Mbale, Uganda: The Bugisu Cultural Institution has demanded a formal apology from National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, for presiding over an Imbalu circumcision ceremony during his visit to Mbale City on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Speaking to DailyExpress on Saturday, the institution’s spokesperson, Steven Masiga, said Bobi Wine’s participation in the ceremony constituted an unacceptable intrusion into cultural affairs, which were not part of his approved political itinerary under Electoral Commission (EC) guidelines.
“Kyagulanyi Robert, being a lawyer and a politician, is well-grounded in the law and should clearly distinguish between political roles and cultural roles,” Masiga said. “As a cultural institution, we do not believe that launching Imbalu was one of the activities that brought him to Mbale. It was not part of his official itinerary.”
‘Cultural Roles Were Hijacked’
Masiga says Bobi Wine was in Mbale City to hold political rallies in Northern City Division, but later presided over an Imbalu circumcision ceremony in Nakaloke, where one or more candidates underwent the ritual.
While he acknowledged the cosmopolitan nature of Nakaloke, home to people from different sub-tribes, including Bagwere and Banyole, Masiga stressed that the ceremony took place on Bugisu land and therefore demanded cultural restraint.
“On account of the fact that this was Bugisu land, Bobi Wine should have restrained himself from acting as a chief guest at what was clearly a cultural function,” he noted.
The Bukhuka spokesperson added that politicians should not assume roles reserved for cultural leaders, warning that such actions blur constitutionally protected boundaries. “It is wrong for politicians to hijack roles meant for cultural leaders. The Umukuka of Bugisu is legally restrained from engaging in politics, and we equally ask politicians to respect our lane,” Masiga said.
The Bugisu Cultural Institution revealed that it is considering imposing cultural sanctions on Bobi Wine for what it described as a breach of tradition. “These may range from the payment of animals to appease the Bamasaaba spirits,” Masiga disclosed, noting that consultations were ongoing within the institution.
He also called on the Electoral Commission to ensure that political candidates fully disclose and adhere to their approved programmes, and that cultural institutions are respected as independent entities.
Official Imbalu Season Explained
Masiga reiterated that the official Imbalu season in Bugisu is held in August and September every even year, with the recognised launch venue being Mutoto Cultural Grounds.
“The official Imbalu ceremony is presided over by His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma and attracts cultural leaders from across Africa,” Masiga said. “Circumcision is a purely cultural ritual and should never be mixed with politics.”
He warned that similar conduct by politicians would not be tolerated in Bugisu or elsewhere in the country. “Political actors must strictly confine themselves to the programmes that bring them to any region,” Masiga said.
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