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Security tight on memorial day of Kasese palace attack
Forces inspect some of the huts that were burnt to ashes at the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace during the Kaese clashes last year. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Kasese- Heavily-armed security forces yesterday patrolled the western town of Kasese on the first anniversary of a bloody military attack on the Rwenzururu king’s palace that left hundreds of people dead and has since crippled the kingdom.
The deployment, officials said, was to take care of any eventualities.
“Yes, the forces are doing normal patrols. There’s no cause for alarm. Those that want to march in town as a sign of mourning were not allowed by police,” said Resident District Commissioner James Mwesigye, who chairs the districts security committee.
Columns of soldiers and police slinging Ak-47 assault rifles began the patrols in various parts of the town on Saturday, and intensified it yesterday to cover residential neighbourhoods.
The heightened security followed news of a planned protest march dubbed “mourning”, through town to mark the November 27, 2017 military assault on King Charles Mumbere’s palace in Kasese Municipality.
Unknown motive
It was not readily established who the organisers of the march were and what other activities it would involve.
However, a source that asked not to be named to avoid retribution by authorities said they had christened yesterday and today as Black Sunday and Monday, respectively, to condole with the affected families.
Mr Robert Centenary, the Kasese Municipality MP, said: “Yes, we are mourning the deaths of hundreds of our people killed last year. It is normal and cultural [to mourn].”
The number of people killed in that attack remains unclear to-date, but Saturday Monitor at the weekend published names of up to 151 dead victims.
The then Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commander for 2nd Division, Brig Peter Elwelu, commanded the palace bombing blitz which left in its ruinous path charred bodies and flaming priceless cultural artifacts.
He was a couple of months later promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Commander of Land Forces, the fourth top position in the UPDF hierarchy.
The government has since dismissed calls by rights groups and donors for an independent inquiry into the attack, with President Museveni saying any parallel investigations would be sub judice since prosecution of suspects is underway in courts of law.
King Mumbere, arrested last year after the invasion of his palace, alongside dozens of subjects, is one of the suspects on trial for treason and murder.
Although he is out of prison on bail, the government has restricted his movement and his Rwenzururu Kingdom is a no-go area and, as such, the king’s coronation anniversary which falls in October was not observed.
Some officials on the eve of the palace raid accused the king of re-hatting royal guards into a fighting force against the government.
One such person was Maj Gen Elwelu, who, following a chorus of his condemnation for using excessive force to kill civilians, told the press at the time: “I did not attack a palace but a barracks, a command post. I did not arrest a king, but a rebel leader. What are these trenches for in the palace? He has an army.”
These claims could not independently be verified after the military sealed off the ruined palace that remains forlorn today.
Mr Centenary said: “There is always suspicion by security [forces] about the people of Kasese because they have failed to read their minds and hearts”.
