Ghanaian King Fiti Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya V, who is the paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area and also the current President of the Forum of Kings and Traditional Leaders of Africa, has praised the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for respecting culture.
This was during the launch of the imbalu (circumcision) festival held at the Mutoto ceremonial grounds in Mbale city on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
“This is my first time to visit Uganda. You are lucky to have a president who respects culture. Learn to celebrate the peace you have in Uganda,” King Amenya V said.
“President Museveni is championing the unity of Africa. Africans should be one and work together. I traveled to Uganda without a visa. This is how we should work together as Africans,” he stressed.
King Amenya V urged the Bamasaba people to respect tradition and culture, the president, authority, and the elders.
“The Bamasaba people, especially the youth, should have respect for your cultural leaders, president, authority, and elders. Even the Bible says that you should respect your father and mother. Therefore, respect your uncles, leaders, and elders,” he noted.
King Amenya V further advised the Bamasaba and all Ugandans to preserve and maintain the dignity of their land and Africa as a whole.
“When you lose what you have, it takes many years to recover it. I want to thank the president for preserving and maintaining the dignity of Africa. You should appreciate your president, he noted.
“As I moved in Uganda from the airport to the Bugisu land, all I saw was green. Protect your beautiful country. I advise you to study and invest in agriculture and business for a bright future,” he advised.
King Amenya V also gifted the Bamasaba King, Omukuuka III, His Royal Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, with a gift from his land that is a symbol of protection against any evil.
“This gift that I am giving you is a sign of protection and power. Those who are trying to kill you will be the ones to die,” the Ghanaian King said.
In return, Omukuuka III gave all his visiting traditional leaders from Africa certificates from the Bamasaba Kingdom and coffee grown in his kingdom as a token of unity and appreciation.
The Omukuuka III also joined the forum for the African cultural leaders, which brings together cultural and traditional leaders in Africa.
The imbalu festival was attended by several cultural leaders who include King Amenya V’s wife Fiti Queen Enyonam, His Royal Majesty Dr. Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam of the Ogoni traditional area in Nigeria, and other kings and cultural leaders from Uganda and other countries; the Governor of Bungoma State in Kenya; the Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Col Emmy Katabazi; Members of Parliament from the Elgon region; state ministers including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation, John Mulimba as the guest of honor representing the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, among other dignitaries and multitude of people.
The Masaba people, or Bamasaaba, are a Bantu people inhabiting the eastern Ugandan districts of Sironko, Manafwa, Bududa, Mbale, Namisindwa, and Bulambuli and are about 12 million in number, headed by their king known as Umukuuka III. They are closely related to the Bukusu and Luhya of Western Kenya.
