Rwenzururu Kingdom Queen Mother is dead
By Fahad Masereka
The Rwenzururu Kingdom Queen Mother Christine Biira Mukirania is dead. She died on Tuesday at Kilembe Mines Hospital, Bulembya division, Kasese municipality.
She was admitted to the hospital on May 28, 2019 after being transferred from Kasese hospital. She had been admitted at Kasese hospital for quite some time though kingdom officials declined to disclose what had been ailing her.
Kilembe Mines Hospital administrator Onesmus Kibaya revealed that the queen mother died at 11:40am.
He further explained that at the time of her death plans were underfoot to transfer the queen mother to Mulago Hospital for further management of her case.
He said her body had been transferred to the regional referral mortuary in Fort Portal.
Like the kingdom officials we spoke to, Kibaya declined to comment on the cause of death of the queen mother. He said a port mortem would be conducted and results released to the royal family.
The LC V chairperson Kasese district Godfrey Bigogo confirmed the death of the queen mother. He described her as one of the most important persons in the kingdom and her passing a great loss.
Christine Biira Mukirania is the mother of the current Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere. Omusinga Mumbere is currently in Kampala under strict bail conditions to stay away from his kingdom. He faces charges of treason and murder among others for the November 26, 2016 confrontation between his followers and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) that left over 100 people dead.
The queen mother had a public falling out with her son when she challenged the legitimacy of his reign. She called for a new king for the kingdom saying that Omusinga Mumbere had been misled by his advisors to oppose the sitting government of President Yoweri Museveni.
Agriculture minister and brother to Omusinga Mumbere, William Kibazanga said the burial arrangements will be communicated by the spokesperson of the Obusinga Bya Rwenzururu.
