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UMUKUUKA WA BUGISU DISPUTE ESCALATES AS UMUKUUKA IV CALLS FOR CALM AND CULTURAL UNITY
By Our Staff Reporter
Mbale-Uganda
February 28, 2026
Tensions have intensified in eastern Uganda following a renewed dispute between factions identifying with Umukuuka wa Bugisu and supporters of Mayatsa Joram Khamboson, the cultural head of the Inzu Ya Masaaba.
The disagreement has revived historical debate over the former title of Umuinga in Bugisu, prompting elders and stakeholders to revisit archival records for clarity.
An extract published in The New Vision in September 1994 featured an interview with former Umuinga, Mzee Yonasani B. Mungoma, who firmly stated that the office was ceremonial and not monarchical. He explained that the position, created under the 1962 Constitution, was merit-based and not hereditary, emphasizing that “there has never been a royal family in Bugisu.”
The interview came at a time when residents of Bulambuli County had rejected proposals to restore the title. Mungoma described the issue as a “closed chapter,” noting that even during constitutional consultations in the early 1990s, elders did not support its revival.
Today, similar questions have resurfaced, with one faction advocating for a more royal interpretation of the Umukuuka title, while Inzu Ya Masaaba continues to define itself strictly as a cultural institution focused on heritage preservation, unity, and socio-economic development.
In a public statement, Umukuuka IV Mayatsa Joram Khamboson called for restraint and dialogue, urging the Bamasaaba community to prioritize “peace, peace, and cultural peace.” He emphasized that cultural leadership must remain a source of unity rather than division.
Observers say the renewed debate touches on deeper issues of identity, governance, and the preservation of tradition around Mount Elgon. Mungoma had previously underscored that unity among the Bamasaaba should centre on the Imbalu circumcision ritual and land ownership pillars he described as foundational to the community’s identity.
As discussions continue, elders and opinion leaders are appealing for calm to prevent further fragmentation within the region.
