62 KILLED AS UGANDA MOVES AGAINST TRIBAL RULER

Not fewer than 62 people have been killed in a clash in Western Uganda after clashes between the police and the militia loyal to the tribal king, according to regional police. An initial 55 deaths has been reported earlier on Sunday.

So far, we managed to kill 46 of the royal guards and we also arrested 139 guards, regional police spokesman Mansur Suwed told the Reuters News agency. He said the number of officers killed had risen to 16 from 14 after two additional officers died from the severe wounds they sustained during the clash.

Police arrested King Charles Wesley Mumbere on Sunday and accused his supporters of trying to create a new state in the area near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. Mumbere has distanced himself from the cause. However, the authorities accused his royal guards of training in the mountains besides separatist militia forces to attack government installations. The situation is volatile. Several of our guards have been killed after the government gave an order to disband the royal guards immediately, which is not easy," Clarence Bwambale, Rwemzururu kingdom spokesman, told the AFP news agency from the palace where he and the king were, as heavy shooting echoed in the background.