Mbale — A firestorm of outrage has engulfed Bugisu’s cultural leadership after investigative journalist Musamali Arnold Freeman of Freeman News UG released WhatsApp messages that appear to corroborate claims of massive financial irregularity surrounding government support for the 2026 Imbalu launch.
The messages, circulating widely on social media and local platforms in recent days, have left Umukuka Jude Mike Mudoma fuming. Sources close to the cultural institution say the Umukuka is seething over what he views as a deliberate “explosion” of his office’s handling of funds, with the journalist squarely in his crosshairs.
What you Need to Know:
According to multiple reports from the Imbalu organising committee — which includes LC5 chairpersons from across the Bugisu sub-region — the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development released Shs50 million to Umukuka Mudoma’s office to support preparations for the traditional circumcision launch at Mutoto Cultural Grounds. Only Shs16 million reportedly reached the committee, leaving a shortfall of approximately Shs34 million unaccounted for.
Committee members further alleged that revenue from exhibition spaces allocated to businesses during the celebrations was not remitted to the organisers. Some of the missing funds, according to sources, were redirected toward a high-profile pre-launch dinner at the upscale Mt. Elgon Hotel — an event that itself became a public relations disaster when the vast majority of invited MPs and LC5 chairpersons boycotted it, with only one legislator turning up.
Freeman’s reporting, which has relentlessly tracked the money trail and the resulting disarray, appears to have struck a raw nerve. The released WhatsApp exchanges — said to involve discussions around fund allocation, sponsor approaches, and internal directives — have intensified public pressure and left Mudoma’s office scrambling for damage control.
The timing could hardly have been worse. The allegations surfaced just days before the official Imbalu launch, throwing preparations into chaos. Organisers publicly appealed for support from well-wishers and development partners to salvage the event, warning that critical logistics, performances, and community mobilisation risked being compromised.
Mudoma’s response has been marked by visible anger rather than detailed public accountability. While a spokesperson earlier described the funds as having been “strategically distributed to maximise impact across related activities,” no comprehensive breakdown has been provided. Attempts by journalists, including Freeman, to obtain clearer answers have met limited success. Behind the scenes, sources indicate the cultural leader is particularly incensed at Freeman for what he sees as an aggressive exposé that has damaged his standing among the Bamasaba.
The controversy has deepened existing fractures within Bugisu’s cultural politics. Rival factions have long contested control of the Imbalu ceremonies and Mutoto grounds. Mudoma, recognised as Umukuka III of the gazetted Bugisu Cultural Institution, faced open hostility at the launch itself. Reports indicated he was barred from addressing the crowds at the sacred grounds and later organised an after-party at the cultural offices in Maluku that reportedly drew few attendees. Earlier, there were even claims he might launch the event virtually over fears of public backlash.
For many in Bugisu, the Imbalu is far more than a cultural spectacle. It is a defining rite of passage that affirms identity, courage, and communal bonds. Government funding for such events is intended to bolster heritage, tourism, and social cohesion in the Mt. Elgon region. Allegations that public money intended for the launch was partially diverted have therefore struck at the heart of trust in cultural leadership.
Local leaders and cultural enthusiasts have called for a full audit and transparent reporting on the Shs50 million. Social media has been flooded with demands for accountability, with many praising Freeman’s dogged reporting while others caution against personalising institutional failures.
As of now, the Umukuka’s office has not issued a comprehensive rebuttal to the specific claims in the leaked messages or the broader allegations of diversion. Freeman continues to stand by his reporting, framing it as a matter of public interest and the proper stewardship of resources meant for one of Bugisu’s most sacred traditions.
The episode leaves the Bamasaba community grappling with uncomfortable questions: how public funds for cultural preservation are managed, who holds cultural leaders to account, and whether the Imbalu season can proceed with the unity and dignity it demands when trust has been so publicly eroded.
This story is developing.
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