(Inzu Ya Masaaba Cultural Institution Vs Umukuuka Wa Bugisu Cultural Institution)

By Our Staff Reporter

Washington, D.C. | March 27, 2026
The North America Masaba Cultural Association (NAMCA) has been thrown into internal turmoil following a controversial decision to invite a disputed cultural leader from Uganda to its upcoming 2026 convention in Washington, D.C., sparking intense debate and raising concerns over neutrality within the Bamasaaba diaspora community.

The controversy, which directly touches on the Inzu Ya Masaaba Cultural Institution and the Umukuka Wa Bugisu Cultural Institution, has exposed deep divisions within both the diaspora and the cultural leadership structures back home in Uganda.

According to an internal communication dated March 23, 2026, authored by Trustee Council Chair Peter T. Simbi and addressed to NAMCA President Paul Makanya, the dispute centers on invitations extended to Mike Mudoma and a 20-member delegation to attend the May 22–25, 2026 NAMCA Convention.

The invitations were reportedly issued by Trustee member Florence Wakoko-Studstill, who is widely known as a supporter of Mudoma and has been acting as his diaspora envoy to the United States — a role that is not formally recognized by NAMCA.

Her unilateral decision to send out the invitations, without formal authorization from the NAMCA President or full Board consultation, triggered a heated and prolonged debate among trustees during a council meeting held on March 22, 2026.

Trustees raised concerns over both the process and the implications of the move, citing potential conflict of interest and deviation from NAMCA’s constitutional procedures, which designate the President as the official signatory and communication authority on such matters.

Background: The Bukuuka Cultural Leadership Crisis

At the center of the controversy is the ongoing Bukuuka leadership crisis within the Bamasaaba community in Uganda, where two rival cultural leaders currently claim legitimacy.

These include:
• Jude Mike Mudoma, associated with a newly formed parallel structure
• Joram Mayatsa, representing the established Inzu Ya Masaaba Cultural Institution under the Umukuka Wa Bugisu Cultural Institution

The dispute reportedly stems from allegations that Mudoma abandoned the constitutional framework of the institution that originally recognized him, unilaterally altered its structure, and refused to hand over leadership in line with rotational term limits.

This has led to widespread divisions within the Bamasaaba community, with growing calls for intervention by the Ugandan government and courts.

NAMCA at a Crossroads
NAMCA, whose mission is to promote unity, culture, and development among the Bamasaaba globally, now finds itself at a critical crossroads.

Trustees outlined several possible courses of action to address the controversy:
• Rescind the invitation to Mudoma to avoid appearing partisan
• Extend invitations to both rival leaders to maintain neutrality and foster dialogue
• Suspend all invitations to cultural leaders until the dispute is resolved
• Convene an urgent Board meeting to review the decision and chart a unified path forward

The Trustee Council emphasized the need for caution, warning that any perceived alignment with one faction could undermine NAMCA’s credibility and long-term mission of unity.

Urgent Meeting Scheduled
President Paul Makanya has since been tasked with convening a Board of Directors meeting to urgently review all invitations and provide an update at the next Joint Board–Trustee Session scheduled for April 12, 2026.

As tensions continue to rise, the unfolding situation highlights the far-reaching impact of Uganda’s cultural leadership disputes — now extending beyond national borders into diaspora institutions tasked with preserving unity among the Bamasaaba people worldwide.

More updates will follow as the situation develops.