The three-time-blocked Bugungu cultural gala known as ‘Kabaari ka Mbinya za Bugungu’ was finally performed yesterday (Saturday), April 1, 2023, with limited success compared to the organisers’ expectations.
Mr Charles Muhambura, the Chairperson Organising Committee for the gala, says the function held at the former cattle auction market in Buliisa town council was 50% successful with an attendance of about 4,000 people of the 10,000 expected ones.
He blames security obstructions in a space of one week towards the event through letters from the Inspector General of Police and local security as well as direct confrontation to the organisers.
“The function was to start at 10am but it finally started at 11am. We were delayed by the security deployed at the venue as early as 7am and halted the venue preparation activities until we reached consensus,” says Mr Muhambura.
He further explains that only eight of the 14 invited Bugungu cultural dance groups performed successfully.
The trans-night disco dance that was meant to precede the cultural gala was not held for security reasons.
“We could have had a huge turn up but many people feared for their life when they saw the security detail at the venue in the morning and also the social media messages that circulated showing the interchanging police decisions about the venue. Today they say go ahead, tomorrow stop,” he adds.
Nobody was hurt or arrested during and after the ‘Kabaari ka Mbinya za Bugungu’ gala, Mr Muhambura reveals continuing that the organisers will go ahead with event.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Mr Allan Atugonza, the Buliisa County Member of Parliament, emphasised that the Bagungu have a constitutional right to perform their culture and enjoy other cultural rights within the constitution like any other recognised tribe in the country.
He challenged the Bagungu to always ensure they operate within the law.
Other government leaders who attended the function included Mr Fred Lukumu who is the Buliisa District Local Government Chairman cum Vice Chairman for Bugungu Cultural Revival Association (BUCURA), the Butyaba Sub-county Local Government Chairman, the Buliisa District Vice Chairman, Mr Gilbert Tibasiima and the Buliisa District Council Speaker.
The Bugungu cultural gala preparation met a couple of upheavals since November last year when it was built up amid growing contentions over the outstanding move by a section of Bagungu tribesmen to secede from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom to which they have subscribed for centuries.
Bagungu is one of the traditional subdivisions of the Banyoro people whose popularity is hooked into the fallen king of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Omukama Cwa II Kabaleega, who mobilised people of different tribal backgrounds including the Acholi and Alur to stage a nine-year-protracted rebellion against British colonialism.
The organisers of the gala say they are on the same page with BUCURA to revive their culture amidst the threat of extinction escalated by immigrants that are multiplying faster.
Mr Muhambura says the threat is affecting all other indigenous Bunyoro communities.
BUCURA is an agency spearheading the move to create an independent cultural institution for the Bagungu called ‘Butebengwa’.
The main figures behind the campaign are; the former Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister, Mr Norman Lukumu and the serving Buliisa District Chairman, Mr Fred Lukumu.
