Royal Guards Accused of Assaulting Bamasaba Traditional Surgeons (Bashebi) at Mutoto Cultural site

Traditional surgeons from various districts of Masaba land have accused UPDF soldiers attached to Mudoma’s Royal Guards of interfering in the cultural affairs of the natives. The surgeons claim they were assaulted by the royal guards deployed to protect Umukuka III while performing rituals at the Mutoto Cultural Centre on Saturday. The surgeons were preparing for the official opening of the Inzu Iya Masaba offices at Mutoto on Saturday. The newly elected Umukuka IV plans to operate from this location to avoid direct confrontation with Mudoma’s administration, which still occupies the Maluku offices. This decision to open the Mutoto office follows Mudoma’s change of the Inzu Iya Masaba name to Bukuka Bwa Bugisu after his five-year tenure expired. Umukuka IV Mayatsa Joram Khambo stated in his communication that since Mudoma left Inzu Iya Masaba and established his own cultural institution, locals now have the choice of pledging allegiance to the cultural leader who best represents their interests. On several occasions, locals have publicly criticized Mudoma and his representatives for the name change and for his alleged physical attacks on the custodians of the Bamasaba’s most cherished cultural practice, Imbalu. This raises serious questions about the intentions of the self-imposed cultural leader and his level of support among the population he claims to lead. The surgeons and their leaders have affirmed that they will work and follow the programs of Umukuka IV Mayatsa Joram Khambo.