By Arajab Wampula, Hawah Namujehe and Busiku Swaibu
Shortly, after conducting a successful mass for the deceased Ikumbania of Bagwere the late Dr. Chrsystom Wayabire on February 17 at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Lubaga, Joel Moses Mugurusi, the Prime Minister of the Bugwere Cultural Institution told reporters that choosing the deceased’s successor will not be a ‘do or die‘
Mugurusi assured reporters that they had picked serious lessons from the leadership scandals in their neighborhood (Bugisu) “and we cannot let the same besiege our land,”
“Just know it is not a do or die but what we want to assure the country that Bugwere as it has been will remain peaceful forever and ever and the process of finding the successor will be conducted peacefully,” he said.
Close to two years later, the once admired peaceful institution has been torn apart because of the same issue under the stewardship of Mugurusi as the Prime Minister.
Yet on that very day Hon. Peace Mutuzo the State Minister of Culture and Gender who was the Chief Mourner told Mugurusi and his Cabinet that the government expects you to humbly elect the next leader other than going into succession disputes like other areas,”
“The Institutions should act as a unifying ground for all of us irrespective of the religious or political affiliations, they should be given chances to grow to another level,” she said
Today, Bugwere is split into two, one camp supports the aging John Wilber Musimami who is perceived as the rightful leader, and another supports the deceased’s son Godfrey Wayabire.
How it all started
After the burial of the late Ikumbania, several meetings aimed at filling his position started under the stewardship of Mugurusi.
Bugwere has 108 clans that each select a leader called Itabangi and it’s from these Itabangi where the leader is selected.
“We had to get a new leader because Bugwere had to proceed after the death of our beloved King whom we believe is irreplaceable,” said one of the leaders who chose to be unnamed due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“All started well until we ended up in this mess we are yet to overcome. We don’t want to end up like our neighbors who have gone close to three years without a leader,” a source added.
On April 8, security called off the planned elections of the next leader, over suspected chaos.
The elections had attracted four candidates, including; Wayabire, Musimami, Pangole Mubala, and Eric Kasolo.
“The joint security committee of the districts that make up Obwa Ikumbania Bwa Bugwere decided to call off the polls in their joint security committee held on Monday this week until the Gender, Labor and Social Development Ministry issues a road map,”
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The rift in Bugwere cultural institution came to the fore when 50 clan heads allied to Wayabire impeached the Speaker Jacob Maiso, the Cultural Council Chairperson Kirya Badru, and Mugulusi, the PM for allegedly supporting one of the candidates.
The issue of contention is the number of clans within the institution since they are not clearly stipulated in the constitution. Some clan heads claim that their clans were left out, which has barred them from performing any function in the institution.
In October last year, Mutuuzo intervened in the conflicts at Marple Cottages in Kamonkoli in Budaka district.
The minister reinstated the impeached prime minister since he is the caretaker of the institution until a new elder is elected.
“When elections finally came, the other leaders pulled out after realizing that they could not beat him in polls. But after, Musimami was advised to come alone hence creating the opposition.
Fired Members Get Positions in Musimami’s Cabinet
Mugulusi, last week in a press conference confirmed Joshua Wilber Musimami as the rightful elected cultural leader of Bagwere, in a presser where he announced the de-solving of the old Cabinet.
Musimami on September 10, with Pursuant to Powers conferred upon the approved leaders under section 5.5 by the Bugwere Cultural Council, where a Constitute of Council is bound to approve names, presented a list of his cabinet, whom he will be leading.
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In the Cabinet List listed, Musimami rewarded the fired members, by letting them retain their positions.
Mugulusi is the Prime Minister, Kirya the Chairperson of the Bugwere Cultural Council, and Jacob Maiso is the Speaker, pending the appointment of the Deputy Speaker.
Mugulusi was given four Deputies, including; Kirya the first Deputy who doubles as the Speaker, Hajji Abubakar Nangejje the 2nd deputy PM, Lawrence Wamale the 3rd, and Abdu Kirya the fourth Deputy PM.
In the entire 76-man Cabinet however there are only 8 women and these include; Jennifer Wakikye for Gender, and Social Development who is still deputized by three women and two men including; Suzan Mudondo the State Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Joram Mpande the State Minister for Older Persons, Suzan Kamoga the State Minister of Youth, Fred Kirya for PWDs and Suzan Katoko for Social Development and Getruse Kansuswa the Minister in charge of Bugwere Welfare.
Others are; Sarah Kataike Ndoboli the State Minister of Animal Husbandry who will be working alongside Jacob Mulaga the State Minister of Crop Husbandry and both will be working under the leadership of Maj. Geoffrey Mugwere, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.
Others are; Esther Babirye – Primary Health Care who will be working under the leadership of Dr. Jeremiah Twatwa the Minister of Health, Suzan Mudondo the State Minister for Women and Children Affairs, Suzan Kamoga the State Minister for Youth and Suzan Katooko the State Minister Social Development Fred Gole Kirya – PWDs and Joram Mpande – Older Persons who will be working under the leadership of the only woman Cabinet Minister Jennifer Wakikye for Gender, and Social Development.
This story will be continued in Part Two of this Series Tomorrow and in it, we shall bring you the major places where the two Ikumbanias’ have strong support.
