Umukuuka Tells Bugisu MPs to Wait for Consolidated Government Opinion on Cultural Leadership Dispute

The Umukuuka wa Bugisu, His Royal Highness Sir Jude Mike Mudoma III, has called upon members of the Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus to exercise patience and await a consolidated legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs before engaging in matters relating to the leadership of the Bugisu Cultural Institution.

The appeal follows reports circulating on social media that Members of Parliament from the Bugisu sub-region on Monday, July 7, 2026, met the Attorney General to seek what they described as an amicable and lawful resolution to issues surrounding the leadership of the Bugisu Cultural Institution.

According to a statement issued by Mr. Alfred Geresom Musamali, the Minister of Information, Media and Communications for the Bugisu Cultural Institution, one of the issues reportedly discussed during the meeting was the legal opinion dated March 18, 2026, which has not yet been officially released to the public and appears to differ from earlier legal opinions issued by the same office.

The statement notes that both legal opinions were addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), the government ministry mandated to supervise traditional and cultural institutions in Uganda, with copies shared with the Office of the Umukuuka.

However, the Permanent Secretary reportedly wrote back to both the Attorney General and the Solicitor General requesting a consolidated legal position and clarification on the legal status of Inzu Ya Masaba (IYM) in relation to the Institution of the Umukuuka wa Bugisu.

The request, according to the statement, specifically seeks guidance on assertions that Inzu Ya Masaba is not the traditional or cultural institution contemplated under the law and is legally distinct from the gazetted Institution of the Umukuuka wa Bugisu. 

The Permanent Secretary also sought legal guidance on the implications of ongoing court proceedings, including High Court Civil Suit No. 40 of 2025 and Miscellaneous Applications Nos. 39 and 40 of 2025, as well as any subsisting court orders that may affect government engagement with both the Institution of the Umukuuka wa Bugisu and Inzu Ya Masaba.

The March 18, 2026 opinion from the Attorney General reportedly stated that it is not the responsibility of government to enforce the constitution of any cultural institution or to resolve internal disputes arising within such institutions.

Speaking on the matter, Umukuuka Mudoma expressed concern over what he described as the haste by some political leaders to seek legal interpretations before first consulting the Office of the Umukuuka.

He argued that issues concerning culture, customs and traditions should first be understood through the custodian of the institution, saying that bypassing the cultural leadership deprives leaders of accurate information and instead fuels speculation.

The cultural leader warned that such actions create unnecessary anxiety, confusion and uncertainty among the Bamasaba and risk politicising matters that are essentially cultural in nature.

"The rush to seek external interpretations without first engaging the Office of the Umukuuka undermines established cultural protocols and creates questions within the community," the statement quoted the Umukuuka as saying.

The Umukuuka further advised that once the Ministry of Justice issues the consolidated legal opinion, all stakeholders, including members of the Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus, should engage with his office to ensure that any interventions are consistent with both the law and the customs and traditions of the people of Bugisu.

The latest development adds a new dimension to the ongoing discussions surrounding the governance and legal status of cultural institutions in Bugisu, with many in the region now awaiting the government's consolidated position that is expected to provide greater clarity on the matter.

The statement was issued by Mr. Alfred Geresom Musamali, Minister of Information, Media and Communications for the Bugisu Cultural Institution, on behalf of the Office of the Umukuuka wa Bugisu.