Mumbere to Return to Court Tomorrow

By Serestino Tusingwire

The Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere is expected to appear before Jinja High Court Judge, Michael Elubu on Monday January 30 for hearing of various charges against him.

Mumbere was arrested in connection with the November 27, 2016 incident, in which more than 100 people died in an attack on his palace.

Mumbere together with over 150 of his royalists including his prime minister Johnson Thembo Kitsumbire and royal guards are charged with 41 counts of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated robbery, treason and malicious damage to property.

However, Mumbere was re-arrested on January 13 2017, only hours after being granted a shs100m non cash bail. He was later produced before Jinja magistrates’ court’s John Francis Kaggwa who slapped more charges of murder and terrorism on him.

He was consequently remanded to Luzira prison until Monday when he will re-appear.

Mumbere’s lawyers led by Caleb Alaka have consequently applied for a second bail to have the king answer to the charges against him from outside prison, citing his advanced age of 64 years and illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.

Court will hear the second bail application on February 06.