Rival clan heads reject Banyole cultural leader

A section of Banyole clan leaders in Butaleja District opposed to the election of Prof Elley Wesana as the first Sehulu (cultural leader) of Banyole Cultural Institution, have appointed a parallel cultural leader, Prince Abdu Gessa Zakaria.
The three clans, part of the 12, which did not turn up during the election, which took place at district headquarters on September 21, say according to the cultural customs, norms and traditions, their kings are hereditary.
“What they did was not only an illegality but also against our cultural norms and traditions because in Banyole, we have three royal clans, where the king is supposed to come from and not in every clan as they have already purported,” Mr Mr Akimu Waligwa, the leader of Bagalo Clan, said.
Mr Waligwa said the rightful cultural leader is Prince Gessa, whom he said, commands respect and has divine guidance of the gods.
“We are determined to stop this nonsense, which will anger the gods. We are going to petition the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social development over the illegal election of purported cultural leader. Prof Wesana doesn’t possess any qualifications to become our king,” he added.
Prof Wesana, 75, director of post graduate studies at Kabale University, was declared winner after he polled 91 votes, defeating his only contender Mr Ben Muyangu, who garnered 45 votes during an election.
Daily Monitor has learnt that the clans opposed to election of Prof Wesana also convened a meeting at the weekend in Nakalaoke Town council and resolved to take legal action against Butaleja District council, the steering committee for Banyole cultural institution and the newly elected cultural leader.
The Banyole cultural electoral commission chairperson, Mr John Higenyi, however, said there are no royal clans in Bunyole.
“Personally, I haven’t come across any literature indicating their royalty over the Banyole people. We do not have any of the said clans with a central authority over the entire Banyole community, the way it happens in other hereditary societies such as Buganda, Bunyoro or Toro,” Mr Higenyi said.
However, Mr Gessa said he is the rightful person for the throne.
“I come from a royal clan and the throne belongs to me. The cultural leader must come from one of the royal clans,” Mr Gessa, said.
Prof Wesana could not be reached for comment but earlier, he noted that he was going to use his new position to unite the Banyole.

The Banyole tribe

The Banyole tribe has 148 clan leaders who were supposed to vote on September 21 for a cultural leader but only 136 voted. 12 clan leaders didn’t turn up. The tribe has a population of about 300,000 people living in Uganda and the diaspora.