By Abubakar Bin Siraj
MBALE
Mutoto cultural site clan cultural head, local leaders and members of the Mutoto clan supreme council skipped Umukuka Mike Mudoma’s coronation that was held at Mutoto cultural site in Mbale Industrial Division City on Saturday 14 October 2023.
The clan cultural head led by Sulaiman Khaukha, the representative of Bamutoto cultural clan in the Mutoto Clan supreme council said that their decision to skip the coronation was in line with their resolution to express their dissatisfaction over the governance of the institution.
Some of those who skipped the coronation anniversary include the head of Bamutoto cultural norms and traditions called “uwekimyendo” in Lugisu.
The clan cultural head accuses Umukuka Mike Mudoma III of choosing to eliminate the Bamutoto in the organizing team of the coronation and politicizing the norms and tradition of Bamasaba, which they claim is an abrogation of the Inzu ya Masaaba constitution that governs the Bamasaba.
The clan head expressed dissatisfaction with how Umukuka Mike Mudoma was handpicked by the clan heads without the consent of Bamutoto but instead he went on and colluded with politicians to coronate him.
He said instead of being elected by the delegates council members, he didn’t follow the right procedure to be coronated and went on to appoint the new Secretary General of Inzu ya Masaaba Mr Herbert Mulekwa.
Mr Zaidi Wandulu told this reporter that as a local leader who represents the people of Mutoto ward, he said that this coronation included a number of anomalies e.g the appointment of the new prime minister, Charles Waliimbwa Peke and the secretary general, Hebert Mulekwa.
He says that the organizing committee of the coronation adamantly refused to respond to the concerns of the Clan delegates of the 26 clans and even the dressing attire of the Umukuka was shameful to the norms and traditions of Bamasaba.
Wandulu says this cultural institution is built on a strong foundation of clans, which make up the Inzu Ya Masaaba. He, however, notes that the Umukuuka doesn’t respect the opinions of the Inzu Ya Masaaba supreme council and the clan delegates upon, which he derives power to govern the institution.
Wandulu said whereas the Umukuuka has deviated from constitutional governance, some people have continued to support his actions even when they know they contravene the law.
He says as a Councilor of the area, he could not sit down and celebrate the Umukuka’s coronation when the Inzu ya Masaaba was being led on the wrong path.
Wandulu says they are still considering a number of options to save the cultural institution from operating illegally. He says that one of the many available options includes seeking legal redress.
