Remanded Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere has been given a prison number and a yellow uniform, an apparel worn by all prisoners in the different Uganda Prisons Services facilities across the country.
The revelation was made early today by the Prisons Service spokesperson Frank Baine, who also said Mumbere, who is currently remanded at Luzira Prisons till December 28, would be treated like any other prisoner held in their facilities.
“We have received Omusinga Charles Mumbere, we have already baptized him with a prison number and the yellow suit,” Baine said early today, while appearing on the NBS TV talk show ‘Morning Breeze’.
He added however: “For us in prison, we live as family. Everyone is treated equally.”
Mr Baine also acknowledged Mumbere would have access to a fridge as directed by court. “Court said Omusinga should have access to a fridge; but there are no sockets inside cells (so he can’t have it in his cell). We shall put the fridge somewhere else,” Baine said.
He however, noted that the Mumbere would not be exempt from other routine prison rituals. “Omusinga will be joining other inmates during ‘counting parade’, and of course, he will be squatting during the process,” Mr Baine said.
Mumbere is facing multiple charges including treason, murder and aggravated robbery and his incarceration follows the attack on his palace, where over 100 people including security agents and the Rwenzururu Kingdom royal guards were reportedly killed.
On his arrest just over two weeks ago, Mumbere was driven from Kasese to Jinja and detained at the Nalufenya Police Station, a designated Uganda Police holding facility for high profile prisoners like opposition politicians and dangerous criminals.
Prominent among the people who have been to Nalufenya include Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flag bearer Dr Warren Kizza Besigye, the party’s MP for Nakawa Division Michael Kabaziguruka, and notorious Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander Jamil Mukulu.
