John Amram Wagabyalire, one of the elected Umukuuka in the disputed Bugisu Cultural Institution has branded his rival, Mike Jude Mudoma a ‘masquerader’ after the Chairperson of the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders’ Forum (UKCLF) invited both for a reconciliation meeting.
Mudoma and Wagabyalire, who were elected in October and December 2020 by two rival factions, one led by Stephen Mungoma, the Institution’s Chairman Board while another by Bob Mushikori the former leader has since become rivals.
All claim to be the rightful leaders of Bamasaaba despite no one having yet been gazetted by the government.
Government has through all Minister’s of Gender, Labour and Social Development called for a reconciliation meeting but the two have failed.
This prompted Mr. Mwogezi Batamanya, the Isabaruli and the Chairperson of the UKCF, to call for a meeting to find a lasting solution for the unending impasse.
“The Main Purpose of inviting you is to come and we discuss the Way forward for settling the Impasse over Umukuuka III (King) of Inzu Ya Masaba Kingdom. On the 15th February 2022,” reads part of the October 3, letter seen by DaParrot.
Batamanya, in the letter, informed the two parties that The Hon. Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, while at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds during the Requiem Mass of the Late King of Teso (Emorimor Papa Iteso) directed in the Presence of His Excellence the President who is also the Patron of Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders Forum that the Forum should play an Active Role in settling Disputes in Cultural Institutions.
“The Forum welcomed the Move by the Honorable Minister. One of the Roles of the Forum is to bring together Harmony in the Cultural Institutions and to avoid the Collapse of the Inzu Ya Masaba Kingdom and the Degazation of Your Kingdom, the Forum is coming in as a Neutral Body to try and salvage it from collapsing,” the letter adds.
“Going by the Attorney General’s Letter of 15th August 2022 to the Hon Minister of Gender in reference to the gazetting of Ikubania wa Bugwere Kingdom, he made it clear as I quote “Neither the Constitution of Uganda nor the Act of 2011 for Traditional/Cultural Leaders provide for the intervention of Attorney General or the Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development in sorting out such dispute” it adds
The Attorney General, Isabaruli said was responding to infightings in the Bugwere Kingdom. The Act of 2011 where S.16 (1) entrusts the Council of Clan Leaders/Elders or a Representative Body like the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders Forum to handle Cultural Issues but not Elected Politicians.
“It is therefore My Humble Request to invite both of you for a Meeting in my Palace to chat a way forward for settling the Matter of Umukuuka III (King of the Bamasaba Kingdom),” Wagabyalire Response
In the lengthy letter to the Isabaruli, Wagabyalire branded Mudoma as a masquerader whose main interest and those who elected him was to steal power, humiliate the late King and grab Bamasaaba Property.
“My Prayer: is that Wagabyalire Amram John’s election is formalized to the position of Umukuuka III to which I was duly elected,” the letter reads in part.
“How do we set aside what His Royal Highness Sir Bob Mushikori did for Bamasaaba in managing the elections of Umukuuka III on 11th December 2020? This is on behalf of the Inzu Ya Masaaba Cultural Institution Secretariat and on behalf of all Bamasaaba,” he added.
He outlined some of the key issues which he thinks make him an appropriate King of Bamasaaba and this does not need any reconciliation.
DaParrot’s efforts to get a comment from Mudoma’s side were futile as his known numbers were off by press time,
DaParrot, however, understands that the Mudoma camp has on several occasions accused the Wagabyalires of snubbing all reconciliation meetings called by the local authorities, especially the District Bosses.
Kangala, the former SG of the Inzu, last week in an opinion said that it was ok for the 26 clans’ Chairpersons and the District Bosses to decide the fate of their Kingdom.
