Hundreds of mourners were left in shock after the Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere and political leaders from Kasese snubbed the funeral of the Rwenzururu Queen Mother, Christine Biira Mukirania.
The development followed disagreements between Mumbere and his two brothers on where to bury their mother, who succumbed to hypertension and diabetes at Kilembe Mines Hospital early last week. She was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon at Mumbere’s ancestral home in Kirindi in Harugale Sub County in Bundibugyo district.
However, Mumbere who even sought court’s permission to go bury his mothe had directed that the deceased be laid to rest at her estate in Nyamirangara village in Muhokya sub county of Kasese District, only for his brother, Christopher Kibanzanga, the Rwenzururu Chief Prince to defy the directive. He would later pick the body from Buhinga Hospital mortuary,took it to Bundibugyo and buried it.
Mumbere who was granted 14 days leave to go bury the mother was however angry over this and cancelled the intended trip. He declined to bury the queen mother in Bundibugyo, prompting the other immediate family members to also skip the funeral. Kibanzanga and his elder sister Princess Jane Muhindo were the only family members that attended the funeral.
Mumbere’s other brother, William Kibanzanga accused Kibanzanga of using their mother’s death to further his political ambitions.
Also, Political leaders from Kasese district which also doubles as the seat of the Rwenzururu Kingdom and Kingdom officials were no-show at the sendoff of the queen mother. Only Jackson Mbaju Kathika who represents Busongora County South Constituency appeared, while the other 5 MPs from Kasese snubbed the event.
Bundibugyo residents applauded Kibanzanga for bringing the body of the queen mother to her ancestral land.
