Seven Buganda Kingdom royals, who were arrested on Tuesday at Lubiri palace, are to appear in court today to answer charges of criminal trespass.
The princes spent a night in Old Kampala police custody after being arrested while attempting to enter the Kingdom’s Mengo palace, the Lubiri.
The seven have been identified as Brian Mulindwa, Kiggundu Kitaggana, Mubiru Njuki, Lukenge Paul Kitoogo, and Lubega Karooli Mwanga. The others are Godfrey Luwagga and Clement Wampamba.
At around 10 am on Tuesday, the group numbering about 20 gathered at the Wankaaki, the main gate at Lubiri and demanded to be allowed to enter the palace. They were however blocked by police that had been deployed earlier in the day. There was commotion as the group engaged in fist fights with another group of youth, who had camped at the palace calling themselves Kabaka’s Security.
Police intervened and arrested those who wanted to force their way into the palace.
Gerald Bakireke, the Old Kampala police commander told Uganda Radio Network that the group, together with others wrote to Buganda Kingdom seeking permission to go to Lubiri, where they say private businesses such as tree planting and private schools are being conducted on the kingdom land. Bakireke however notes that the Kingdom did not give a go ahead for the royals to go to Lubiri.
He says they are to be charged with criminal trespass.
Buganda spokesperson, Charles Peter Mayiga says the kingdom was not aware of the visit adding that he is grateful that police has apprehended those involved.
This comes just four days before the kingdom celebrates the 18th anniversary of Kabaka Mutebi’s coronation.
A group of Baganda royals, most of them descendants of Kabaka Daudi Chwa have been complaining over Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s preference to reside in Banda palace instead of the Lubiri. They have also been questioning why married couples are allowed to stay in Lubiri, which they say is against the norms in Buganda.
The royals reportedly wrote to all princes and princesses of Buganda, clan heads and all well wishers of Buganda to join them in what they call correcting the wrongs in the kingdom.
Nnalinya Gladys Nandaula, one of the royals questioning the Kabaka’s continued stay outside the Lubiri, told our reporter that despite the arrests, they will continue pushing for things to be put right in the palace. She explained that they have no ill motives against the Kabaka. She says they are now trying to get lawyers who will defend the suspects in court.
