By KT Reporter
The Rwenzururu Kingdom has announced the suspension of the 59th coronation anniversary celebrations of His Majesty Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma, citing the King’s ill health.
The celebrations, which had been slated for October 19, commemorate the day the Omusinga ascended to the throne of the Rwenzururu Kingdom. According to the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Benson Kule Baritazale, the King, will be travelling abroad for specialised medical treatment.
However, the Kingdom has set November 11, the King’s birthday, as the date for a grand celebration in his honour. The festivities will feature the Omusinga’s Birthday Run, an event dedicated to raising funds for key development projects, including the establishment of a Rwenzururu Kingdom radio station, a one-stop community centre, and a cultural tourism village.
These initiatives are part of the Kingdom’s broader strategic development plan aimed at promoting unity, culture, and self-sufficiency among the Baso people.
His Majesty Mumbere ascended to the throne in 1966, following the passing of his father, Isaya Mukirania Kibanzanga, the first King of Rwenzururu. Although the Kingdom’s recognition by the Ugandan government came much later, in 2009, the Rwenzururu cultural institution has remained a powerful symbol of identity and resilience for the people of the Rwenzori region.
This year’s anniversary would have been the third coronation celebration presided over by the Omusinga since his release in 2023. The King had spent several years under detention following his 2016 arrest on charges of treason, terrorism, and murder, after the tragic military assault on his palace that left over a hundred of his subjects dead.
Despite the temporary postponement, the Kingdom says the spirit of celebration remains alive, with the upcoming birthday festivities expected to reflect the enduring strength, unity, and cultural pride of the Rwenzururu people.
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