MBALE — In a stark display of the deepening rift within Bugisu’s cultural and political leadership, only one Member of Parliament from the entire sub-region showed up at a high-profile dinner hosted by Umukuka III Jude Mike Mudoma on Friday evening, as fellow MPs, district LC5 chairpersons, and local leaders largely stayed away.
The exclusive dinner, held at Mount Elgon Hotel in Mbale City on the eve of the official launch of the 2026 Imbalu circumcision season, was intended as a unifying prelude to one of the Bagisu people’s most sacred traditional rites. Instead, it underscored months of simmering tensions over authority, funding, and the very legitimacy of the cultural institution’s leadership.
According to reports from the event, the sparsely attended gathering still drew other cultural dignitaries. Among those present were His Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng, the Emorimor of the Iteso Cultural Union, and His Majesty Isabaruuli Constantine Mwogezi Butamanya of the Buruuli Chiefdom, alongside officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The ministry’s delegation, led by Assistant Commissioner for Family Affairs Lucy Otto, participated in the royal dinner marking the start of Imbalu-related activities. State Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations Simon Mulongo was expected to join later for the main launch.
Yet the near-total absence of Bugisu’s elected representatives and local government leaders spoke volumes. Sources close to the organisers confirmed that only a single MP from the sub-region — which covers districts including Mbale, Sironko, Manafwa, Bududa, Namisindwa, Bulambuli and parts of neighbouring areas — made an appearance. LC5 chairpersons and other local leaders who had been expected to lend official weight to the occasion stayed away.
The boycott comes against a backdrop of escalating disputes. In recent months, a section of Bugisu MPs has been accused by the Bugisu Cultural Institution (Bukuka) of attempting to strip the Umukuka of his traditional role in presiding over Imbalu ceremonies. Clan leaders, known as Bebikuka, have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni, warning that such moves threaten cultural heritage protected under the Constitution and the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act.
LC5 chairpersons have also voiced frustration over the handling of funds allocated for Imbalu preparations, including claims that only a fraction of expected resources reached the ground. Parallel leadership challenges within the cultural institution have further complicated matters, with the government earlier declaring the 2026 Imbalu launch a “neutral cultural event” to be overseen by district leaders rather than any rival Umukuka faction, in a bid to preserve peace and unity.
Today’s official launch at Mutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale City is expected to feature the traditional circumcision of selected candidates from the BaMutoto clan, after which the rite will spread across the 26 Bamasaba clans. Reports circulating Saturday morning indicated that Umukuka Mudoma himself would not preside over or attend the main ceremony, consistent with the government’s neutral stance.
Despite the political cold shoulder, Mudoma has maintained a defiant posture in previous public statements, insisting on fulfilling his mandate and restoring unity among the Bamasaba. Supporters argue that the low turnout at the dinner reflects political manoeuvring rather than a rejection of the culture itself, pointing to the presence of visiting cultural leaders and ministry officials as evidence of broader recognition.
Critics within the region counter that the Umukuka’s leadership style, decisions on institutional structures, and handling of preparations have alienated key stakeholders whose cooperation is essential for a successful and peaceful Imbalu season.
As thousands of Bagisu and visitors converge on Mutoto for the launch, the empty chairs at Friday’s dinner serve as a potent symbol of unresolved fractures. Whether the isolation of the cultural leader will affect the vibrancy of the season ahead — or force a reckoning among political and traditional authorities — remains one of the most closely watched questions in Bugisu today.
The 2026 Imbalu season, occurring once every two years in traditional cycles, is expected to draw participants and spectators from across Uganda and the diaspora, underscoring both the enduring power of the rite and the urgent need for reconciliation among those who claim to steward it.
No comments:
Post a Comment