Uganda’s leading opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) officials and supporters have gathered at party headquarters in Najjanankumbi to hold prayers for Kasese; they have postponed regional conferences and rallies.
FDC’s chief mobilizer Ingrid Turinawe on Tuesday said that the government was persecuting the people in the Rwenzori area, particularly Kasese district for voting for opposition in the last general polls, talking all five parliamentary seats there.
“The same prayers will be held in Kasese at the date that will be communicated after the first prayers at Najjanankumbi today,” Ms Turinawe said.
More than 60 people, including 16 police officers, perished in the latest skirmishes that initially began in the neighbouring Kabarole District last Thursday before culminating in the Sunday bombing of the royal palace.
Overall, some 207 people have died Rwenzori region in different violent episodes over the last two years, according to the government.
King Charles Mumbere who openly campaigned for FDC’s presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye was detained after government forces raided his palace on Sunday.
He has been charged with murder related to the killing of a police officer in March, not the unrest over the weekend.
King Charles has denied any involvement in the violence.
The authorities accuse him of launching a secessionist movement to create a new state, to be called Yiira.
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