The Bugwere cultural institution is yet to get a leader one year after the death of Dr. John Chrysostom Wayabire.
Wayabire, who was “Ikumbania” of the Bagwere for more than 5 years from 2015 died on succumbed to Covid19 in January 2021.
Four people expressed interest to succeed Wayabire, but this has caused conflicts and divisions among clan heads and the Bugwere community leading to the creation of factions in the institution. They are Geoffrey Wayabire, the son of the former cultural leader, Joshua Wilberforce Musimami, Pangole Mubala, and Eric Kasolo.
The factions became public when a group of 50 clan heads who allegedly subscribe to the faction of Geofrey Wayabire, impeached three heads of the institution including Speaker Jacob Maiso, the Cultural Council Chairperson Kirya Badru, and Joel Mugulusi, the Prime Minister over claims that they supported one of the candidates in the race.
Another contention has been on the number of clans within the institution which were not clearly stipulated in the constitution with some clan heads claiming their clans had been left out which barred them from performing any function in the institution.
In October, the State Minister for Gender and Cultural Affairs Peace Mutuuzo intervened in the conflicts at Marple Cottages in Kamonkoli, in Budaka district.
The Prime Minister who was supposed to act as the caretaker was impeached and thrown out of the institution but was reinstated Minister Mutuzo reinstated.
This activity was supposed to be done within a period of 21 days from the time of the reconciliation and thereafter a date for elections would be set.
However, this is yet to be done over two months later when the Minister intervened in the matters of the cultural institution.
Jacob Maiso, the Speaker of the institution says they have faced challenges in finding a new cultural leader. He says that the absence of a leader has affected the activities of the institution.
“The late Wayabire had spearheaded projects for his people, but because there is no replacement, it has affected development but we are hopeful the new cultural leader will be elected soon and he begins from where Wayabire stopped,” he said.
Maiso cited the scholarship programs that the institution was spearheading.
Moses Mulomi, the State Minister of General Duties said that he had donated 12 acres of land where a university and a pharmaceutical company were supposed to be established but this has been delayed because of the lack of a cultural leader.
Yusufu Kasada, a clan leader of the Baisebalaba clan says that factions and the covid-19 pandemic have affected the election of a new cultural leader. Kasada says that the demise of Wayabire led to factions among the Bugwere.
Obwa Ikumbania bwa Bugwere joins Inzu ya masaba Cultural Institution which is operating without a cultural leader.
Bob Mushikor the former leader of Inzu ya masaaba also succumbed to covid19 in 2021, the institution has also been embroiled in succession wrangles.
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