The spokesperson of the Bamasaaba cultural institution (Bukuka) has issued a strongly worded response to Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala-Mafabi, addressing concerns he recently raised regarding the leadership and legal foundation of the institution.
In a statement, Steven Masiga defended the legitimacy of the Umukuka, Jude Mike Mudoma, and dismissed claims questioning the validity of his leadership. Masiga was responding to issues reportedly raised by Nandala on a Sironko-based platform, where the legislator questioned both the implications of the oath taken by the Umukuka in 2020 and the legal standing of the Inzuyamasaba constitution.
Masiga argued that the 2020 oath taken by Mudoma was effectively overtaken by legal developments, citing a High Court ruling in a case involving Mudoma and the Attorney General. He explained that the court advised the use of constitutional mechanisms under Article 246(2) and provisions of the Cultural Leaders Act to resolve disputes within cultural institutions.
According to Masiga, this guidance was followed in July 2023 when the matter was addressed through established legal frameworks, thereby rendering earlier concerns about the oath no longer applicable.
On the question of the Inzuyamasaba constitution, Masiga maintained that its relevance had been superseded by Uganda’s constitutional provisions, particularly Article 246, as well as the Cultural Leaders Act of 2011 and the National Cultural Policy of 2019. He emphasized that these legal instruments provide the primary basis for the recognition and operation of cultural institutions, including Bukuka.
Masiga further stated that even if there were defects in the Inzuyamasaba constitution, the legitimacy of Mudoma’s leadership remains intact under the supremacy of the Constitution of Uganda.
He also referenced past disputes over the rightful Umukuka, noting that such conflicts were resolved in accordance with constitutional provisions—principles he attributed in part to Nandala’s own legislative contributions.
The spokesperson cautioned against attempts to impose alternative cultural leadership on the Bamasaaba community, warning that such efforts would face strong resistance. He instead called for unity and urged leaders to work within the established legal and cultural frameworks.
The statement comes amid ongoing debate within the Bamasaaba community over cultural leadership and governance, with stakeholders expressing differing views on the direction of the institution.
