By KT Reporter
The Amnesty Commission Uganda has provided a resettlement package to 14 former Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) royal guards in Kasese District. The packages include household items, agricultural tools, seeds, and monetary assistance of 263,000 Ugandan shillings. The support is intended to help the beneficiaries recover from the financial losses they incurred during their years of imprisonment.
The individuals are part of a group of more than 200 royal guards who were arrested in 2016 following a military raid on the OBR royal palace. They faced serious charges, including murder, terrorism, treason, malicious damage to property, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery.
However, in 2023, their cases were resolved when the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo, withdrew all charges, leading to their release alongside Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere. This initiative marks a significant step towards the reintegration and rehabilitation of the former guards after enduring years of financial and emotional hardship.
Henry Basalizaa, the head of the Amnesty Commission in the Rwenzori region, acknowledged the importance of providing broader support to all ex-royal guards. He noted, however, that financial limitations have restricted the program to a smaller number of beneficiaries for now. Basalizaa also revealed that the group has been under government monitoring in their respective communities since their reintegration.
Nason Mutina, an ex-royal guard who received amnesty in 2022, expressed feelings of despair upon returning home. He shared that the years spent away from his loved ones left him feeling disconnected and abandoned, highlighting the emotional challenges faced by those seeking to rebuild their lives after imprisonment. Jovia Musoki, another ex-royal guard, narrated her harrowing ordeal of giving birth to her son while incarcerated. She recounted the trauma she endured during her time in prison and after her release, underscoring both emotional and physical struggles she faced through her journey.
Yoweri Thembo Mugabe, the Minister of Royal Guards Protection in OBR, urged the former guards to refrain from engaging in activities that could spark conflict. He further emphasized that OBR remains committed to working with the government to foster peace in the region and across the country.
Lt. Maate Magwara, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Kasese, encouraged the ex-royal guards to embrace government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) to uplift themselves from poverty.
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