Police in the restive Kasese District have recovered at least 25 more bodies from Maliba and Bugoye Sub Counties, even as President Museveni reviewed the situation and appealed for calm with the hope that no innocent person would face inconvenience or suffer any loss.
Sowed Mansur, the Rwenzori East Police spokesperson says Police is still searching for more bodies in Kisinga, Maliba, Bwesumbu, Bugoye and Buhuhira but the authorities are yet to establish whether the latest bodies are for Rwenzururu royal guards or residents in the area. The recovery of the bodies brings the number of those killed in the Kasese clashes 126 people.
Mansur doesn’t rule out that the number of those killed increasing. According to Mansur, Police will continue with its operations to wipe out the royal guards who are scattered in different parts of the district.
Records at Kasese Police Station show that 55 people were killed on Saturday among them 14 police officers and 44 civilians believed to be royal guards. Another 46 royal guards were killed when the army launched an offensive on the palace of Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere.
The king of Rwenzururu Kingdom could face treason charges if he is found guilty of being behind the deadly violence this weekend.
The king is accused of inciting violence after militiamen reportedly attacked a police post in his hometown of Kasese.
Security forces stormed his palace amid claims he was harbouring fighters. The king has denied any involvement.
It is seven years since President Yoweri Museveni recognised the kingdom, which has a long history of separatism and whose community complains of being marginalised by central government.
