MBALE – The High Court in Mbale has ordered Inzu Ya Masaba to suspend its activities in connection with the election of Umukukha III.
According to a letter dated 11 August 2020, the Inzu Ya Masaba council of elders, delegates and LCV chairpersons had been invited for a meeting scheduled for 25 August to start the process of electing Umukukha III.
But a high court restraint order dated 24 August signed by the resident Judge Hon Justice Jesse Byaruhanga in the presence of Mr Geoffrey Wepondi has put off the function leaving the elders who had travelled all the way to attend the function stranded in Mbale City.
“An order maintaining the status quo and staying the election process of the applicant’s next cultural leader, Umukukha III pending determination of the miscellaneous cause no.15 0f 2020,” reads the order signed by the Resident judge.
The court order was prompted by an application by N. Mugoda advocates on behalf of Mr Geoffrey Wepondi, Inzu Ya Masaba who sought for an adjournment to allow court hear the application [[Misc cause No.15 of 2020] by the LCV chairpersons for being segregated from attending all Inzu Ya Masaba meetings intended to elect Umukukha III.
Mr Wepondi says that the LCV chairpersons of the six districts in Bugisu sub-region are not satisfied by the way things are being done by Mr Nelson Wedaira [the legitimate speaker of Inzu Ya Masaba], Dr Christopher Bunoti, the legitimate head of cultural and Rev James Kangala, the legitimate secretary general of the Inzu Ya Masaba.
It must be noted that under Inzu Ya Masaba constitution Article 8, 3, the Umukukha III of Inzu Ya Masaba is supposed to come from the Inda Ya Mwambu [Sironko and Bulambuli] administration.
Reports reaching PML Daily indicate that during an emergence general assembly 3 August, a search committee was instituted that started the search for Umukukha III and that using the guidelines, they named; Mr Cosma Busiima [Sulani Clan], Mr Mudoma Jude [Muyobo clan] Mr Wagabyalile Amram [Halasi Clan] and Mr Womakuyu Patrick [Lago Clan] for Umukukha III elections.
Rev Kangala says that although Inda Ya Mwambu wrote back saying they don’t have other names for Umukukha III, the Inzu Ya Masaba culture council has postponed twice the verification of the candidates due to division within Inzu Ya Masaba.
He revealed that apparently there are two factions in the Inzu Ya Masaba one loyal to the outgoing Umukukha Bob Mushikori who don’t want him to leave even after his term has expired and those who think things must be done in the right way
PML Daily has learnt that on June 2, a faction of monarchists from Inzu Ya Masaba convened at Malukhu in Mbale in yet another move to start the search for the next Umukukha [cultural leader] but was failed by police.
And prior to this meeting, another meeting had been held in Lukhobo chaired by Sister Rose Nelima, the deputy speaker to the cultural institution also intended to start a search for a new cultural leader for Inzu Ya Masaba.
In these two meetings, the two factions are at war with each other; the legitimate cultural council leaders in Bamasaba cultural institution [Rev James Kangala, Dr Christopher Bunoti, Mr Nelson Wadaila [Speaker] and Dr Stephen Mungoma the governing board head with another illegitimate faction headed by Sister Rose Nelima that is loyal to the present Umukukha Mr Bob Mushikori.
Although both factions have the aim of rejuvenating their focus on the election of the next Umukukha, the ministers loyal to outgoing Umukukha Bob Mushikori are fronting a person who will help retain them as ministers in the new Inzu Ya Masaba.
There are also reports that Bugisu/Bamasaba Cultural Institution is also embroiled in financial scandals where some leaders have been accused of soliciting financial support from different sources without declaring what they received to the treasury.
Mr Wedaira says that at this time, Inzu Ya Masaba is supposed to be having a new Umukukha III but that their efforts have been failed by people with vested selfish interests.
The outgoing Umukukha Bob Mushikori PML Daily that he is waiting to hand over to new Umukukha as long as he is elected.
“Yes, I am willing to handover but I have not seen whom to handover,” said Umukukha Mushikori.
