Kezekiah Mbogo Jr
The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuzo has cautioned cultural leaders countrywide to desist from turning their cultural institutions into a platform of partisan politics. “These institutions are meant to promote unity, peace and harmony but not to create division among the subjects on partisan politics. Turning these institutions into a platform of politics will instead create divisionism amongst the subjects,” Minister Mutuzo said.
Meeting the Bugwere cultural leader, John Weyabire and 104 clan heads at the Institution’s offices on 10th April 2019, Minister Mutuzo extremely commended the institution’s leadership for establishing all the structures as required.
“With just four years in operations, the institution has made these notable achievements, it means the purpose to which people wanted this institution to be recognized and gazetted was worthy and I have to salute the Ikumbania [it means the cultural institution] for steering the institution,” she said, adding that, “It was not mere paperwork but a requirement that cultural institutions are mandated to put up structures at all levels, and it’s the reason as to why I am meeting leaders to evaluate whether they have fulfilled.”
The institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act 2011 clearly bars cultural leaders from participating in partisan politics. The NRM government restored cultural institutions with a prime objective to preserve and promote culture.
“We have no space for wars and therefore, cultural institutions should stick to their principle core to preserve the cultural norms, promote unity and development but engaging contrary will sanction for action against such leaders,” she explained
However, she challenged the rival camp being headed by Kintu Mubala to join the recognized Ikumbania which is headed by John Weyabire. “The government knows one leader, and that is Weyabire. Those self-imposed should wait after the 10 years according to the Bagwere constitution so that they could be elected,” she said.
She also urged the Ikumbania and the team to form a reconciliation committee to meet the other worrying camp for the good of the people of Bugwere. “This is the way to go. Kindly use good language during the reconciliation because not everybody will get satisfied with a leader,” she said.
“The government never imposed the Ikumbania on the people of Bugwere but was duly elected and complied with all the requirements. The government has one leader at a time. So Weyabire is the Ikumbania of Bugwere. The rest should remain calm and patient.”
The Ikumbania, Weyabire applauded government for the restoration of cultural institutions including that of Bugwere which has tremendously made several achievements including provision of access to safe water, scholarship to needy children and health camp. “The institution is supportive of government programme and pledges to fight poverty by all means through establishing productive projects,” Weyabire said. He however tasked the minister to take actions against the self-imposed Ikumbania. Save for Pallisa, the meeting was attended by RDCs of Budaka, Butebo, and Kibuku. The clan heads were thrown into jubilation again after the minister re-affirmed that Weyabire is the rightful Ikumbania of Bugwere. For comments, call or text us on 0704142939.
