Charles Mumbere

Charles Wesley Mumbere (born in 1953) is the current king of the African kingdom of Rwenzururu, which is part of Uganda.

Biography

Rwenzururu was established in the 1962 as the result of a secessionist movement by the Bakonjo people in the mountainous region of western Uganda. The revolt was led by Mumbere's father, Isaya Mukirane, who was recognized as the region's king.^[1] Mumbere inherited the title at age 13, and assumed the position of king at age 18. When he was 30, he made an agreement with the government of Uganda by which the government sent him to the United States for an education. In 1984, at age 30, he enrolled in business school, but his government stipend was cut off. He obtained political asylum in the United States in 1987, received nurse's aide training, and began working in a nursing home near Washington, D.C.. He later moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he continued as a nurse's aide.^[1]

He kept his royal title secret during most of his 25 years in the United States.^[2] In July, 2009 Mumbere mentioned his kingship in an interview with The Patriot-News, the primary newspaper of Harrisburg, and said that he was considering returning to Uganda,^[1] which had recently recognized Rwenzururu and designated Mumbere as Omusinga, or king.^[3]

In October 2009, Mumbere returned to his homeland, where he was crowned on October 19.^[1] His authority is limited to social and cultural matters.^[4]

References