Video-Parliament Roars with Laughter as Budadiri East MP. Nakiyi Invites Czech Deputy Speaker to Witness Bugisu’s Imbalu Circumcision Festival

Kampala — The usually formal chambers of Uganda’s Parliament erupted in laughter on Tuesday afternoon when newly elected Budadiri East MP Hon. Julius Nakiyi extended a bold, culturally rooted invitation to His Excellency Tomio Okamura (@tomio_cz), the visiting Deputy Speaker (and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies) of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

Video:- https://youtu.be/o6M4caIhglU?si=gOFdemkodRQaXPj0

Nakiyi, representing the Bugisu sub-region constituency in Sironko District, rose during plenary proceedings and invited the Czech parliamentary leader to travel to Bugisu that very afternoon to witness the ongoing Imbalu festival — the Bamasaaba people’s traditional public circumcision ceremony that marks the transition of adolescent boys into manhood.

The invitation, captured and shared by the official Parliament of Uganda account, quickly became one of the lighter moments of the sitting. Lawmakers broke into laughter at the directness of the offer, which blended parliamentary diplomacy with one of Uganda’s most distinctive and enduring cultural rites. Okamura, who was present in the VIP gallery following the proceedings, has been in the country on a private visit that has already included high-profile tourism experiences.

Just a day earlier, Okamura had joined Uganda’s Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa on a gorilla-tracking expedition in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In a gesture of friendship, a baby mountain gorilla was named “Tomio” (or Tomáš) in his honour, underscoring the tourism and conservation focus of the visit. Ugandan legislators later appealed to Okamura to become an ambassador for the country’s tourism sector.

Nakiyi’s invitation shifted the spotlight from wildlife to cultural heritage. Imbalu, practised by the Bagisu (Bamasaaba) community around the slopes of Mount Elgon, is a biennial rite held every even year. It involves public circumcision without anaesthesia, accompanied by vigorous traditional dances, drumming, songs and celebrations. The 2026 season was officially launched in early August at Bumutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale City amid colourful ceremonies that drew thousands from Uganda and neighbouring Kenya. The festival continues across the Bugisu sub-region for weeks, with thousands of initiates expected to take part.

For the people of Bugisu, Imbalu is far more than a medical procedure — it is a profound test of courage, a marker of identity and community belonging, and a major cultural tourism draw. Nakiyi, an engineer and Certified Public Accountant who won the Budadiri East seat in the recent elections on the NRM ticket, framed the invitation as an opportunity for the Czech visitor to experience Uganda’s living traditions firsthand.

The light-hearted parliamentary moment comes against the backdrop of strengthened parliamentary diplomacy between Uganda and the Czech Republic. Okamura’s presence in the House was highlighted by Deputy Speaker Tayebwa, who described the visit as a “vote of confidence” in Uganda, particularly at a time when travel advisories and health concerns have occasionally clouded international perceptions.

While it remained unclear by evening whether Okamura would be able to rearrange his schedule for an immediate trip to Bugisu, the invitation itself generated warm reactions from constituents. Supporters praised Nakiyi for proudly showcasing Bagisu culture on the national and international stage.

As Imbalu celebrations continue across the region, the parliamentary laughter served as a reminder that diplomacy can sometimes take unexpected — and culturally vibrant — forms. Whether or not the Czech Deputy Speaker makes it to the circumcision grounds this season, the invitation has already succeeded in putting Bugisu’s heritage firmly in the spotlight.