Government Backs Court Mediation to Resolve Bugisu Cultural Leadership Dispute

Mbale City – The Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Gender and Culture, Hon. Mary Kuteesa Kamuli, has urged the Bamasaaba community to rely on court-guided mediation and legal processes to resolve cultural disputes rather than depending on opinions and public sentiments.

This was revealed by Hon. Steven Masiga, Spokesperson Bugisu Cultural Institution.

Masiga said that Hon. Kuteesa made the remarks while in Mbale, where she accompanied several government officials, including the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, the State Minister for Public Service, Hon. Lydia Wanyoto, and the Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Hon. Simon Mulongo.

Her comments have been welcomed by the spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Steven Masiga, who said the institution fully supports the minister's guidance on the matter.

"We associate ourselves 100 per cent with the learned guidance of the State Minister for Gender and Culture, Hon. Mary Kuteesa Kamuli. Her clarification that opinions from the Attorney General do not override court decisions is a significant contribution towards restoring calm and respect for the rule of law," Masiga said.

According to Masiga, recent discussions surrounding the leadership and tenure of His Highness Umukuuka Jude Mike Mudoma were fueled by a legal opinion allegedly issued from the Office of the Attorney General. The opinion, he said, generated emotions within sections of the Bamasaaba community and led to varying interpretations regarding the affairs of the cultural institution.

Masiga argued that legal opinions should not be used to determine matters that are already before the courts.

"Our understanding of the law is that the Attorney General cannot issue opinions that interfere with matters before the courts. Such actions may amount to interference with judicial processes and could be contrary to the sub judice rule," he explained.

He further noted that the Attorney General is reportedly an interested party in the ongoing matters involving the Bugisu Cultural Institution and, therefore, should not be expected to provide guidance on issues in which the office has already been drawn.

Masiga praised Hon. Kuteesa for encouraging dialogue and mediation, saying her position aligns with constitutional principles and the need to allow judicial processes to proceed without external influence.

He also cautioned members of the public against resorting to what he termed as "street hooliganism" and emotional reactions whenever sensitive cultural matters arise.

"Ugandans and the Bamasaaba in particular must demonstrate fidelity to the law and avoid actions that may undermine ongoing judicial processes, especially in high-profile matters such as those concerning cultural institutions," he said.

The spokesperson further questioned the authenticity and circulation of the Attorney General's opinion, which reportedly surfaced on various social media platforms earlier this year.

"Many people considered the document unauthentic and illegally circulated. In government protocol, an opinion or document can only bind individuals if it is properly addressed to them. Moreover, a legal opinion can be rejected if it is not well anchored in law," Masiga stated.

He added that the value of any legal opinion lies not in its existence but in the legal reasoning behind it.

"What matters is not merely the opinion itself but the reasoning supporting it. Any legal opinion must be premised on existing laws and established legal principles, not on speculation or imagination," he emphasized.

Masiga revealed that the Bugisu Cultural Institution had previously rejected the contested legal opinion and has consistently encouraged members of the Bamasaaba community to remain patient and allow the ongoing court-mediated processes to take their course.

The institution believes that mediation and judicial determination remain the most appropriate avenues for addressing the cultural disputes affecting the region.

As discussions surrounding the leadership and future of the Bugisu Cultural Institution continue, government officials and cultural leaders have reiterated the need for calm, respect for the law, and commitment to peaceful resolution mechanisms aimed at preserving unity among the Bamasaaba people.