Mbale City, Uganda: The Bugisu Cultural Institution has announced plans to extend the revered Imbalu traditional circumcision ritual to South Africa and Eswatini, in a landmark cultural export aimed at reducing fatalities associated with unsafe circumcision practices in the southern African region.
His Highness Umukuka III Jude Mike Mudoma revealed the development during a planning meeting with traditional surgeons held on Monday at the Bugisu Cultural Institution headquarters.
The Umukuka said several traditional kings in southern Africa made a formal request for Bugisu surgeons to support and train local practitioners after he visited South Africa last year.
“While I was in South Africa, many traditional leaders requested that Bugisu surgeons be sent to help,” the Umukuka said. “There are high levels of fatalities during circumcision there. Our surgeons will train and also directly participate in Imbalu ceremonies to ensure safety and preservation of culture.”
The revelation was confirmed to DailyExpress by the spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Steven Masiga, who said preparations are already underway ahead of the 2026 Imbalu season.
Masiga said the institution is in advanced stages of training more than 3,000 traditional surgeons across the Bugisu sub-region, as part of efforts to professionalise and standardise the practice.
“Today we held a planning meeting with district chairpersons of traditional surgeons across Bugisu,” Masiga said. “We agreed on key issues, including dates for the upcoming training and the issuance of mandatory certificates to all recognised traditional surgeons.”
He said the Umukuka has issued a binding cultural decree requiring every traditional surgeon to undergo training and obtain an official certificate bearing the seal of the Bugisu Cultural Institution before being allowed to conduct circumcision.
“Any traditional surgeon without this certificate will not be allowed to practice,” Masiga said. “This is a firm cultural directive by the Umukuka aimed at safety, discipline and cultural integrity.”
Under the new framework, the Umukuka will personally oversee the issuance of certificates to qualified surgeons on behalf of the cultural institution.
The meeting was presided over by the Bugisu Minister for Culture, Moses Kutoi, who emphasised the need for order, training and accountability among traditional surgeons as Imbalu continues to attract regional and international attention.
Meanwhile, the Bugisu Cultural Institution Minister for Health, Dr Namome Robinah, will coordinate with key stakeholders including the Uganda AIDS Commission, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health to ensure the training programme meets health and safety standards.
Masiga further revealed that the Umukuka has committed to establishing a savings and development organisation for traditional surgeons, as well as developing a formal constitution to regulate their leadership, conduct and welfare.
He said the initiative marks a major step in safeguarding the Imbalu tradition while positioning Bugisu cultural practices on the international stage.
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