Charles Mumbere

Charles Wesley Mumbere (born 20 November 1953), known by his royal title Irema-Ngoma I, is the reigning king (Omusinga) of the Rwenzururu, a cultural institution and subnational kingdom located in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda.^[2]

Charles Wesley Mumbere
Omusinga of Rwenzururu
Reign	19 October 2009 – present
Coronation	19 October 2009
Predecessor	Isaya Mukirane
Born	(1953-11-20)November 20, 1953[1] Kasese District, Uganda Protectorate
Spouse	Agnes Ithungu
Issue	5
Father	Isaya Mukirane

His reign has been marked by a long period of exile in the United States, a formal coronation in 2009 after recognition by the Ugandan government, and a tumultuous period following the deadly 2016 Kasese clashes. He was arrested in November 2016 and faced charges including terrorism, treason, and murder. After nearly seven years of legal proceedings and confinement under strict bail conditions, all charges against him were withdrawn by the state in June 2023.^[3]

Early life and succession

Charles Mumbere was born in 1953 in the Kasese District of western Uganda.^[1] He is the son of Isaya Mukirania, the leader of the Rwenzururu movement, a political and armed secessionist movement of the Bakonzo and Amba people who sought to break away from the Tooro Kingdom. In 1962, Mukirane declared an independent Kingdom of Rwenzururu and was recognized by his followers as its first king.^[4]

Following his father's death, Charles Mumbere inherited the leadership of the movement. He was declared the new Omusinga on 19 October 1966 at the age of 13.^[5] He continued to lead the Rwenzururu rebellion from the mountains until 1982, when he negotiated a settlement with the government of President Milton Obote. In exchange for laying down arms, the government agreed to provide him with a scholarship for education abroad.^[1]

Life in the United States

In 1984, at the age of 30, Mumbere moved to the United States to begin his formal education under the government sponsorship. However, his government stipend was terminated after the Obote regime was overthrown in 1985.^[4] He successfully applied for political asylum in the US in 1987. To support himself, he trained as a nurse's aide and began working in a nursing home in suburban Maryland. He later relocated to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he continued to work as a nurse's aide for nearly two decades.^[4][6]

During his 25 years in the United States, Mumbere largely kept his royal status a secret from his colleagues and community.^[6]

Return and coronation

In 2005, following negotiations with the government of President Yoweri Museveni, the Rwenzururu Kingdom was officially recognized as a cultural institution under Ugandan law.^[5] In July 2009, Mumbere revealed his identity in an interview with the Harrisburg newspaper, The Patriot-News, and announced his plans to return to Uganda to assume his duties as Omusinga.^[4]

He returned to Kasese and was officially crowned on 19 October 2009, in a ceremony attended by thousands of his subjects and several Ugandan government officials. As a cultural leader, his authority is limited to social and cultural matters concerning the Bakonzo people.^[4]

2016 Kasese clashes and legal battle

Arrest and charges

On 26 and 27 November 2016, deadly clashes broke out in Kasese between Ugandan state security forces and royal guards of the Rwenzururu Kingdom. The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) and police conducted a raid on Mumbere's main palace, citing the presence of an armed militia. The operation resulted in a high number of casualties, with official figures reporting that over 100 people were killed, including royal guards and police officers.^[7][8]

Charles Mumbere was arrested on 27 November 2016 and was subsequently charged, along with over 200 of his subjects, with a wide range of serious offenses, including terrorism, treason, murder, aggravated robbery, and attempted murder.^[9]

Bail and confinement

After an initial period of incarceration, Mumbere was granted bail in January 2017. However, he was immediately re-arrested on separate charges before being granted bail again. His release came with stringent conditions that heavily restricted his movement, effectively confining him to his residences in Kampala and Wakiso District and barring him from visiting his kingdom in the Rwenzori region for the duration of his trial.^[10] The pre-trial process was subject to numerous delays over the years.^[11]

Withdrawal of charges and return

On 13 June 2023, in a significant development, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) discontinued all charges against Omusinga Mumbere and his 217 co-accused subjects. The DPP presented a nolle prosequi notice to the International Crimes Division of the High Court, formally withdrawing the state's case without providing a detailed public reason.^[3][12]

Following his acquittal, his bail conditions were lifted. After resolving logistical and security arrangements with the government, Mumbere made his official return to his kingdom in Kasese on 4 October 2023, ending nearly seven years of exile.^[13]

Personal life

Mumbere is married to Agnes Ithungu Asiimawe, who is the Queen (Nyabaghole) of Rwenzururu.^[14] They have three children including Prince Charles Nyamutswa and Princess Vickie Michelle Kibanzanga ^[2] His brother, Christopher Kibanzanga, is a prominent Ugandan politician who has served as a Member of Parliament and a government minister.^[15]