By Our Reporter
MBALE CITY
Mbale Secondary School (Mbale SS) has demonstrated strong community solidarity by contributing UGX 500,000 towards the upcoming Oluhuje ceremony, a major cultural reunion of the Banyole people living outside their ancestral homeland of Butaleja.
The funds were formally handed over by the school’s Accounts Officer, Madam Nabududa Irene, and received by Nabileka Halima, Treasurer of Banyole outside Butaleja, on behalf of the organising committee.
The Oluhuje ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August 2026, at Kadama Primary School in Kibuuku District. Organised by Banyole natives in the diaspora, the event aims to strengthen unity, celebrate cultural identity, promote the Lunyole language, and foster bonds among community members scattered across Uganda and beyond. Typical features of previous Oluhuje gatherings have included cultural exhibitions, traditional performances, communal meals, and opportunities for networking and mutual support.
In a statement, the organising committee expressed deep appreciation for Mbale SS’s generous contribution, most especially Mr. Buyela Moses, the school Head teacher. “We thank Mbale Secondary School for its timely and generous support towards the successful hosting of the Oluhuje ceremony,” the committee said. “This kind of partnership from educational institutions strengthens our efforts to preserve and promote Banyole heritage.”
The contribution comes as preparations intensify for the cultural festival, which continues a tradition of bringing together Banyole from different regions to share experiences, celebrate their roots, and reinforce social ties. Officials noted that such support from schools and other partners plays a vital role in ensuring the event runs smoothly and achieves its goals of cultural pride and community cohesion.
Mbale SS’s gesture has been welcomed as a positive example of institutional involvement in cultural preservation and community development in eastern Uganda.
