A tribal king in Uganda has received a warm and celebratory welcome upon returning home, marking his return seven years after a police raid on his palace resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals.
The streets of Kasese were filled with joyful crowds as Charles Wesley Mumbere, the King of Rwenzururu, arrived.
In 2016, he faced accusations of leading a militia from his palace with the intention of establishing an independent state.
The Ugandan government reported that just over 100 individuals were killed during the police operation, but human rights organizations claim that the actual number of casualties was much higher.
King Mumbere and many others were charged with various offenses, including treason, murder, and terrorism. However, the case was dropped by prosecutors after they applied for amnesty.
The Rwenzururu kingdom, comprised of ethnic Bakonzo people, has a history of separatist aspirations and long-standing tensions with the Ugandan government.