The last batch of the Rwenzururu Royal Guards, who have been battling a range of charges since November 2016, has returned home to Kasese District.

This was after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges against the Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere, alongside the Royal Guards. The charges included treason, terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery, malicious damage, and attempted murder.  

The Royal Guards were driven to Kasese in buses belonging to the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) escorted by a Military police Car, up to Residents District Commissioner’s office at Booma Grounds in Kasese Town.

The Royal Guards were received in Kasese town by a multitude of people chanting and dancing in excitement upon receiving their relatives who have been in prison on remand for over seven years.

Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere, his Prime Minister Thembo Kitsumbire, and the royal guards were arrested on 26th and 27th November 2016 from the Royal Palace in Kasese following clashes between the royal guards and police and the army (UPDF).

But on 13th June 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Justice Jane Frances Abodo dropped all the charges against the King and about 100 royal guards. The charges included murder, terrorism, treason, malicious damage to property, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery, among others.

Lt. Joe Walusimbi, the Kasese Resident District Commissioner who received the guards on behalf of the government, asked them not to despair when they find a difficult situation in their homes.

Joseph Kule Muranga, the current Prime Minister of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu thanked the government for releasing their people.

He added that the kingdom is making preparations to receive King Mumbere back home as plans are also made to repair the Royal Palace as soon as it is handed back to the Kingdom by the security forces. The palace has been treated as a crime scene since November 2016.  

Florence Kabugho, the Kasese Woman Member of Parliament called upon all people, especially in the Kasese district to welcome the royal guards back from prison and counsel them so that they can properly fit back into the community.

Saulo Maate, the Chairperson of the opposition Forum Democratic Change (FDC) party called upon the people to support the royal guards with whatever they have.  A similar call was made by Sowedi Kitanywa, the Member of Parliament for Busongora North.