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President Museveni has given a stern warning to cultural leaders not to engage in active politics, saying this might cause violence in the country.

“The cultural leaders must play their olubimbi literally meaning their part but not to actively get involved in politics because this might cause turmoil in the country,” President Museveni said while launching the Bamasaba cultural circumcision ceremony in Mbale District on Friday.

“My advice to you is to play the roles and responsibilities within your boundaries.”
Mr Museveni said the Movement government fought and restored traditional institutions because it was important to allow people preserve their norms.

Abusing benefits?
“We knew the benefits of restoring these institutions but it would sound bad if they abuse them by actively getting into politics,” he added. The traditional imbalu (circumcision ceremony) takes place after every even year and this year’s event took place at Bumutoto cultural grounds.

Thousands of people walked several kilometres as far as Western Kenya, Sironko, Bududa, Bulambuli, Manafwa, Mbale and other surrounding districts to witness the ceremony.

The President commended the Bamasaba for inviting their colleagues [Bakusu] from Western Kenya, which shows a sign of unity as Uganda and other countries are geared at creating the East African Community (EAC).

“I don’t personally agree with the issue of borders. These were grave mistakes created by the colonial masters because this divided people and yet they speak the same language. This is why I am agitating for the creation of the EAC,” Mr Museveni said amid applause from the mammoth gathering.
President Museveni further said that people should not fight over borders because “we are one”.

“Fighting should not be a solution but let us come together for unity in Africa in general. Countries like Congo and Sudan will join us later,” he said adding that agitating for EAC does not mean “I am looking for food. I have my cows”. Some international scientists have recommended circumcision as a means to curb the spread of HIV/Aids.

But Mr Museveni urged young people not to think that with circumcision they will be safe from the scourge and should guard themselves against contracting the disease.
Mr Museveni pledged to provide a vehicle to the newly elected Bamasaba cultural leader, the Umukuka Wilson Wamimbi, who is former high commissioner to Canada.
In response to a request made by the host chairman, Mr Charles Walimbwa, President Museveni promised to allocate part of National Forestry Authority land located at Bugema to Bumutoto cultural site for expansion.

President Museveni, who donated Shs10 million towards the function, also backed the proposal of carving Namisidwa district out of Manafwa District after the leaders in Manafwa locked horns over the matter.