Bugisu Cultural Institution Warns Against Undermining Government Projects

Mbale City, Uganda | The spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Hon. Steven Masiga, has warned sections of the Bamasaaba community against using the cultural institution to undermine ongoing and planned government projects in the Bugisu sub-region.

Masiga said there is a group taking advantage of the delay in establishing a public university in Bugisu to launch a fundraising drive, allegedly soliciting about UGX 2 billion from Bamasaaba to kick-start the university.

He clarified that the group is illegal and opposed to the leadership of Umukuka III, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, adding that the cultural institution has alerted the police about the group’s activities.

Masiga told this publication that the idea of a Mbale public university was first pushed by local leaders from Bugisu during a meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kapchorwa a few years ago, during which the President agreed to grant the region a public university.

He further revealed that in early November, Umukuka III Jude Mike Mudoma led a delegation—including the Prime Minister of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Rt. Hon. Dr. Paul Mwambu, and himself as spokesperson—to meet the President. During that meeting, the Umukuka reminded the President about the promise, and the President assured them that the university would begin any time.

“Therefore, as a cultural institution, we cannot fold our arms with this information when subversive elements are soliciting money from outside groups in the name of the university. This is merely a cover-up to destabilise the leadership,” Masiga said.

He added that he has seen supporters of opposition political parties, including NUP and UPC, some living abroad in countries such as Canada, pledging to support the fundraising for the purported university.

According to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), Masiga noted, establishing a university requires vast land and several billions of shillings, questioning the relevance of the UGX 2 billion being solicited.

“Government must be allowed to budget for the region. There should be no cover-up involving illicit funds from dubious elements,” he said.

Masiga stressed that granting a public university to a region is part of national resource allocation, and warned against anyone attempting to derail the process for personal ambition, including efforts to disrupt the over UGX 100 billion take-off funds earmarked for the university.

“Bugisu region cannot have two cultural leaders. Nobody should seek attention by misusing Bugisu,” he added.

He also rejected claims by an individual he described as a lawbreaker masquerading as Umukuka, accusing him of addressing Bamasaaba from private residences instead of an officially recognised office.

Masiga commended local governments for distancing themselves from such claims.

He further noted that over 300 clan chairpersons recently vowed to take disciplinary cultural action against the individual for allegedly disturbing peace among the Bamasaaba community.