There was drama at Parliament on Tuesday when the debate on the fatal Kasese clashes turned emotional with some opposition Members from the region confronting the Internal Affairs minister on the floor.
Minister J.J Odongo told Parliament that the raid on the palace and the subsequent arrest of the King was a result of attack on several security installations by the royal guards and their affiliates.
“The Omusinga of Rwenzururu was arrested by joint security operation after attacks conducted by cultural guards ‘Kirumira Mutima’ who are said to be his creation and under his command,” Odongo said.
The minister also recounted to the house how events built up leading to the Sunday raid.
“On the 26th of November 2016, these cultural guards of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu attacked the joint security patrol team in Kasese town with a petrol bomb, stabbed and injured a soldier.”
On the same day, three other attacks happened in the same region.
“This was immediately followed by simultaneous attacks in Ihandiro sub county, at Kagando hospital in Kisunga sub county, Bwesumbu, Kyabarungira, Mubuku in Maliba sub county and Ibanda in Bugoyi sub county. In all 16 policemen lost their lives and 6 guns were taken by the attackers.”
Bukonjo County West Member of Parliament Godfrey Katusabe Atikens, in totality, refuted the government accounts on the crisis and defended the cultural institution of Omusinga Charles Wisely.
According to Katusabe, the government should have continued with the negotiations with the armed and confrontational cultural guards.
“Am still recovering in a total pain and loss, I can’t imagine this is Uganda my nation; am here to tell you as an eye witness not listening in from any person, I was there and saw it happening. All wasn’t
necessary but dialogue,” Katusabe said brushing off Odongo’s side of the story.
Katusabe also read a message to the house from the Chief of Defense Forces; reading, “Honorable, I have reconfirmed my instructions that they (Royal guards) should come without knives or pangas, they should show that their arms are free of any form of weapon and should not wait for darkness.”
Meanwhile Minister Odongo further revealed that assortment of weapons were recovered from the palace, including, 07 (seven) Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), pistols, ammunition, machetes, spears Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and 16 petrol bombs.