The proposed election of the new Bagwere cultural leaders , the Ikumbania has been called off. Recently, the Electoral Commission of the Obwa Ikumbania Bwa Bugwere alias the Bagwere cultural institution announced April 9th, 2022 as the date for electing the successor of late Ikumbania John Chrysostom Wayabire who succumbed to COVID-19 last year.
Four people including Geoffrey Wayabire, the son of the former cultural leader, Joshua Wilberforce Musimami, Pangole Mubala, and Eric Kasolo expressed interest to contest for elections. However, the joint security committee of the districts that make up Obwa Ikumbania Bwa Bugwere decided to call off the polls in their joint security committee held on Monday this week until the Gender, Labor and Social Development Ministry issues a road map.
The Joint security committee comprised the Resident District Commissioners, LC V Chairpersons, Chief administrative officers-CAOs, District Police Commanders-DPCs from Pallisa, Kibuku, Kadama and Budaka districts and the Bukedi North Regional Police Commander. A memo issued by the joint security committee seen by URN shows that the proposed elections pose a security threat since the warring parties have not agreed on the election of a new leader and the concerned ministry is yet to communicate its position to that effect.
According to the memo, the meeting tasked Budaka Resident District Commissioner, George Magunda to write to the Gender Ministry about the failure of the Prime Minister who is caretaking the throne of Obwa Ikumbania to resolve the issues in the institution as directed by the Gender State Minister, Peace Mutuzo last year.
Magunda reveals that when they received communication about the proposed election of the new Ikumbania, they summoned all the parties to harmonize on the program but some of the factions did not turn up, which prompted them to suspend the elections.
Tom Mbulamberi, the General Secretary of the Obwa Ikumbania Bwa Bugwere said that they agreed with the security to postpone the polls until the matters are resolved amicably.
The rift in Bugwere cultural institution came to the fore when 50 clan heads allied to Geofrey Wayabire impeached the Speaker, Jacob Maiso, the Cultural Council Chairperson, Kirya Badru, and Joel Mugulusi, the Prime Minister for allegedly supporting one of the candidates.
The issue of contention is the number of clans within the institution since they are not clearly stipulated in the constitution. Some clan heads claim that their clans were left out, which has barred them from performing any function in the institution.
In October last year, Mutuuzo intervened in the conflicts at Marple Cottages in Kamonkoli in Budaka district. The minister reinstated the impeached prime minister since is he is the caretaker of the institution until a new elder is elected.
