The King with his Queen (Photo taken in London, February 2009)
Omusinga Isaya Mukirania and Charles Mumbere Irema-Ngoma.
After Nyamutswa obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu was again spearheaded by Omusinga Isaya Mukirania Kibanzanga I as an overall human ruler of the Mountains. He ruled from June 30, 1962 to September 2, 1966 with Samwiri Mukirania as a Prime Minister. His son Prince Charles Mumbere Irema-Ngoma was crowned king in place of his father on October 19, 1966 with Yolamu Mulima as his Prime Minister who ws later replaced by Yeremiya Muhongya. The following were the first county chiefs in 1963; Yasamu Balyananzighu - Burahya County Yoweri Nziabake - Bwamba / Bughendera County Fenehasi Bwambale - Busongora County John Basighirenda - Bunyoro County
Members of the first Cabinet were appointed by Isaya Mukirania in 1964 and comprised of the following; Omusinga Isaya Mukirania Kibanzanga I (King)
- Omusinga Isaya Mukirania (King)
- Samwiri Mukirania (Omulerembera - Prime Minister)
- Yowasi Kabundu (Minister of Public Service)
- Yohana Mwambalha (Minister of Finance)
- Benezeri Musoki (Minister of Immigration)
- Douglas Mulewa (Minister of Natural Resources)
- Eriya Ngobi (Minister of Defence)
- Zakaria Owa-Mutaratara (Minister of Security)
- Sirasi Basambya Mbene (Assistant Minister of Security)
- Yosia Masereka Musibatai (Rwenzururu Kingdom General Secretary)
- John Basighirenda (Minister of Education)
- Kesi Thasi (Minister of Religious Affairs)
- Daniel Maate (Chief Justice)
- Ernest Baluku (Principal Private Secretary)
Omusinga Mumbere and the Government of Uganda
On August 15, 1982 during the second rule of Dr Apolo Milton Obote, Omusinga Charles and his government willingly descended from Buhirira Royal Palace down the mountains to Kasese Town and handed over his soldiers and ammunition to the government of Uganda. This was done in order to create space for dialogue and peaceful negotiations for a recognition of the Kingdom by the Uganda Government. Omusinga Irema-Ngoma was then declared by the Government of Uganda as the Chief Elder of the District of Kasese and his Prime Minister as the Administrative Secretary of the same. In 1984 Omusinga Mumbere was given a special government scholarship to the United States of America. Mr Yofesi Masereka Mutanywana deputized him as a chief elder.
In the 1993, the NRM Government of Uganda, in the Constitutional Assembly, restored kingdoms and created legal space for others to be created as cultural institutions, but did not recognize the RwenzururuKingdom. This lacuna in the law of the NRM Uganda government remained a contentious issue between government and the RwenzoriMountain dwellers. The Bakonzo members of the Constitutional Assembly, namely Hon. Ivan Walemba, Hon. Loice Biira Bwambale, and Hon Joseph Kule Muranga advocated for the restoration of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu as a cultural institution, the Banyarwenzururu population supported them. Hon. Crispus Kiyonga and Hon. Jerome Mbura-Muhindo opposed the idea of Banyarwenzururu restoring their kingdom. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga withdrew his antagonistic spirit against Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu in 2007 and requested his supporters to rally behind him in support of the institution. The NRM cadres in Kasese worked with Omusinga Mumbere Irema-Ngoma and other Banya-Rwenzururu to have government officially recognize the Kingdom.
In December 1998 and January 1999 Omusinga was invited from the United States of America by His Excellence President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to come and help the government of Uganda in the restoration of peace and order in the Rwenzori Region after the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic Fundamentalist group, that was said to have been supported by the Sudanese government, found sanctuary in the mountains and used it as a military base. Omusinga preached peace and harmony and rejection of ADF intruders in his monarchy. In respect of the King, the Bakonzo people asked government to arm them and fight side by side with government troops against ADF until it was defeated. President Museveni promised to recognize the Kingdom after the restoration of peace in the region. Meetings were attended by Hon. James Wapakhabulo, Hon. Muruli Mukasa, Hon. Loice Biira Bwambale, Hon Mulindwa Birimumaso, Major General Salim Saleh, Hon Kithende Kalibogha, Hon. Dr. Cripus Kiyonga, Hon. Prince Christopher Mbalibulha Kibanzanga and Rev. Bent from Norway.
The King's Council
During his 1998/99 visit Omusinga Mumbere Irema-Ngoma put in place a council to spearhead negotiations with the government of Uganda for the restoration of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu. This council is referred to as Rewenzururu Kingdom Recognition Council. Although its members are appointed by the Omusinga himself, they serve as Peoples Representatives. After celebrating the 41 anniversary of the coronation on October 19, 2007, the Rwenzururu monarch, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma announced a reshuffle of the members of his council on November 30, 2007 and officially inaugurated it at Buhikira royal palace on March 9, 2008.
The council includes;
Mr. Constantine Bwambale - Executive Chairman
Mr. Yolamu Mulima - Vice Chairman for Mobilization
Mr. Enock Muhindo - Vice chairman for Administration
Mr Godfrey Kabbyanga - Vice Chairman for Finance
Mr. Thembo Kitsumbire - Chief of Security
Mr. Noah Nzaghale - Acting Secretary to the Council
Dr. Yona Balyage - Coordinator for Historical Research
Mr Yowasi Mugamba Thembo - Chairman for BanyaRwenzururu in Kampala City.
Mr. Milton Kibaba - Assistant Chairman for Kampala Community
Mr. George Kahiwa - Member (Chairman for Bundibugyo)
Mr. Yoweri Nziabake (Representative of Rwenzururu Veterans)
Mr. Nelson Sunday Ndungo - Member (Chairman - Kasese)
Mr. Sindani Mulhondi - Member (Chairman - Kyathenga)
Dr. Arthur Syahuka Muhindo - Member (Chairman- Higher Institutions of Learning)
Mrs Teddy Kiswahili - Member (Women Chairperson)
Ms Joy Biira Member
Mr. Robert Kaija Baguma - Member Bundibugyo
Mr. Paulo Rwibende - Member - Bunyangabu - Kitswamba.
Mr. Godfrey Munyirambi - Member - Youth Chairman.
Mr. Yehosafati Kule School Band Member
Mrs Miriyosi Kapili - Member
Mr. Baluwe Yakobo - Member Bundibugyo
Mr Wakame Charles - Member Bundibugyo
Mrs Mary Ndibatighirani - Member- Bundibugyo
Mr. Mukwenda Misairi - Member Bundibugyo
Mr. Lombo Thembo - Member Bundibugyo
Mr. Mugoba John - Member Bundibugyo
Mr. Isaya Kyeya - Member Bundibugyo
Mr. Kathya Aganatiya Member
Hon. Biira Loice Bwambale - Member
Hon Kule Joseph Muranga - Member - Kyabarungira
In addition to the Recognition Council Members there is an advisory committee that comprises of the following:
Rt. Rev. Bishop Jackson Thembo Nzerebende Chairperson
Mr. Erisania Isingoma Cameroon Secretary
Mr. Yonasani Kamabu Member
Mrs Zubeda Mukirania Member
Mrs Yoneki Biira Member
Mr. Boaz Sunday Member
HRH Nyamusinga Christine Mukirania member
Mzee Kahamba Member
Chairmen LC V - Kasese and Bundibugyo Districts.
RDCs Kasese and Bundibugyo Districts
All Members of Parliament in Kasese and Bundibugyo Districts
Retired Bishop Zebedee Kahangwa Masereka member
All Religous leaders in Bundibugyo and Kasese Districts.
Mr Musonoza Yositasi - Member
Mr. David Nguru appointed by Omusinga as the Special Envoy of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu to the European Union based in the UK.
Mr Constatine Bwambale who has been serving as the chairman of the recognition Council has been appointed as Omulerembera (Prime Minister of the Rwenzururu Kingdom).
The appointment was made on June 3, 2009 and confirmed on The Rt Honourable Constatine Bwambale at a meeting of the Obusinga Executive Committee Recognition Council at Buhikira Royal Palace, Kasese.
1965 - 1971 Samwiri Mukirania
1972 - 1976 Yolamu Mulima
1976 - 1982 Yeremiya Muhongya
2009 - Present Constantine Bwambale |