Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has declined to recognize the Bamasaba cultural leader over conflicts in the Inzu Lya Masaba cultural institution.
In October, Jude Mike Mudoma was elected as the Umukuka III by a faction led by the embattled speaker of Inzu Ya Masaba, Nelson Wedaira. In March, members of the cultural council elected John Amram Wagabyalile.
However, in a letter dated April 6, 2021, and written by the Minister of Labour Gender and Social Development Frank Tumwebaze, the minister noted that due to the continued conflict and disagreement on the legitimate cultural leader, he will not publish in the National Gazette any person as the cultural leader of Inzu Lya Masaba.
Tumwebaze added that the two factions should exhaust all possible procedures to address the conflicts as provided for under the institution of traditional or cultural leaders Act 2011.
Eric Mukhwana, the spokesperson of Inzu Ya Masaba, said it was so unfortunate that they cannot solve their issues in the institution. According to Mukhwana, two factions should dialogue and agree on who should succeed.
The disagreements in Inzu Lya Masaba started before and after the death of Bob Mushikori in January.
In 2017, a group of people tried to impeach Mushikor. He and his team had held a meeting in Kenya in which they resolved and sack some leaders within the institution. But these decisions were rejected by the Ministry of Gender and the Office of the Solicitor General.
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