UMUGUUGA III HH JUDE MIKE MUDOMA MEETS CLAN CHAIRMEN BRIEFS THEM ON HIS UK TRIP AND STATE OF AFFAIRS AND NAMES IMBALU CULTURE BOARD
The Umuguuga III HH Jude Mike Mudoma has met the 26 clan chairmen upon his recent return from a working trip to the United Kingdom. The Umuguuga III and his entourage recently visited UK, particularly Wales, Bristol and London, as a way of opening avenues for collaborative partnerships between the places they visited in the UK and Bugisu.
In a meeting with the 26 clan chairmen on Tuesday 19th December 2023, the Umuguuga III reported to them that his UK trip was a successful and productive one, as it has opened collaboration, cooperation and partnership prospects between the places he visited and Bugisu. He cited the opportunity to meet and interact with the Bamasaaba living in the UK, whom he ably encouraged and advised to invest back home, for the social - economic transformation and development of the sub - region; Bugisu.
HH Jude Mike Mudoma revealed to the clan chairmen various achievements borne out of his UK trip that included; * A cultural exchange program where Wales has pledged to send its experts to Bugisu in February 2024 to support in the feasibility studies, design, and development of a project proposal for construction of a cultural museum at Mutoto cultural and heritage centre in Mbale city. * On addressing climate change, Wales pledged to support Bugisu with 20 million tree seedlings to be planted in the sub region, and also expressed openness in supporting Mbale city to address garbage collection challenges. * On education, HH Jude Mike Mudoma revealed to the clan chairmen that there was a lot discussed with the University of West England in Bristol that may culminate in that university supporting Bugisu in community development, health care, agriculture and education. That soon, Bugisu learners will have open opportunities to study at the University of West England. The Umuguuga III assured the clan chairmen that many of the initiatives above are bound to run for a span of over 30 years, to ensure sustainability and cascaded impact across generations beyond his tenure.
On the state of affairs in the cultural institution, HH Jude Mike Mudoma noted that the Cultural Institution continues to wade through many challenges, some of which are structural, demographic, old, new, unique, general etc, but that as a leader, that is what he is there for; to solve the problems. The Umuguuga III singled out some of the problems like failure to accept by the rival faction, endless court suits, deliberate disinformation and misinformation by certain cliques, malicious propaganda against his reign, impersonation by individuals passing off as defacto officials of the cultural institution etc, but he assured the clan chairmen that he is on top of it all, asking them not to mistake his slow but calculated steps as a weakness. He emphasised that he is a tested and seasoned leader who can surmount the strongest of storms, adding that soon, he will unveil his lean but strong team of cabinet, at this point pronounced the clan chairmen as his Advisory Council of Elders , noting that he needs guidance as he takes his small but impactiful steps in stabilisation of his reign.
The clan chairmen in turn welcomed back Umuguuga III and his entourage from the UK trip, thanking him for the focus and determination to develop Bugisu, based on his report on the UK trip and state of affairs. The clan chairmen also welcomed their appointment as the Advisory Council of Elders and pledged to always serve as Umuguuga III's eyes and ears.
It is from the above, that voices on the urgency to have a better prepared Imbalu ceremony since the circumcision year is at hand, turned louder, members in attendance expressing disappointment with how Imbalu, one of the pillar rituals of Bugisu culture has been mismanaged in the recent past years.
In response, the Umuguuga III assured the clan chairmen that his administration is anchored on fairness, equity, transparency and accountability, for sustainable preservation of the Bugisu cultural heritage and that since he has continued to hear voices of dissatisfaction with the Imbalu management, he is going to put in place the Imbalu Culture Board to manage all affairs pertaining to Imbalu, but hastened to warn all Bamasaaba against conducting Imbalu rituals outside the official time table that will officially soon be released, whose activities start in August 2024.
And to the Imbalu Culture Board, Umuguuga III HH Jude Mike Mudoma has thus named the following; 1. Watira Wilson - Chair 2. Nagimesi Namwata - Vice 3. Gudoi Esau - Member 4. Lunyolo Suzan - Member 5. Wadyamboga Stephen - Member 6. Nabahana Patrick - Member 7. Chairman Bakhebi - Member 8. Kutoi Moses - Ex Official 9. Wambede Richard - Ex Official
The Umuguuga III wished all his subjects a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024.
Article prepared by Gemei Clyan