Row over new Umukukha in Bugisu

John Wagabyalire Amuran (L) Mike Mudoma (R)

What you need to know:

While a section of leaders support the gazattement of Mr Mike Mudoma as the new Umukukha, others side with John Wagabyalire Amuran.

Division and intrigue has intensified among Bugisu political leaders over the pending gazettement of the new Umukukha.

This comes after the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, in his April 6 letter declined to gazette any of the parallel elected cultural leaders.

The cultural institution has been having wrangles between Mr Mike Mudoma from the Buyobo Clan and Mr John Wagabyalire Amuran from Halasi Clan in Sironko District, who both claimed the throne.

Mr Tumwebaze instead asked the leaders to utilise Section 16 of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011 to settle their disputes before reporting to his office.

Mr Ignatius Wamakuyi Mudimi, the chairperson of Bugisu Parliamentary caucus, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Elgon Constituency in Bulambuli,  said they were surprised by the minister’s decision.

“We had two meetings, one in Sironko, which was chaired by Sironko District chairperson, and another meeting in Mbale chaired by State Minister Peace Mutuzo [Gender and Culture] and both meetings resolved that Mr Mudoma as the duly-elected Umukukha of Bamasaba Cultural Institution to be gazetted. Our resolution to request government to gazette Mr Mudoma was based on those two meetings,” he said.

After the reconciliation meeting, which took place at Mbale District headquarters on March 13, Ms Mutuuzo said government would gazette Mr Mudoma to  replace Bob Mushikori, who died in January.

This is because it was found out that Mr Mudoma’s election was conducted by legitimate organs of the institution and constitutional procedures were followed as laid down in the constitution of Inzu Ya Masaba in article 8.2.2 as opposed to Mr Wagabyalire’s election, which was found to have been fraudulent in all aspects.

“You have made the decision on your own and it is for the interest and unity of the Bamasaba. We are going to proceed to gazette the new Umukukha and those who are dissatisfied, should go to court,” Ms Mutuuzo said.

In their April 7 letter, addressed to minister Mr Tumwebaze, the MPs from Bugisu said government should gazette Mr Mudoma, saying the election of Mr Wagabyalire as a parallel cultural head  was null and void.

“Honourable minister, you may have received conflicting information surrounding the question of the rightful Umukukha to be gazetted given that there is a faction fronting another person by names of Mr John Wagabyalire. As Bugisu parliamentary caucus, we have since reviewed and internalised all facts on this matter and noted the legally elected Umukukha III is Mr Mudoma,” the letter reads.

However, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the MP for Budadiri West and Bugisu Cooperative Union chairperson, said they have never taken a decision as Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus to ask government to gazette Mr Mudoma.

“We have never met as a caucus to discuss Bukuuka issues and  Mr Mudimi’s April 6 letter is his opinion and not that of a caucus,” he said.

Mr Nandala, who is also the secretary general of Forum for Democratic Change party, said the decisions which were taken during the reconciliation meetings were also null and void.

“Why would minister Mutuuzo chair a meeting at a district when the business does not concern the district. Those resolutions were personal matters and not legal business of Inzu-Ya-Masaba,” Mr Nandala said.

Mr Mudimi, however, said Mr Nandala is not a member of Bugisu parliamentary caucus.

“Our constitution is clear that for one to become a member, they should pay subscription of Shs200,000, which Mr Nandala refused to pay, so he is not a member because he has never subscribed,” Mr Mudimi said.

However, the faction allied to Mr Mudoma had for long accused Mr Nandala of supporting and funding Mr Wagabyalire’s candidature, an allegation he denies.

The group also accuses the minister of Energy and Mineral development, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu, of switching her support in favour of Mr Wagabyalire due to political reasons.

Mr Steven Masiga, a resident and leader, said selfish interests and divisionism among the leaders is the sole reason why the impasse is still looming.

 “Mr Wagabyalire group has failed to concede because they eyeing the Shs800 million, which the government is supposed to pay as rent arrears for occupying Bumageni land,” he said, adding others are after positions.