By Wetondo Denis Julius
MBALE
Local Council Five Chairpersons from the six districts of Bugisu region have resolved meet the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Frank Tumwebaze over the Umkhukha impasse.
The Chairpersons made the resolution on Monday 12th April 2021 in a brief special meeting held at Mbale district head offices located at Malukhu in Industrial City Division, Mbale City.
The meeting was attended by all the Chairmen of Namisindwa, Manafwa, Bududa, Mbale, Bulambuli and Sironko.
Tumwebaze last week wrote a letter addressed to Mike Jude Mudoma and Amram Wagabyalire who both claim to be the legitimately elected Masaba cultural leader.
In the letter, Tumwebaze asserted government’s reluctance in gazzetting any of the two as the next Umkhukha unless the two factions sit down and agree on one candidate.
Wilson Watira, the chairperson of Bugisu LCV chairpersons also LCV chairperson of Bududa said that in 2019, the six district councils passed resolutions and presented to Parliament asking government to grant Bugisu with a Cultural Institution like other regions. He argued that it was on the basis of their resolutions that Parliament passed the Bill thereby bringing into existence the Masaba Cultural Institution in 2010.
He added further that their input implies that district chairpersons can intervene into any issue which may lead to the collapse of the institution like the current confusion.
Bernard Eli-Mujasi, the LCV chairperson Mbale district also said that the current confusion about the legitimate newly elected cultural leader is going to keep Bugisu region behind in terms of development.
“Five months without a gazetted cultural leader is going to take us back,” he said.
Hebert Mulekwa, the LCV chairperson Sironko revealed that the LCV chairpersons from the six districts will on Monday next week meet the minister.
Mulekwa said they will present evidence about who is the legitimately elected cultural leader out of the two such that they can gazette him and end the conflicts and confusion which may result into bloodshed.
