BUGWERE, UGANDA: A section of leaders in Bugwere kingdom royal clans have disagreed with the selection of the new Ikumbania of Bugwere cultural institution who was recently enthroned saying it has promoted disunity.
Bugwere comprises the districts of Budaka, Butebo, Pallisa, and Kibuku in eastern Uganda.
The elected Ikumbania, Mr. Musimami Joshua Wilber was enthroned and sworn in on June 25, 2022 at the office of kingdom premier Mugulusi Joseph.
These leaders who double as princes cite that there was no right cultural procedure followed while electing the new Ikumbania after the death of former Ikumbania John Chrysestom Wayabire.
Led by the prime minister (Ekitisha) of the Nagwere Kimaadu clan Hajji Ngobi Muhammad Nzoghi, the leaders argue that the kingdom premier connived with others to elect Ikumbania and carried out the swearing-in ceremony at his place in an illegally cultural way.
“The prime minister Mugulusi was given the responsibility to take on the roles of Ikumbania ahead of electing the new one but it’s unfortunate that he connived with others whom he wished the position and selected the Ikumbania like electing a class monitor, the same day in his home and carrying out swearing-in ceremony. We don’t even know where they got the judge who led the process,” Mr. Ngobi said during a press conference on Thursday.
He said that this was a clear signal that transparency is far away from their actions. Ngobi says that Bugwere needs to be united and to formulate a good constitution without rushing with anything.
“We want to say one thing that Bugwere kingdom to be united, there is need to meet and put right our constitution without rushing with anything because we need to uphold our Bugwere and to work for Bugwere,” Hajji Ngobi added.
He said that the minister of gender and cultural affairs, Hon Peace Regis Mutuuzo, and the entire ministry have not helped them settle their matters saying that only one former RDC in the area Kikomeko Mwanamweiza had started meetings to bring a mutual understanding between the parallel groups before RDC’s transfer.
The minister of public service and cabinet affairs in the office of prime minister Nagwere Kimaadu clan (Ekitisha), Ephraim Rupiya Erisi said that they sat on March 11, 2021, and agreed on some issues among others, to get a constitutional review committee to correct the constitution which will guide them in any cultural activity, reorganizing the clans, but they here about a new Ikumbania even when non of the above has been achieved.
“What we base on to call for the dissolution of Ikumbania is that on March 11, last year, we met and agreed to go back and put right our clans plus getting a constitutional review committee to correct our Constitution which can guide us in doing anything successfully but nothing has been done,” Rupiya said before adding that “we have our colleagues electing Ikumbania and enthroning them yet the constitution is not yet updated.”
The regional secretary and also the deputy speaker in the Nagwere Kimaadu clan, Mugonzi Wagoina Nabuguzi said that the purported Ikumbania started being active after the death of Wayabire (former Ikumbania). He said that some people are using money to mislead people in Bugwere from following the right track but are becoming compromised and urged people in Bugwere to watch out for people compromising them with money.
“We have not been knowing Musimami not until Wayabire died that he started appearing. If you want to work for Bugwere, you don’t need to dish out money because this means that when you get any money in case you’re in leadership, you will pay whatever you wasted,” he said.
“We have come out today to inform people in Bugwere that if you want development, refrain from thinking in financial ranges of 5,000= because they have called you in a meeting and you expect to sign for something,” Nabuguzi advised.
The battle of succession of Ikumbania is among groups of late Ikumbania (JC Wayabire), Nagwere Kimaadu clan, and Mubbala Kintu Balamu who were to be sworn in last Sunday.
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