Our Reporter | Mbale City — An advance delegation dispatched by Kenyan President William Ruto has arrived in Mbale City ahead of the official launch of this year’s Imbalu circumcision ceremony in Bugisu.
The spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Steven Masiga, confirmed the arrival of the delegation, saying the team will engage the institution’s leadership to coordinate preparations for President Ruto’s anticipated visit to the annual cultural event.
According to Masiga, the advance team is expected to discuss key logistical and protocol arrangements to ensure the Kenyan Head of State receives a befitting welcome during the official Imbalu launch.
The delegation includes Lucy Wanjiku from the Office of the President of Kenya, Jameleck Gitonga, a Senior Presidential Advisor on Educational and Cultural Affairs, and several other government officials.
Masiga noted that preparations for President Ruto’s visit began earlier this year. Around March, the Umukuka of Bugisu, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, held discussions with the Kenyan Ambassador to Uganda on plans for receiving the Kenyan leader during the cultural celebrations.
He further explained that, according to a widely held oral tradition among the Bamasaba, the practice of circumcision is believed to have originated from communities in present-day Kenya, particularly among the Sabaot and Pokot communities, which are part of the larger Kalenjin ethnic group. President Ruto belongs to the Kalenjin community, a historical connection that has generated significant interest in his expected participation.
The 2026 Imbalu season will be officially launched by Umukuka Jude Mike Mudoma on August 1 at the Mutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale District.
President Ruto’s expected attendance is seen as a significant boost to the cultural event, reflecting the deep historical and cultural ties shared between the Bamasaba of Uganda and related communities across the border in Kenya.
