President Yoweri Museveni and his counterpart President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya are set to preside over the Imbalu cultural ceremony, which has attracted a range of royal figures, including seven kings from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, King Mswati III of Eswatini, and the Chairman of all Kings in Africa from Ghana.
To support the smooth running of the historical event, President Museveni has contributed UGX 300 million towards the official launch of the 2024 Imbalu ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 3, at Mutoto Cultural Ground in Mbale city, according to the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Charles Walimbwa Peke.
“We have received a significant boost for the Imbalu ceremony, with a UGX 300 million contribution from President Museveni. I can now confidently say that preparations are going as planned, and guests have already started arriving,” Prime Minister Peke said.
The Imbalu is a significant cultural ritual that takes place annually as a ritual through which boys are initiated into manhood within the Bamasaaba community in the districts of Mbale, Namisindwa, Bududa, Bulambuli, Manafwa, Sironko, and Mbale city.
According to Peke, during the event, the Uwelukoosi Jude Mike Mudoma, who is the Umukuuka III, will launch the cultural celebration.
A norm that has been practiced since around 1800 AD, which hardens the adolescent males and prepares them for perseverance against the challenges of lifetime, Peke warned those dodging the cultural ritual, insisting that every male borne from an Umumasaaba is an Umumasaaba and subject to compulsory, non-negotiable Imbalu ritual.
In the spirit of the East African Community, the attendance of the two distinguished Heads of State will mark a collaborative cultural exchange between Uganda and Kenya, as the event will acknowledge the shared heritage of the Bamasaba people across both countries.
