By Solomon Hamala
BUTALEJA
After years of rivaling and bickering, warring parties in Butaleja district have united to push for the existence of one cultural leader referred to as ‘Sehulu’ of the Banyole tribe.
For so long, there have been two differing cultural leaders; one led by Martin Hayinja of Mulagi village in Busaba Sub County and another one led by Kyomi Ellie of Bugangu village in Busabi Sub County with each having a fully formed governing cabinet and people loyal to them.
But this infighting has instead crippled their institution in terms of development resulting into them failing to lobby and push for their institution and their elected cultural leaders being gazetted and recognized by the Central government.
Acting to every ones desires and wishes, key people from both sides convened in Mbale City on Saturday, 20th September, 2025 and came up with a memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U) on how to come up with one cultural leader (Sehulu), power/cabinet sharing and other important issues to be addressed.
The meeting was presided over by Lyada Apollo and Hilome Gilsom who all hail from Kyomi’s camp. Martin Hayinja’s camp was represented by his Sabalangila (Kasumali Geesa) and his Prime Minister Wamusha Eddie.
In the MOU, they resolved that Kyomi Gilsom becomes the Sehulu (cultural leader for the Banyole) whereas Martin Hayinja takes the position of the Prime Minister. They further agreed to evenly share key cabinet leadership positions and responsibilities in the Institution.
With the MOU in place the team has begun efforts for the incoming leader to be gazetted by government. This will help the Institution lobby and attract support from the central government like their co-counterparts in the other cultural institutions. Because of the bickering, leaders who have been in power failed to push for Martin Hayinja’s being gazzetted.
