Umukuuka wa Bugisu Distances Institution from Inzu ya Masaaba Activities

Mbale, Uganda – The Minister of Information, Media, and Communications for the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Alfred Geresom Musamali, has issued a detailed clarification on the status of Inzu ya Masaaba (IYM) following renewed attempts by some individuals to convene a meeting and elect a leader for the entity.

The clarification comes after an advertisement appeared in the New Vision newspaper of 16th August 2025, reportedly placed by Ambassador Charles Pekke Walimbwa, calling for an IYM meeting on 30th August 2025. The advert did not specify a venue or agenda. Additional reports linked Masaka Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Ahmada Washaki, to plans of convening a meeting to elect an IYM leader.

Musamali explained that several inquiries had also come in from the Bamasaaba diaspora in the United Kingdom (IMUKA), the United States, and Canada (NAMCA), seeking clarity on the legal relationship between IYM and the Umukuuka wa Bugisu, the recognized cultural leader under Ugandan law.

Origins of the Cultural Leadership Question

Musamali highlighted that the current issues trace back to the early 2000s, when Bugisu districts formed the Bugisu Cultural Board to promote cooperation among the new districts created from Greater Mbale. This was before the enactment of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders (ITCL) Act, Cap 242 in 2011.

Initially, the cooperation was premised on Article 178 of the 1995 Constitution, which encouraged district-level cultural and developmental partnerships, and later on the unsuccessful Regional Tier proposal. In the absence of a legal framework at the time, communities across Uganda experimented with informal “cultural institutions,” including IYM, which later sought a legal cover by registering in October 2011 as a company limited by guarantee.

Legal Standing of IYM Versus Umukuuka

According to Musamali:

IYM is not a cultural institution but a registered association, whose attempt to assume cultural leadership was illegal and had been pointed out in courts of law.

The government corrected the anomaly in April 2025 by issuing a Corrigendum to Gazette notices dating back to 2014, aligning them with the ITCL Act.

This established the Umukuuka wa Bugisu as the legitimate Corporation Sole and cultural leader of the Bugisu sub-region. IYM, on the other hand, was struck off the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) register for failing to file annual returns, further weakening its legal standing.

“The Umukuuka wa Bugisu is a distinct and lawful cultural institution. IYM is a private association, and its membership is free to conduct its own activities if it complies with URSB requirements – but it cannot claim cultural leadership of Bugisu,” Musamali stated.

On Identity and Symbols

The Minister further clarified that the office of the Umukuuka is introducing a new logo and brand identity, since two legally distinct entities cannot share mottos, anthems, or logos.

On the Bugisu vs Bagisu Debate

Musamali dismissed arguments over whether the proper reference is “Bugisu” or “Bagisu,” noting that these terms have been entrenched in Uganda’s legal and constitutional framework since 1929. “This is not a matter for cultural speculation but one governed by the laws of Uganda,” he said.

Suspicion Over Political Timing

The Minister warned that Uganda is entering the climax of a political season, a period often marked by divisive agendas. He described the timing of the IYM meeting as “highly suspect, ill-advised, and puzzling,” suggesting it could be an attempt to sow confusion among the Bamasaaba.

He also cautioned that some of the issues expected to arise at the proposed IYM meeting are already before courts of law, making them sub judice and therefore inappropriate for public discussion.

Call for Unity and Calm

Musamali, speaking on behalf of the Umukuuka wa Bugisu, HRH Sir Jude Mike Mudoma, urged the people of Bugisu to ignore calls for an IYM meeting to elect a leader, reaffirming that the recognized cultural leadership lies with the Umukuuka under the ITCL Act.

“The people of Bugisu must not be misled. The Umukuuka wa Bugisu remains the only lawful cultural leader of our people. Attempts to create parallel authority are misleading and disruptive,” Musamali emphasized.

For further information, the Minister directed the public to reach out via: agmusamali@hotmail.com