It is trite law in Uganda that traditional leaders reign for life. Technically, their tenure of office is determined by customs and norms, and in most cases it is indefinite—ending only when they are recalled by the Almighty. Upon their passing, authority is usually bequeathed to a preferred heir to usher in the next phase of leadership. Clear examples include the kingdoms of Bunyoro, Buganda, Toro, and others.
However, the situation is markedly different within cultural institutions. Here, leadership tenure has often become a source of conflict within communities. Uganda currently has about 15 gazetted cultural leaders, and this number is expected to grow, with Bugwere, Bunyole, and Sebei anticipated to come on board in 2026 after the general elections.
An English judge once remarked that anything claiming to be law must be found in the law books. I add, on behalf of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, that where the law is silent, guidance should be found in customs and norms. Yet, our customs and cultures generally do not prescribe fixed time limits for cultural leaders.
Ironically, about 99% of Uganda’s cultural institutions are creations of statute, not purely of custom. This reality calls for an enabling legal framework to guide how long cultural leaders should stay in office. In the absence of such a framework, unclear tenure arrangements remain a recipe for future conflicts.
Take the Acholi Cultural Institution as an example. Its cultural leader has served for over twenty years, perhaps in line with the wishes of the Acholi people. However, this prolonged tenure has generated disputes so intense that the Chief Justice of Uganda, His Lordship Owiny-Dollo, had to intervene following tensions among clan chiefs seeking to displace the cultural leader.
In the Bugisu region, the former cultural leader, Sir Bob Mushikori, once attempted to extend his tenure beyond the prescribed five years, publicly stating that as long as President Yoweri Museveni remained in charge of the country’s political affairs, he too was not going anywhere. This raised a critical question: Was this attempted extension truly an aspiration of the people?
Subsequently, the cabinet of Umukuka Mushikori planned to impeach him, citing allegations ranging from misconduct to abuse of office. Many of these accusations were later understood to have been driven by internal power struggles rather than established facts. Equally problematic was the attempt to impeach him, since impeachment is a political process and does not properly apply to cultural leaders.
More recently, during the annual Bugisu clan chairpersons’ meeting on 22 December 2025, clan leaders hinted at the possibility of granting the current cultural leader additional time to complete pending projects, including following up on government pledges to the region. This proposal attracted criticism, particularly from individuals outside established clan structures.
The Cultural Leaders Act, 2011 (Cap. 242), which operationalizes Article 246 of the Constitution, leaves communities to determine the tenure of their cultural leaders. In Buruli, for example, a cultural leader reigns as long as the community wishes; the same applies in Tororo among the Badama people.
As Uganda enters 2026, Parliament or the Ministry of Gender should openly consider introducing a uniform tenure framework, perhaps 10 or 20 years, for cultural leaders. The current governance model is borrowed largely from political systems and is not clearly traceable in the laws governing cultural institutions. As emphasized in Entick v Carrington, anything purporting to be law must be found in the law books.
It is inconsistent and unfair for one cultural leader in Teso, Bugwere, or Acholi to reign for 20 years while another in Bugisu is restricted to just five. While the law states that cultural leaders shall rule according to the wishes and aspirations of the people, disagreements often arise when those wishes are expressed. Critics sometimes allege that community representatives have been compromised to extend tenure unfairly.
To cure these persistent suspicions, Uganda needs a clear and uniform legal structure governing cultural leadership. When Bamasaaba clan chairpersons proposed extending the Umukuka’s tenure to 15 years instead of five, some groups questioned their legitimacy and motives. This raises a fundamental issue: Who is legally empowered to express the will of a community, the clan leadership or the general populace and through what process?
Clan chairpersons are men of integrity and should not be intimidated for articulating the aspirations of their communities. As a cultural institution, we shall protect them and allow them to think and speak freely on behalf of their people.
In conclusion, while customs must be respected, the tenure of cultural leaders should ultimately be fixed by law to ensure stability, consistency, and harmony across all cultural institutions in Uganda.
Written by Steven Masiga
Spokesperson, Bugisu Cultural Institution
