Ugandan Opposition Lawmakers Want ICC to Investigate Kasese Massacre

Six Ugandan opposition lawmakers have written to the International Criminal Court (ICC) requesting for investigations into the recent Kasese massacre, where at least 62 people died. In the petition, William Nzoghu, the member of parliament for the town of Kasese in Western Uganda, sensationally claimed that the number of people killed in the massacre was more than 200, according to Africa News.

The MP also accused Ugandan security forces, including the military, of carrying out the “genocide,” saying the killings constitute possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“We have evidence of the designed, deliberate, premeditated and well-orchestrated plan which was not provoked by the kingdom leadership and its subjects but by a blood thirsty army outfit,” Nzoghu said Wednesday.

The lawmakers also produced a letter, allegedly from the ICC, confirming the receipt of complaints over alleged crimes against humanity in Kasese. According to All Africa, the international court noted that the letter does not imply that an investigation has been opened or will be opened by the office of the prosecutor.

Deadly Police Raid

It is alleged that Ugandan police officers raided the palace of King Charles Wesley Mumbere of Ruwenzururu Kingdom on Saturday November 27th, 2016, accusing him of inciting his royal guards to carry out attacks on Kasese.

The Ugandan government accused the king’s guards of attacking security forces patrolling the town with an improvised grenade, which allegedly killed 14 police officers.

Reports also indicate that Pesident Yoweri Museveni called King Mumbere on the morning of the raid, requesting him to disband his security force believed to be part of a rebel group pushing for the creation of an independent state straddling Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Although Ugandan police still insist that only 62 people died, the majority of whom belonged to the king’s royal guard, conflicting reports put the death toll at more than 200, with many critics saying the executions were uncalled for.

“Civilians [and] wives to the royal guards were at the palace and we know that in the palace there were children and they’re seen neither in police custody nor in the death list,” Jockim, a relative to one of the deceased, told the Daily Monitor.

Prior to being legally declared a traditional monarchy in 2009, Rwenzururu was viewed as a separatist movement, with the Ugandan government insisting that there was an armed militia in the palace and the surrounding Rwenzori Mountains.