Charles Mumbere
Encyclopedia
Charles Wesley Mumbere is the king of the African kingdom of Rwenzururu, which is part of Uganda
.
. The revolt was led by Mumbere's father, Isaya Mukirane, who was recognized as the region's king. 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.
He kept his royal title secret during most of his 25 years in the United States. 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, which had recently recognized Rwenzururu and designated Mumbere as Omusinga, or king.
In October 2009, Mumbere returned to his homeland, where he was crowned on October 19. His authority is limited to social and cultural matters.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
Biography
Rwenzururu was established in the 1962 as the result of a secessionist movement by the Bakonjo people in the mountainous region of western UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. The revolt was led by Mumbere's father, Isaya Mukirane, who was recognized as the region's king. 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
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
, 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
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
near Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He later moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
where he continued as a nurse's aide.
He kept his royal title secret during most of his 25 years in the United States. In July, 2009 Mumbere mentioned his kingship in an interview with The Patriot-News
The Patriot-News
The Patriot-News is the largest daily newspaper serving the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. In 2005, the newspaper was ranked in the top 100 in daily/Sunday circulation in the United States...
, the primary newspaper of Harrisburg, and said that he was considering returning to Uganda, which had recently recognized Rwenzururu and designated Mumbere as Omusinga, or king.
In October 2009, Mumbere returned to his homeland, where he was crowned on October 19. His authority is limited to social and cultural matters.