Following the re-arrest of Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere after he was granted bail by the Jinja Magistrates court on Friday, Police have slapped new terrorism charges on the embattled cultural leader.
This is not the first time Police is re-arresting suspects shortly after they are granted bail. Several Human Rights activists have also criticized the Police’s tactic of waiting for suspects to get bail and then re-arrest them instead of seeking to amend their charge sheet.
On Friday, Mumbere who had been given bail on tight conditions, including limiting his movements to just the districts of Jinja, Kampala and Wakiso and cannot as well go abroad, pending the outcome of his trial was rearrested on Friday soon after Jinja High Court had granted him the bail.
Mr Andrew Kaweesi, Police spokesperson, said Mr Mumbere is now detained at Nalufenya police division in Jinja district.
He said told TheUgandan that Mumbere, who has been facing terrorism and murder charges that resulted from the November 26 and 27 Kasese clashes, had earlier committed the similar charges between March and April, 2016
“It is wrong to say Mumbere was rearrested. That would mean police rearrested him on the same charges based on the same evidence. Mumbere is facing terrorism and murder charges he committed before the November clashes,” Mr Kaweesi said.
Mumbere was first arrested on 27 November on charges of treason and murder after clashes between royal guards and security forces left more than 60 people dead.
The suspects are being tried at Jinja Chef Magistrates Court on over several counts among others including terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery and robbery.
The government accuse of him of trying to stage a rebellion to secede from Uganda. King Mumbere also has followers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The king denies any involvement in violence.
Uganda Police insists Mr Mumbere will be arraigned before courts of law early next week.
