By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Members of Parliament from Bugisu region, under the Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus, have resolved to table a motion on the Floor of Parliament demanding government to officially recognize Mutoto Cultural Site.
The Mutoto Cultural Site is located in Industrial City Division, Mbale City, on over 10 acres of land. It is where the circumcision ceremony, Imbalu is officially launched every even year in August.
Speaking during the launch of circumcision on Saturday, 1st August, 2026, Godfrey Wakooli Matembu, the MP for Butiru County in Manafwa District and Chairperson of the Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus, said that although the National Forestry Authority donated the land to the Bamasaba, government has not yet gazetted it.
He said that if the site is gazetted, it will enable government to develop it, which will in turn boost tourism in the country.
Karimu Masaba, the Area MP for Industrial City Division, also called on the government to tarmac the road leading to Mutoto so that tourists can easily access the area.
John Baptist Nambeshe, the MP for Manjiya County in Bududa District and a Commissioner of Parliament, accused the government of sidelining the Bamasaba in ministerial appointments, despite the region being among those with strong support for the NRM and President Museveni.
Simon Mulongo, the State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, said the Bamasaba should treat their culture as important because it is what unites the Bamasaba of Uganda and Kenya.
He urged parents to take their children to school so that the area can develop alongside the preservation of circumcision traditions.
In his remarks, Markson Oboth, the Speaker of Parliament, who represented the President as the Chief Guest, thanked the Bamasaba for preserving their culture. He urged them to embrace government programs aimed at improving household incomes.
However, he ended his speech prematurely and was whisked away into his vehicle by the security team after a crowd of dancers and candidates armed with stones, sticks, and bricks stormed the VIP area and disrupted the event.
