Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere is a free man, for now! The king can at least afford a smile after Jinja High Court judge Eva Luswata granted a Shs 500m non cash bail.
In her Friday afternoon ruling, justice Luswata agreed with the submissions of king Mumbere’s defence lawyers led by Caleb Alaka that the king has two fixed residences in Muyenga and Kasese among others things. Fixed residence is one the conditions for bail, the reason the Kanyamunyu brothers and Cynthia failed to get bail. It’s time to get yourselves a permanent residence!
Each of his six sureties, including the Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza who doubles as the Kasese Woman member of parliament, were also bonded Shs100 million, not cash as well.
Charles Mumbere however was slapped travel restrictions to Kasese, Kabarole and Bundibugyo districts which are the population of his kingdom. In other words, he has been restricted from travelling to his kingdom.
The judge in her analysis, dismissed the fears of the state that once the king who commands a huge following of over seven million subjects is released on bail, he will interfere with investigations.
Principal State Attorney Rachael Bikhole had raised an objection, saying the Jinja High Court which was presiding over the matter did not have the required jurisdiction.