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Demands grow for report on Kasese attacks 2 years later
Journalists tour the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace following the raid in November 2016. PHOTOS BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
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Analysis. November 27 marked exactly two years since the attacks on Rwenzururu Kingdom palace by security personnel, but local and international rights bodies question why there has been no report on the raid, Misairi Thembo Kahungu.
Calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the attacks that left more than 100 people dead during an army raid on Rwenzururu Kingdom two years ago have dominated the second anniversary of the event.
Tuesday, November 27 marked exactly two years since the UPDF raided King Charles Wesley Mumbere’s palace in Kasese.
The king, his former acting prime minister Johnson Thembo Kitsumbire and about 200 others have since been awaiting trial for charges of treason, terrorism and murder, among others, preferred on them by the state after they were arrested on the fateful day.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a recent report, questioned why there has been no report into the attacks and killings, insisting that there were children in the palace during the attacks.
Government has always denied the presence of children in the palace when the army, commanded by the current commander of the Land Forces, Maj Gen Peter Elwelu, attacked.
Rights body concerned
“There is still no official death toll for the two days in 2016. Human Rights Watch researchers found at least 55 people were killed on the 26th and more than 100 on the 27th. Government officials have cited 103 deaths, including police, without specifying a time frame, while community members compiled a list of 115 adults and 15 children on November 27 alone,” HRW said in a statement this week.
“If the Ugandan government is to address the legacy of this massacre and provide answers families deserve, it should ensure an independent investigation, identify those responsible for the killings, and hold them to account,” added the statement.
Also, the European Union and the United States Embassy in Uganda have also voiced their dissatisfaction on the lack of a report into the attacks.
“The families of those killed and injured are still waiting for a full and transparent investigation. Those arrested are still waiting for fair and expeditious trials. All Ugandans are waiting for accountability and justice and justice. How much longer will they wait?” the US embassy said in a post on its Facebook page.
The EU delegation in Uganda stated: “Two years after the violence in Kasese, the EU and Member states continue to call for the outcome of investigations to be made public and acted on. As a partner to Uganda, we believe that full transparency and accountability are crucial for offering justice for victims on all sides.”
Government response
However, Information minister Frank Tumwebaze said the UPDF operation at the palace was not targeting the Rwenzururu Kingdom and its leaders but was aimed at flashing out “wrong elements of instability”.
Mr Tumwebaze, who said the government cannot tolerate impunity and lawlessness, suggested that what needs to be done is to sustainably address the cause of insecurity in Kasese and the entire Rwenzori sub-region.
“You say the security raided the palace which is not correct. It (security) only rescued the palace and the people of Rwenzori region from the wrong elements of instability that wanted to raid on the false cover of Rwenzururu to continue causing havoc and terrorissing people,” the minister said.
Kasese Woman MP Winfred Kiiza yesterday said it is a “shame” that government has continuously refused to take responsibility over the killings of people who perished in the attacks. Ms Kiiza said the delayed trial of King Mumbere and his co-accused is a government tactic to cover up on the atrocities committed in Kasese, knowing that when some of the suspects are tried and acquitted, they are likely to be witnesses in the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations. “Whether it takes 10 years or more, the government will remain responsible for the killings of our people in Kasese. Much as they delay to try the people in prison, fearing that those who might be freed by courts of law are key witnesses in the ICC case, we demand for a speedy trial so that they get justice,” she said.
Area MPs task government
Ms Kiiza, her colleagues William Nzoghu (Busongora North), Harold Tony (Bukonzo East), Godfrey Atkins Katusabe (Bukonzo West), Robert Centenary (Kasese Municipality) and Mr Apollo Sunday, a concerned citizen, petitioned ICC, asking them to investigate President Museveni as the Commander-in-Chief and Gen Elwelu, among others, for allegedly committing crimes against humanity during the attacks.
The Hague-based court recently stated that they are looking into the complaint that was lodged by the legislators.
Mr Centenary also wondered why the screening of the suspects in Kirinya and Luzira prisons has not yet been done. “When we (Kasese leaders) met the President in December 2016, we agreed that screening be done to determine those who were caught up in the fracas circumstantially and have them released. We also agreed on a speedy and fair trial; a dialogue committee was constituted but nothing seems forthcoming,” he said.
The MP said as leaders, they will resurrect their demand for justice for the victims because of lack of cooperation from the government side.
For two years, some of the residents of Kasese, who were not party to the conflict, continue to count losses on their property.
One of them is Mr Erisa Bwambale Kisabu, the owner of the house that housed the kingdom administration. The house, located on Alexander Street, was a centre of attraction on November 26, 2016 when the UPDF attacked the royal guards at the prime minister’s office. Eight royal guards lost their lives in the three-hour gun assault.
Compensation calls
Mr Kisabu said he has lost at least Shs48m in rent income since the cultural institution used to pay Shs2m per month. He wants the government to hand him back the building, which up to now remains a scene of crime just like the palace.
The other is Mr Ivan Syauswa, one of the immediate neighbours of the palace, who said the UPDF is yet to compensate him for his gate that was hit by a stray bomb shell at the time of the attack.
“The first bomb landed at my gate, thank God my family and our British visitor were not hurt. The force of the bomb, which shattered my gate and parametre wall, forced glasses off my windows while some bullets destroyed my iron sheets. But I have waited for compensation in vain,” Mr Syauswa said.
He said as a cadre of the ruling NRM party, he has only demanded for Shs10m as compensation on top of replacing his gate, adding that officials from UPDF have made a lot of promises.
The UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, said efforts are being made to compensate him. “The issue of Mr Syauswa is being given attention. We regret the delay,” Brig Karemire said.
