Bugisu gets cultural leader

Mr Bob Mushikori celebrates his victory after being declared winner for Bugisu cultural leader seat. PHOTO BY DANIEL KAZUNGU

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Message. Mr Bob Mushikori called for unity and pledged to foster development in education, tourism, health and Bugisu heritage.

Mbale. The Bugisu general assembly has elected Mr Bob Mushikori as the new Umukuka of the Inzu Ya Masaba (cultural leader) in an election conducted at Inzu Hall in Malukhu, Mbale District, on Monday.
Mr Mushikori, the current minister in charge of the Diaspora, polled 28 votes defeating his closest rival Mr Charles Walimbwa Peke, the Manafwa District LC5 chairperson, by two votes.
The other contestants were Mr Gimui Kiboma and Mr Gregory Gidagui Mafabi who garnered 10 and two votes, respectively.
Mr Mushikori takes on from Mr Wilson Wamimbi whose five-year tenure as Umukuka expired this month.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Mushikori called for unity among the Bagisu, saying his win should not cause hatred with those who lost.
He pledged to foster development in education, tourism, health and Bagisu heritage.
Although Mr Kiboma and Mr Gidagiu conceded defeat, Mr Walimbwa refused on grounds that some delegates, who were to vote, were confined in a certain hotel and dictated on whom to vote.
He accused Mr Njofu of pulling out of the race and publicly directing his supporters, especially those that come from Bungoma and Transzoa counties in Kenya, to vote Mr Mushokori.
“I am going to petition (against the election) because some delegates were dictated upon who to vote. The ground was not levelled,” Mr Walimbwa said.
While pulling out of the race shortly before delegates went to polls, Mr Njofu said: “Although I am a candidate in this race and have a backing from my Kenyan delegation where I am leader, I pull out of this contest and declare my support for Mr Mushikori.”