Uganda Police boss Gen Kale Kayihura on Thursday evening reached a consensus with the Omusinga or King of the Rwenzururu cultural institution at Magherita Hotel in Kasese town resolving to install mechanisms through which cases of insecurity in the area can be handled without the use of force.
Kasese has been a hotbed for incidents of violence ago following protests over the LC3 chairperson election results and139 houses were also set ablaze in Buhuhira and Hima in Kasese district.
The venue for the closed meeting was under tight security by Police and Kingdom guards. The Mumbere asked IGP Kahiura to withdraw accusations that Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu cultural institution is linked a militia group, calling themselves “Kirumiramutima” (strong-hearted).
“I actually in my discussion with the IGP (Kayihura) I have asked him to withdraw the statement he made on Sunday linking us to the killings and we agreed the massive security deployments in affected areas of Kashenyi, Kitooma and Bohohere be removed because the people there are scared and traumatised,” Mumbere said. “We have never recognised the existence of ‘Kirumiramutima’ miltia because they are political motivated yet the Kingdom is cultural based.”
“We are definitely going to consider the Mumbere’s requests but it must go in tandem together with the general assessment once the tensions cool down and people free they are safer then we shall withdraw,” Gen. Kayihura agreed.
“We have agreed to put in place mechanism to address them including investigating those incidents because they had certain information, I have certain information but the best thing is that we jointly establish the truth,” he added.
At least 15 civilians were killed and 4 others injured in the violence in Kasese and Bundibugyo after announcements that NRM leaders had won elective positions in the area.
