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DPP orders that Mumbere should be tried
The Director of Public prosecutions on Thursday ordered for the trial of the Rwenzururu King Charles Wesely Mumbere on terrorism offences before the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
The committal papers sending Mumbere to High court to face trial were presented before Jinja court chief magistrate Francis Kaggwa by senior state attorney Rachael Bikhole.
In this case file,Mumbere is jointly charged with 12 of his royal guards, ten of whom were earlier committed.
According to the DPP, there is sufficient evidence to sustain terrorism charges against the king and his co-accused at the time of trial before the ICD.
The king and the 12 guards are said to have attacked Kidodo police booth and murdered a police constable Geoffrey Kasimba and threatened to take the lives of eight others. They also face grave counts of murder, aggregated robbery of an Ak -47 gun.
However despite committal, the king will continue to make appearances before the Jinja magistrate’s court alongside his 156 royal guards for further mention of treason, murder, malicious damage to property among other offences.
The king’s committal proceedings came shortly after the High court had set today Friday afternoon to rule on his bail application.
Actual evidence to be presented against Mumbere before trial court
The Director of Public Prosecution Mike Chibita says he will adduce evidence before the International Crimes Division Court, to prove that Rwenzururu King Mumbere unlawfully trained and equipped his royal guards with militant tactics and would reward them with ranks based on loyalty.
This during committal proceedings before Jinja court Chief Magistrate on Thursday.
Mumbere who is now waiting for the next High court Convenient Criminal Session to face trial, has been King of the Bakonjo since 2009.
Chibita says evidence will further show that the Bakonjo under the command of King Mumbere would carry out attacks on the other tribe of the Bamba in Kasese without due regard to the safety of their lives and property.
DPP adds that the attacks which also claimed the life of a police officer Geoffrey Kasimba on March 9, 2016 at Kidodo Police Booth were unlawfully done for a social, political, religious or economic factor.
The king was earlier committed to the High Court Thursday for trial on charges of murder and aggravated robbery. However Mumbere through his lawyer Caleb Alaka also declared to court a list of over 13 witnesses including the recently promoted deputy Commander of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Wilson Mbadi and three journalists to defend him against the charges.
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editor@independent.co.ug
