the said letter but was certain that both the president and Mumbere were communicating.

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URN