Omusinga Mumbere Threatens To Boycott Mother’s Burial Over Minister Kibazanga

By Andrew Irumba

Kasese: The war between blood brothers Omusinga Wesley Charles Mumbere and state Minister for Agriculture Christopher Kibazanga over where to bury their late mother  Nyamusinga Christine Mukirania has turned ugly.

Our Spies reveal that whereas Kibazanga wants Nyamukama’s remains to be laid to rest in Bundibugyo, Mumbere and Rwenzururu chiefs insist that the Queen Mother must be buried in Kasese, at her Nyamirangara Estate in Muhokya Sub County. Kibazanga wants her buried at her ancestral home in Kirindi in Harugale Sub County in Bundibugyo district. This has created a standoff between Mumbere and Kibazanga camp. Matters worsened after Kibazanga, who was escorted by soldiers, went to Buhinga Hospital mortuary in Fort Portal on Friday and forcefully took possession of  the body. Kibazanga wants Nyamukama to be buried today Sunday June 16^th, 2019, while Mumbere wants her buried on Tuesday, such that the kingdom can perform cultural ceremonies on her remains.

Mumbere Threatens Boycott

Following the standoff between the two camps, Mumbere has vowed that if Kibazanga insists on taking Nyamukama’s remains to Bundibugyo, he (Mumbere) will boycott the burial. Mumbere’s decision has however been hugely supported by many of his subjects and  chiefs, who have also vowed not to attend the burial if minister Kibazanga insists on taking Nyamukama to Bundibugyo. Several opposition politicians who traveled to Kasese for same burial have also vowed to boycott if Kibazanga insists on going against Mumbere’s wishes.

The situation has become even tenser after Rwenzururu Kingdom officials boycoted the requiem service for the Queen Mother on Saturday which took place at St. Barnabas Church of Uganda.  However, with the exception of Kibanzanga and Princess Asinasi Kunihira Muhindo, all immediate royal family members were missing.  Mukirania sired seven children including Mumbere and William Kibanzanga, the youngest member of the family. Mukirania succumbed to diabetes and hypertension at Kilembe Mines Hospital in Kasese Municipality early last week.