By Peter Ssebulime
The International Crimes Division court has finally permitted the Omusinga (king) of Rwenzururu kingdom Charles Wesley Mumbere, to travel abroad for specialised medical treatment.
Justice Margret Oumo Oguli in her ruling on Thursday afternoon, ordered the immigration office to issue the Omusinga’ with a new passport to enable him go for treatment abroad, after he presented documents from Mengo Hospital proving that he seriously needs eye surgery for a defect known as Phaco-cataract, which cannot be rectified in Uganda.
But Justice Oguli set a condition that Omusinga Mumbere should deposit his passport with court after seven days upon return to Uganda.
However, the Judge denied Omusinga permission to travel to Kasese as he had requested in his application, saying he could interfere with witnesses in his case and spark off insecurity in the area.
About the matter of reducing his security detail by dropping CMI operatives from his bodyguards, court said that it has no powers to grant that but government.
She noted that through the Traditional and Cultural Leaders Act, only government has powers to decide which type of security to guard the cultural leaders.
Court also answered Omusinga’s prayer of reducing the time he reports to the Registrar, that is from twice a month to once a month.
Mumbere was arrested along with over 100 of his subjects and royal bodyguards following the attack on his palace in Kasese by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) in November 2016 and they were charged with terrorism, murder, robbery among other crimes.
