State withdraws charges against Rwenzururu King, subjects
The International Crimes Division of the High Court has on the orders of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrawn all charges against embattled Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere and 218 of his subjects.
The DPP Jane Francis Abodo indicated that the State has lost interest in the matter and wrote to court to have all the accused released.
All 41 charges including terrorism, murder ,treason, malicious damage to property, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery among were dropped in court on Tuesday, during the hearing of the matter.
The charges stem from incidents in 2016. More than 200 people were arrested including including royal guards and kingdom officials, following the security forces’ deadly raid on the king’s palace.
The State alleges that Mumbere and his subjects attacked several police establishments, and property at Bukara and Nyabutsi villages in July and November 2016.
Prosecution alleged that on September 14th, 2016, the suspects committed double murder of two Police Constables Saverio Ochema and Simon Peter Apille.
Mumbere and his subjects also murdered a Police Constable Godfrey Kasimba on March 24th, 2016 who was formally attached to the defunct Field Force Unit.
They were accused of attempting to murder Detective Police Constables Polycarp Ojoko, Benon Byaki, Francisco Nsimaki, and Assistant Inspector of Police Denis Ahebwa.
The accused King of the Rwenzururu kingdom in Kasese district was also said to be recruiting and training militants to create their own republic, to be called Yira.
The suspects were remanded to different prisons including Nalufenya.
However, in a twist of events, the State has on Tuesday, dropped all charges before Court presided over by Lady Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, on orders of the DPP Jane Francis Abodo.
The Principal State Attorney Lillian Omara presented a letter withdrawing charges) signed by Abodo confirming the withdrawal of the charges against Mumbere and 218 others.
All charges have been withdrawn against all the suspects except Masereka Kamada and Thembo Kitsumbire the former Rwenzururu Prime Minister whom the prosecution says will go ahead to prosecute since he refused to apply for amnesty, unlike the bigger group.
The withdrawal of charges follows the amnesty that was granted to the group by the Amnesty Commission after the suspects admitted to having participated in the crimes and also denounced rebellious activities and reconciled with the government.
State withdraws charges against Rwenzururu King, subjects
