Exclusive!! Here’s The Horrible Thing That Happened When Museveni Sent A Woman To Represent Him On Imbalu Festival Last Year – Circumcised Boys Attack Minister’s Tent After ‘gods Of Bamasaba’ Getting Angry

A group of elders from the Bugisu Sub-region has appealed to President Museveni to refrain from sending a female representative to the upcoming imbalu ceremony launch. They claim that the “gods of Bamasaaba” have spoken against such a move.

The elders recall that during last year’s launch, the spirits rebelled after President Museveni sent a female delegate, leading to chaos and a premature end to the ceremony.The elders assert that such incidents were unheard of in the past and believe that the gods communicated through them, warning against repeating past mistakes.

The imbalu candidates reportedly got possessed by the spirits and wandered into the VIP tent, causing a stampede. The ceremony ended prematurely as security personnel evacuated ministers and other dignitaries.

They have requested that the President either attend the launch himself or send a circumcised male representative to avoid last year’s chaos.

“The gods have asked the President to attend the launch himself or send a circumcised man to represent him during this year’s imbalu launch,” Mr Masiga said, adding their desire to avoid the chaos of 2022.

The head of the 26 clans of the institution, Mr. John Diffasi Wabuyi, described it as disrespectful for the President to send a female representative, citing traditional practices where women are chased away during circumcision rituals.

“Even men who were circumcised in the hospital used to be chased away whenever we visited the sacred swamps to cleanse the boys and at the place where the boy is going to be circumcised,” he added.

Ms. Irene Khaitsa Mangali, the commissioner for mobilization, emphasized that culturally, a woman presiding over the opening of a circumcision year is an abomination.

“A woman is not allowed [to come] close even near to a place where they are going to circumcise from. A woman is supposed to be inside the house with her legs flat on the floor. It is believed that the woman’s calmness inside the house also calms down the boy’s heart to face the knife,” she explained.

The elders have long criticized the modernization of the rituals, deviating from ancestral traditions. They insist that the imbalu festivities should be regulated by the gods and not by modern values.

Mr Peter Gusolo, another elder, lamented the loss of traditional practices, saying if Bamasaaba had adhered to their original version of imbalu, their culture would be more globally celebrated.

“Those daring moments in imbalu exhibit responsibility and the ability to withstand trials, but unfortunately, they are being swept away by modernity. Our culture is becoming shallow, and those supposed to protect it have joined those fighting it,” Mr Gusolo said.

However, human rights activist Ms. Rebecca Janet Nagami accused the elders of using culture to demean women.This year’s imbalu launch is scheduled for August 3, expected to be presided over by President Museveni, accompanied by Kenya’s President William Ruto and other dignitaries.

The festivities have already kicked off in different parts of the sub-region, with candidates donning traditional beads and bungles, rehearsal imbalu songs, and dancers ahead of the launch.