Bakonzo mass circumcision ceremony called off

Kasese. The ceremony aimed at reviving the Bakonzo annual circumcision ritual was yesterday morning called off after government questioned the security situation surrounding the event, the organiser said.
The event was organised by Kiwa Heritage, a local organisation running the Kiwa Heritage Hot Springs in Kasese Town.
The Bakonzo are trying to revive an annual circumcision ceremony called “Olhusumba” which was last held in 1973 after being challenged by the advancing Christianity in the Rwenzori region. Among the Bakonzo, one is not considered a man if he is not circumcised and as such, is not allowed to marry. Mr Sylvester Kule Walyuba the executive director of Kiwa Heritage, said yesterday that the decision was reached after being summoned by the RDC, Mr Joe Walusimbi, who said the event posed a security threat since Congolese nationals had been invited
“We decided to call off the function because we did not want to be in a difficult situation since the security team on the ground made serious allegations. The RDC told us to write to him yesterday to explain the importance of the cultural ceremony, we wrote and he instead did not respond to us,” Mr Walyuba said.

Security reasons
He said the RDC and the police represented by Kasese Division Commander Dickens Okello told the organisers that the participating Congolese would pose a security threat.
“The RDC called us yesterday afternoon and warned that he had intelligence that we had invited Congolese to illegally participate in the circumcision ceremony. We assured him that there was no Congolese but he insisted that there was also no clearance from the District Health Officer,” Mr Walyuba said.
The Bakonzo in Uganda have a special cultural attachment with the Nandi community in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Nandi pay allegiance to Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere who has a ministry meant for their region.
Mr Walusimbi denied issuing orders to stop the circumcision ceremony but confirmed there were concerns about the security and health of the alleged Congolese participants.
“They are deceiving you that I ordered them to stop the ceremony. We asked the representatives of the organisers to bring relevant documents and particulars of those Congolese so that we take care of their security. They never brought these documents and also another main concern was the Ebola outbreak in DRC and the safety of the people who will attend,” he said.