Nearly half of the official guests at the first official commemoration of the death of Omukama Cwa II Kabaleega of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom did not access the shrine for fear of the supernatural power reactions.
The commemoration was held yesterday (Tuesday), April 6, 2021, at Mparo Royal Tombs in East Division, Hoima City.
Kazi-njema News reporter had seen many of the officials including politicians and civil servants warm up to tour the shrine in which Omukama Kabaleega’s tomb regally known as Iziba is found, some minutes before the Omunyamirwa (Ritual Performer) attached to the royal tombs made a scaring announcement.
He clarified that anybody who wanted to enter the shrine must have spent two weeks without having sexual intercourse and not in menstruation period for the case of women.
Kazi-njema News later sighted many men and women puzzled by this quiz and consequently remained either on their seats or standing outside the shrines at the royal tombs premises.
The Omunyamirwa had boldly warned that whoever could violate the guidelines risked facing lifelong consequences for the disobedience.
This angered the affected guests with some blaming the kingdom officials especially the function organisers for not informing them of such restrictions in advance via media.
“Why really didn’t you inform us? Now I am going to miss this view because I did not know”, said a man whose identity Kazi-njema news has concealed.
Some journalists and internal kingdom officials, too, did not pass the test.
In an interview with Mr Ashraf Nyorano Mugenyi, the ex-Omunyamirwa in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom said there is a cultural process of cleansing where one bathes if he must enter the shrine.
“Mostly when a woman insists and enters while in menstrual period, she risks bleeding for life unless the ritual performers do other things to rescue her. For a man, the risk is losing sexual potency unless the elders intervene timely”, said Mr Mugenyi.
Orweza and Orwihura are some of the vegetation used to clean a person in advance if one must enter. Short of that, one is regarded as unfit to access the shrine and other culturally sensitive areas.
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