By Andrew Irumba
Kasese: As the Rwenzururu Queen mother Christine Biira Mukirania’s funeral service is underway at Izahura Primary School, Harugale Sub-County in Bundibugyo District ahead of the burial, her son and King Charles Wesley Mumbere, who secured permission from court to travel to Kasese for the burial and Kasese District leaders have shunned the funeral.
As King Mumbere and the Prime Ministerial Commission of the Kingdom wanted the Queen mother to be buried at her Nyamirangara Estate in Muhokya Sub-county in Kasese District on Tuesday, they were surprised when Mr Kibanzanga picked the body from the mortuary in Fort Portal and took it to Kirindi village in Bundibugyo thus creating a deep rift between King Charles Wesley Mumbere and his brother, Mr Christopher Kibanzanga, the state minister for agriculture, who clashed over the burial site.
The funeral service is being led by the retired Bishop of South Rwenzori Diocese in Kasese District and burial is to take place today Sunday take place at the royal family’s ancestral land at Kirindi about two kilometers from the venue where the funeral service is taking place.
On Friday, a series of meetings between the Prime Ministerial Committee of the kingdom and Mr. Kibanzanga didn’t build consensus on where to bury the Queen Mother
Government is being represented by the State Minister for Planning, Mr David Bahati although Vice President Edward Ssekandi was expected to be the chief mourner.
About 100 people will access the burial ground where numerous UPDF soldiers have been deployed.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Sabiiti Muzeyi is still camping in the area. Police patrol vehicles are patrolling Bundibugyo town.
Mumbere had vowed that if Kibazanga insists on taking Nyamukama’s remains to Bundibugyo, he (Mumbere) will boycott the burial. Mumbere’s decision has however been hugely supported by many of his subjects and chiefs, who have also vowed not to attend the burial if minister Kibazanga insists on taking Nyamukama to Bundibugyo. Several opposition politicians who traveled to Kasese for same burial have also vowed to boycott if Kibazanga insists on going against Mumbere’s wishes.
