Tensions mount in Bugisu ahead of court ruling on Inzu Ya Masaaba leadership

Mbale, (UG):- The cultural council of Bugisu Kingdom led by the prime minister for Bamasaba Cultural Institution (Inzu Ya Masaaba) Mr Gumali Guwanga has warned people coming outside Bamasaaba land to avoid deciding the direction of matters of their cultural institution citing that the matters of two controversial parties in the Inzu Ya Masaba leadership dispute are yet to be decided by the court.

While addressing the media at his office in Mbale City on Friday, April 19, Mr Guwanga responded to one Richard Wambedde who appeared on UBC Mbale last weekend and castigated the camp of HRH Masolo Yaaya Gidudu and reportedly debated on matters of Bamasaba land, a matter lodged in Mbale high court.

In a press statement signed by the Prime Minister, a copy of which DailyExpress has seen, HRH Yaaya Gidudu informed the public about six issues which have since happened since November 2020 when the institution started experiencing mixed issues. He however advised the people to be calm and hardworking to ensure survival for their families.

“The matter of kingship in Masaabaland is still debatable and a number of cases have been filed in Mbale High Court for redress and prayers. Guuga Masolo Yaaya Gidudu is calling upon all Bamasaba and Banambale to rest calm, assured of success and has encouraged everybody to be hard working to make our families survive,” the statement reads in part.

This publication has understood that Mr Wambedde is part of the camp of the sitting Umukuka III Jude Mike Modoma whose validity was challenged for enthroning himself unlawfully and the matter is in court pending a court ruling in May this year.

The Bamasaba accuses Mr Wambedde of coming from a different land and that such people can’t solve issues of tradition, norms and rituals of Bamasaba.

“Intruders in Masaba land continue to mislead our indigenous Bamasaba, for instance, isolated cases of people like Wambedde Richard from a known family of Sabinys from Sebi, under ironic pretence to Bamasaba are positioned to solve the issues of tradition, norms and rituals of Bamasaba. This is practically impossible because this is not politics but a matter of life and blood of Bamasaba (UBC and his talk) Ref; Gasimu Wambedde, Mukuru etc where politics favoured them to be MPs,” the statement adds.

They also say that the Sabiny land and Bamasaba land have a different culture which totally differentiates the two lands pointing at one of them, “Sebei people circumcise girls, Bamasaba circumcise boys, this is the greatest difference between the two cultures and this is the line of separation.”

During the presser, the council assured the public that truth shall be availed by the court to settle the current cultural disorder and also trusted the current ruling government to ensure peace and security for the people given the fact that Kingdoms were restored in the country by the regime.

“That the government of Uganda that restored kingdoms in Uganda is at the forefront to ensure peace and security of all people. Therefore, our disturbing matter of cultural disorder shall be assessed and the truth shall be availed to us by a court of law,” the statement further reads.

The Bugisu cultural institution for Bamasaba has been unsettled for about five years since the demise of Sir. Bob Mushikori Omukuka II, as their cultural constitution, lacked clauses justifying the transition processes of power.

This comes after March 13, 2024, when the High Court in Mbale granted a two-month period for mediation between the two controversial parties in the Inzu Ya Masaaba leadership dispute between HRH Yahaya Masolo Gidudu challenging the validity of Umukuka III Jude Mike Modoma for enthroning himself unlawfully as the Bugisu cultural leader.