Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, was forced to leave Mutoto Cultural grounds prematurely on Saturday afternoon after a multitude of Kadodi revellers stormed the VIP section moments after he had started reading President Museveni’s speech as guest of honour.
His security escorts and other operatives struggled to restrain locals who charged directly toward the platform where the Speaker was addressing thousands of revelers who had turned up for the Imbalu ceremony.
Unlike previous years when the circumcision ceremony was organised by a cultural institution, this year’s event was spearheaded by district chairpersons due to wrangles among parallel cultural heads over who is the rightful king to preside over the ceremony.
Among those in attendance were all district chairpersons from Bugisu, Members of Parliament from the sub-region, and other dignitaries including the Ambassador of Kenya to Uganda.
‘The ceremony turned ugly after a group of traditional circumcision dancers escorting candidates to face the knife tore through a VIP section and charged towards the Speaker. His security rescued him,’ Mr Joshua Mafabi, a father to one of the candidates, said.
It is alleged that the candidates and dancers lost the spiritual pathway meant for Imbalu candidates going to perform a ritual known as Khuwakha Litosi – mudding – in the nearby swamp.
The Khuwakha Litosi ritual involves smearing traditional circumcision candidates with mud before the circumcision itself. It is a symbolic rite that puts Imbalu candidates in fellowship with ancestral powers.
Mr Emma Bwayo, secretary of the organising committee and chairperson of Namisindwa District, attributed the chaos to delays and the late arrival of the chief guest.
‘The Speaker’s speech came at a time when the candidates were supposed to be taken to swamp for mudding but besides that, the function was successful,’ he said.
However, some locals told the Monitor that the presence of government officials who are not allegedly circumcised angers the ancestral gods.
This is not the first time Mutoto grounds have witnessed such a disruption. In 2022, celebrations at the same venue turned ugly after a group of Kadodi dancers escorting candidates tore through a VIP section. The tent had reportedly been planted along the spiritual pathway meant for Imbalu candidates returning from Khuwakha Litosi.
Every even year, the Bamasaba living on the slopes of Mount Elgon and parts of western Kenya observe Imbalu, a tradition passed down from their grandfathers. The ritual signifies the initiation of boys into manhood among the Bagisu, particularly those aged 16 years and above.
About 11 candidates from BaMutoto clan, one of the 26 clans in Bugisu, were circumcised to launch Imbalu before it spreads to other clans.
Records indicate that the Imbalu ceremony in Bugisu dates back to 1804, although it is believed the practice began many centuries earlier.
The Monitor has learnt that this year’s circumcision is likely to attract over 10,000 boys. In 2024, about 6,024 boys were circumcised across the Bugisu region.