Members of Parliament from Kasese and the general public is yet to get over the shock from the weekend killings in Kasese that saw over 80 dead and hundreds arrested.
According to MPs from Kasese, they want compensation for the damage and all the security officers who commanded the raid on the palace to step aside for investigation. The commanders included among others that of UPDF Div 2 Brigadier peter Elwelu and Police’s Director of Operations Asuman Mugenyi.
“The commanders both Police and UPDF who were on ground should be step aside and be investigated. The People of Kasese will seek justice. Goverment is not willing to accept where they have failed,” Kasese Municipality MP Robert Centenary, said.
He was reacting to Internal Affairs Minister Jeje Odong’s statement to Parliament in respect to the deaths that followed the attack on the Palace of Rwenzururu Kingdom by the UPDF and Police. According to General Odong, the security operatives were acting in self defence after they were attacked by a militia group called the ‘Kirumira Mutima’.
The Minister said the attacks followed a regional security meeting which had been convened at Kabarole Local Government Headquarters. The meeting, attended by RDCs, District Chairpersons and security leader from the seven district of Rwenzori had resolved that all camps which had been established by “Kirumira Mutima” be dismantled by security forces.
“On the 21st of Nov 2016, on learning about these impending operations, the cultural guards started attacking police stations and police posts. These attacks were carried out in a similar manner across the district where 16 policemen were killed and 6 guns stolen. In all these incidents, the attackers used assault rifles, petrol bombs, grenades, machetes, spears and daggers,” he said.
Apparently, it is at that moment when the palace was stormed on Saturday because sections of the ‘Kirumira Mutima’ group disappeared into the palace with their guns.
“Unfortunately, 46 cultural guards lost their lives, while 146 have been arrested…” he said.
However, the Kasese Municipality MP Centenary dismissed Odongo’s account as false.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament in reaction to the minister’s statement, Centenary said that by the time of the attack, the Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere had agreed to surrender the guards as requested by the authorities.
“I bleed in tears, when I see MPs clap at the Minister’s statement which is a false account of what happened,” he said.
“The minister’s statement on the Kasese Killings is false… allow us to give our side of the story,” he added.
According to the legislator, the palace was sealed off at about midnight of Saturday after the Omusinga received a phone call from the President asking him to surrender his guards.
“We requested MP Katusabe to go and negotiate with the King. It was agreed that the royal guards be handed over. As MP (Bukonzo West MP Godfrey Atkins) Katusabe was informing the CDF, Gen Katumba Wamala of the King’s acceptance, he was told to leave the palace,” MP Centenary said.
It was at that moment that security started bombing and shooting those that were found in the palace, he said.
“As we reached Kasese town, we were informed that the palace was bombed,” Centenary said and added: “The security forces of Government destroyed the Palace and Omusinga offices. As people of Kasese, we demand that the king be released.”
