By Tony Bwambale
The Rwenzururu King Omusinga Mumbere Charles Wisely Iremangoma has finally declared publicly that he has sought pardon for all the war crimes that were proposed on him by signing amnesty.
The revelation was made in a meeting that was held in Kasese municipality at Rwenzori University.
King Mumbere was arrested in 2016 immediately after elections and was arraigned before the High Court on several counts and charges. Since his arrest the trial to date has never kicked off. In the latest revelation, the Dream Team has learnt that finally the King and a number of his co accused have signed an agreement in form of Amnesty.
In a deal being brokered by Dr. Walemba and other members of a select team that was recently named by Mumbere himself a move that has met criticism from a section of community members.
Who qualifies to be granted Amnesty under the laws of Uganda?
An amnesty is declared in respect of any Ugandan who has at any time since the 26th day of January, 1986, engaged in or is engaging in war or armed rebellion against the government of the Republic of Uganda by—
(a) Actual participation in combat;
(b) Collaborating with the perpetrators of the war or armed rebellion;
(c) Committing any other crime in the furtherance of the war or armed rebellion; or
(d) Assisting or aiding the conduct or prosecution of the war or armed rebellion.
(2) A person referred to under subsection (1) shall not be prosecuted or subjected to any form of punishment for the participation in the war or rebellion for any crime committed in the cause of the war or armed rebellion.
However, by signing amnesty it’s a silent acceptance of responsibility of all crimes and all atrocities committed in such a war or rebellion.
This means that for whatever reasons the Rwenzururu King has accepted that he was involved in the crimes specified for amnesty and he and the other accused person’s fall under section 2 of the Amnesty Act laws of Uganda 2000. He now enters the records as the first cultural leader to sign Amnesty.
In a zoom address that he made to lure his co accused, he was bitter and authoritatively speaking though he still failed to convince them beyond reasonable doubt that signing amnesty was the best way out.
He however promised his co accused that if they sign like he did, he will be in Rwenzori before the end of April.
However, Mumbere is still in a dilemma as his co accused in Prison have refused to sign Amnesty papers. Mumbere will soon be moving to Kirinya Prison to lure those in prison to sign as well.
The dream team will soon be back with the likely implications of having signed this amnesty by the king to himself, the kingdom and the entire Yiira community.
We however continue coming for and in peace because the peace we wanted yesterday is still needed today, tomorrow and forever in the Rwenzori where our story begins.