Six arrested in Bamasaba Imbalu march
Some of the suspects on a police truck shortly after their arrest
What you need to know:
- The secretary general of Bamasaba National Students Association, Mr James Tingu, vowed to continue demonstrating until the minister apologises for insulting their culture.
- The Imbalu cultural practice is held after every two years among the Bagisu in eastern Uganda to initiate boys between above 12 years into adulthood.
KAMPALA. Police on Friday evening arrested at least six members of the Bamasaba community who were protesting the recent remarks made by Gender and Culture State minister Peace Mutuuzo that Imbalu is a backward practice.
Twaha Kriss Namakola, Jeff Bogere Mukhwana, Jastus Masaba, Daisy Nagudi, Clet Masiga and a one Liz Were arrested as they joined the rest of their kinsmen marching from Nakawa and Bweyogerere to Namboole in Wakiso District.
By press time, the six were being held at Jinja Police Station and the police said they would prefer charges of inciting violence against them. More than a week ago, Ms Mutuuzo, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre ahead of the celebrations to commemorate the International Day of Family, said Imbalu was invoking sexuality among the youth.
“The Imbalu culture is really a backward one. It’s important for men to circumcises but we would wish to encourage people to do it in a manner that gives dignity to those young men,” the minister said.
Last Friday, the Bamasaba community living in Kampala that comprised Elgon Thinkers Forum, Bamasaba students association and Bamasaba Kampala Chapter, began a procession from Makerere University Business School (Mubs).
The group brandishing placards and t-shirts denouncing the minister, danced kadodi, the traditional circumcision dance, through the city’s outskirts towards Namboole but was intercepted in Banda.
The secretary general of Bamasaba National Students Association, Mr James Tingu, vowed to continue demonstrating until the minister apologises for insulting their culture.
“We have the right to stand and defend our culture as Bamasaba. Imbalu did not begin in Museveni’s regime, it begun long time ago even before colonialists came to Africa. We wanted to know where the minister got the permission from to call for the abolition of Imbalu,” an agitated Tingu told journalists.
The Imbalu cultural practice is held after every two years among the Bagisu in eastern Uganda to initiate boys between above 12 years into adulthood.
