By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Bugisu sub region leaders have broken the impasse surrounding the launch of the 2026 Imbalu ceremony expected to draw thousands of enthusiasts.
The common ground position of having Bugisu District Local governments spearheading the organization of the launch was reached at today, Thursday, July 9, 2026 in a meeting between the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, General Henry Tumukunde and the local leaders.
The meeting held at Mbale Secondary School follows repeated conflict between the two factions of Inzu Ya Masaba and Inzu Ya Bugisu, with each wanting to organise the Imbalu ceremony.
While speaking during the meeting, Kosea Kigai Kimono, the LCV Chairperson of Manafwa District, said that as the local governments which put Inzu Ya Masaba in place, they have resolved that the district local governments will preside over the launch.
Godfrey Matembo Wakoli, the Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson, also said the resolutions presented by the Manafwa LCV Chairperson were agreed upon by Bugisu leaders during the meeting.
He said that during the launch of Imbalu, thousands of people could die because the different factions do not trust each other.
The Minister for Gender, Social Development and Labour, said the purpose of the meeting was to listen to the resolutions and to present them to government.
He added that as government, they will respect the resolutions and will task the courts to expedite the process of mediating between Inzu Ya Masaba and Inzu Ya Bugisu. He said the mediation should be concluded before the launch of Imbalu so that all disputes can be resolved once and for all.
