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July 22, 2023
Religious leaders ask the government to speed up formulation of family policy
July 26, 2023Government Upholds Umukuuka Mudoma’s court ruling, asks Amb. Wamimbi to intervene on 26 Bugisu clan heads to decide their cultural leader
By Nathan Ngobi
Government finally upheld and adhered to the court ruling of Jude Mike Mudoma and Attorney General’s advice to have the 26 cultural clan leaders of Bugisu resolve the conflict over who is the rightful Umukuuka of Inzu Ya Bamasa (Cultural leader).
The Meeting to resolve the matter will take place on Wednesday 26th July 2023 at Mbale District council Hall chaired by the Umukuuka Emeritus Amb. Wilson Wamimbi the first cultural leader of Bamasaba.
This follows a July 14th 2023 letter written by Peace Regis Mutozo the state minister of gender in charge of cultural affairs addressed to former Umukuuka Wilson Wamimbi Weasa asking him to guide by chairing the 26 cultural clan leaders of Bugisu to resolve the ongoing long time cultural leadership conflict as was advised by the Attorney General and a court judgement of Jude Mike Mudoma against the ministry of gender and Cultural affairs.
Mbale High court in its ruling and Attorney General advised that Bugisu’s 26 cultural clan leaders be consulted to resolve the impasse of who is the rightful Umukuuka between Jude Mike Mudoma and John Amran Wagabyalire.
“I write to notify you of the cultural leadership conflict in Bugisu cultural Institution following the death of Umukuuka 11 Bob Mushikoli.
Pursuit of section 16 of the institution of traditional cultural leaders Act.2011 as a remedy provided by the high court ruling that delivered on 05th September ,2022 held at Mbale miscellaneous cause No.08 0f 2022 arising from Jude Mike Mudoma vs ministry of Gender labour and social development and Attorney General, it was guided that the clan leaders of the 26 clans of Bugisu should resolve the dispute of who is the rightful cultural leader.
This is the same advice which was given by the Attorney General in a letter of 24th November 2021 which guided on how the Bagisu cultural clan leaders can resolve the standoff in the Bugisu community.” Read parts of Peace Regis Mutuuzo’s letter to former Umukuuka Wilson Wamimbi.
The minister went ahead and stated in her letter that following the submission of the 26 clan chairpersons with a list of their names on 29th June 2023 to the ministry of Gender ,Labour and social Development it was noted that there was no clear cultural leader of Bugisu community and that even the organs of the cultural institution had elapsed..
“In light to the above, I hereby guide that a meeting comprising of only the 26 clan leaders be conducted on a date to be agreed upon by them to resolve the issue of who is the Umukuuka 111 we Bamasaba within 30 days effective from the date of receipt of this communication” Minister Mutuuzo pointed out.
She also noted that the process should follow the guidelines in the gazette constitution of Inzu ya Bamasaba and her ministry would send an observer.
While in his letter on 17th July 2023 Amb. Wilson Wamimbi told minister Peace Regis Mutuuzo that the 26 clan leaders of Bugisu sat in a meeting and agreed to meet on Wednesday 26th July 2023 to resolve the matter at Mbale District Hall.
“After consultations with the 26 clan leaders of Bugisu in a meeting held on Monday 17th July 2023 it was agreed that the meeting will take place on 26th July 2023 at Mbale district Hall to resolve the disputed” read parts of Wilson Wamimbi’s letter to Mutuuzo.
However , speaking to Demiano Wamimbi one of the Cultural delegates of Bugisu from Bunghoko said that Bugisu has been patient for a long time waiting for the matter to be resolved and this time round hope all the parties would accept the outcome.
“I am one of those who elected the Umukuuka as a delegate but out term of office expired long ago, but by the time of the election we were still legible but were affected by Covid 19 issues, but for now we want to end the matter very well though am not one of the clan leaders” Said Demiano Wamimbi.
Wagabyalire speaks out
According to Wagabyalire John, one of those conflicting over the Bugisu cultural throne told The Second Opinion that the decision to have the 26 clan leaders resolve the conflict is wrong and not constitutional.
He added that Wamimbi Wilson is biased because he wrote a letter to the prime minister Rt. Hon. Robina Nabanja gave his position a long time ago about the matter.
“Am being forced into this fresh election by the 26 clan leaders but I will go and attend, then later consult my people on how to go over the outcome” Said Wagabyalire.
Mudoma not Scared
On his part Jude Mike Mudoma said that he is not scared about the fresh decisions or elections by the 26 clan leaders whom he has a lot of respect for .
“I respect all the clan leaders and I have ever beaten Wagabyalire in cultural elections many times , so am optimistic our cultural clan leaders who actually know the truth would decide in my favour as usual so that we end this Mudoam vs Wagabyalire cultural leadership battles and start serving our people of Bamasaba without segregation” Mudoma said.
He asked Wagabyalire to accept this time the outcome of the 26 clan leaders whom he knows and have Bugisu at heart.
Mudoma called for unity and calm after the 26 clan leaders appended their final position of who is the rightful cultural leaders of Bamasaba.
Earlier Betty Among Ongom the minister for Gender labour and Social Development asserted to the Second Opinion that Government does not recognize any of the factions claiming the leadership of Inzu Ya Bamasaba and has NOT Gazzetted any of them.
She said that the two parties were advised long ago to follow the legal opinion of the Solicitor General and Attorney General in resolving their disputes before her ministry gazettes the legitimate cultural leader.
She added that if the community of Bamasaba cultural institution through the clan leaders or council of Elders is not able to resolve the dispute under their norms and traditions of Bamasaba culture, then the parties can seek court redress.
According to minister Betty Amongi revealed that the two leaders’ elections were illegal as interpreted by the Solicitor General’s letter.
Wagabyalire Amran John his election was conducted in December 2020 when the term of office of the organs of the Inzu Ya Bamasaba had lapsed on 15th October 2020 this makes his election invalid, while as Mudoma Jude Mike who was elected in the right time but got troubles because there was a court order stopping any Inzu election during that time.
The long time cultural leadership parallel rival camps of Jude Mike Mudoma and Amran Wagabyalire started in Bugisu fighting to replace the late Bob Kapiro Mushikoli as the 3rd Omukuka who died on 4th January 2021.
The ministry of Gender revealed that this time they will gazette whoever emerges victorious out of the resolution from the 26 cultural clan leaders’ decision from Bugisu.
Bellow is the list of the 26 legitimate cultural clan leaders slated to determine the rightful Umukuuka of Inzu Ya Bamasaba.
