The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) says it is to redeploy soldiers at the Rwenzururu King Charles Mumbere’s palace in Kasese district.
The move is in response to the Cultural Leaders’ call. Last week the Isabaruuli Mwogezi Butanyanya, the chairperson of Uganda kings and cultural leaders’ forum asked government to re-deploy the UPDF guards that had been withdrawn from the Omusinga’s palace.
Now according to the UPDF spokesperson Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda redeployment was ordered by President Yoweri Museveni following a meeting held with the Omusinga.
Ankunda adds that traditional flags at subcounties will now be hoisted by police instead of royal guards, and that all traditional royal guards are to be demobilized into wealth creation programs.
The UPDF withdrew its guards following a shooting in which 2 soldiers died near the palace.
The post-election violence in the region has left about 45 people dead including civilians, police and army.
Of the dead, 15 are from Kasese while the rest died in Bundibugyo district.
Story By Catherine Ageno
