Kadodi Media House Your media place
By Our Staff Reporter
Mbale, Uganda – March 2026-Fresh details have emerged exposing what community leaders describe as a calculated attempt to fraudulently deregister the Inzu Ya Masaaba Cultural Institution, sparking renewed tensions among the Bamasaaba people.
The institution, which was formally established following the restoration of cultural leadership under Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, has long served as the recognized cultural body for the Bamasaaba community after years of consultations, research, and consensus-building between 2002 and 2010.
For over a decade, leadership within the institution followed a structured rotational system among clans, with successive cultural leaders (Umukuukas) legally recognized through government gazettement.
However, the stability of the institution was disrupted in 2020 when divisions within the Mwambu lineage led to the emergence of multiple claimants to the position of Umukuuka, triggering a prolonged leadership dispute and delaying official recognition.
In August 2023, Mike Jude Mudoma was gazetted as Umukuuka following mediation efforts. But his tenure has since been marred by controversy, with sections of the Bamasaaba community accusing him of systematically dismantling the institution that elevated him to power.
Critics allege that key governance structures — including the constitution, general assembly, cultural council, and governing board — were disbanded, while unilateral decisions began reshaping the identity of the institution.
The situation escalated further in April 2025 when the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development issued a contentious gazette corrigendum that:
• Changed the name of the institution from Inzu Ya Masaaba to “Umuguuga Wa Bugisu”
• Altered the title and scope of the cultural leadership
• Effected the changes without broad consultation with the Bamasaaba community
Community leaders now claim the corrigendum forms part of a broader scheme to fraudulently replace the legally established cultural institution with what they describe as an illegitimate structure.
“These actions undermine the history, legitimacy, and unity of the Bamasaaba people,” one elder noted, emphasizing that cultural identity cannot be altered without collective consent.
In response, concerned stakeholders formed the Inzu Ya Masaaba Rescue Committee, which has since petitioned various government offices and filed a case in the High Court challenging the legality of the changes.
Despite the urgency of the matter, court proceedings have reportedly stalled, raising concerns about delays in delivering justice.
Leaders within the community continue to call for transparency, adherence to the rule of law, and inclusive dialogue, warning that unilateral actions risk deepening divisions among the Bamasaaba both in Uganda and in the diaspora.
As the dispute remains unresolved, the future of one of eastern Uganda’s most significant cultural institutions hangs in the balance.
