Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A major dispute has emerged at the Masaba Cultural Institution following the failure of the Culture Council to account for over Sh500 million allocated for the official launch of Imbalu traditional circumcision in August. According to an insider who requested anonymity, Umukuka Mike Mudoma rejected …
Read More »Ugandans urged to invest in Imbalu Festival, development of Elgon region
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A group of dedicated individuals, passionate about preserving the cultural heritage and promoting socio-economic progress in the areas surrounding Mount Elgon, are calling for substantial investment in the region, with a particular focus on the Imbalu, the traditional circumcision festival. This revered festival, predominantly …
Read More »Bagisu circumcision on knife’s edge
Ancient ritual for imparting communal knowledge faces threat of modernity | DOMINIC D.B. MAKWA | Music, dance, drama and poetry are important elements of ritual in African societies. Imbalu, the centuries-old circumcision ritual of Uganda’s Bagisu people, is no different. When Bagisu boys between the ages of 16 and 22 …
Read More »Bamasaaba launch first Imbalu since Covid
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Thousands of people Saturday thronged Mutoto Cultural Ground in Industrial City Division of Mbale City for the official launch of the Imbalu (circumcision) ceremony in Bugisu sub-region. The cultural circumcision rites are held every even year and Saturday’s ceremony is the first since Uganda …
Read More »Imbalu ends in October, no Kadodi processions
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Inzu Ya Masaba, the Bamasaba cultural Institution has limited this year’s circumcision (Imbalu) season, and stopped the grand launch. A stakeholder’s meeting held on Tuesday at the institution’s Hheadquarters in Mbale City discussed possible measures that will be followed for Imbalu ceremonies to proceed …
Read More »Teargas rocks Mbale as police battles imbalu supporters
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Teargas rocked Mutoto cultural grounds in Mbale district on Friday afternoon as police battled hundreds of people who had gathered for the launch of the traditional Bamasaba circumcision alias Imbalu. Police deployed at the cultural grounds to stop the launch for violating the ban on …
Read More »Speaker summons Gender Minister over ‘Imbalu ban’
Kampala, Uganda | PWATCH UG| The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has directed State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Peace Mutuzo to make a statement before the House on a proposal to ban the traditional Bugisu circumcision ceremony called Imbalu. Mutuuzo, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Center last …
Read More »VIDEO: Thousands Brave the Imbalu Knife
President Museveni has challenged Bamasaba Cultural leaders to abandon the practice of using a single knife on different imbalu candidates in order to check disease that are caused by blood transfusion. In the speech, read by the second deputy prime minister and minister for East African affairs Kirunda Kivejinja, the …
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