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Bugisu Umukuuka, rivals make peace after court mediation
“Jude Mike Mudoma, the current Umuukuka, be allowed to serve a term running from July 26, 2023 to July 25, 2028 and thereafter hand over to the lineage of Wanale,” the consent judgement reads.
The two parties agreed that Mudoma remains the cultural leader of the cultural institution until July 2028.
By: Moses Nampala and Paul Watala, Journalists @New Vision
The rival factions that were fighting over the cultural leadership of Bugisu have resolved to end the four-year stand-off through a mediation process that was facilitated by the High Court in Mbale on Tuesday.
Before the mediation, opponents of the current Umukuuka (cultural leader) of Bugisu, Jude Mike Mudoma, had asked him to step down, saying his five-year term had expired in 2025.
When Mudoma declined, his rivals petitioned court, resulting in a series of litigations that had dragged on for four years.
Mudoma argued that his five-year term of office started in 2023 when he was gazetted and not 2020 when he was elected.
On Tuesday, the conflicting parties agreed to stop the fight after a two-day stormy deliberation under the mediation of eminent High Court justices and senior lawyers: Richard Buteera, Andrew Khaukha, Francis Atooke (former Solicitor General), Francis Gimara (former Uganda Law Society president).
The two parties agreed that Mudoma remains the cultural leader of the cultural institution until July 2028.
“Jude Mike Mudoma, the current Umuukuka, be allowed to serve a term running from July 26, 2023 to July 25, 2028 and thereafter hand over to the lineage of Wanale,” the consent judgement read.
It was agreed that all the pending High Court cases be withdrawn.
The seat of Umukuuka was created in 2007 by a group of eminent Bagisu elders under an organisation known as Inzu Ya Masaba. According to Darlington Sakwa, one of the elders, the aim of creating the institution was to unify the Bagisu who occupy the six districts of Mbale, Manafwa, Sironko, Bulambuli, Bududa and Sironko.
Under the constitution, the Umukuuka was supposed to serve for a five-year term.
The two parties agreed that Mudoma remains the cultural leader of the cultural institution until July 2028.
“Jude Mike Mudoma, the current Umuukuka, be allowed to serve a term running from July 26, 2023 to July 25, 2028 and thereafter hand over to the lineage of Wanale,” the consent judgement read.
It was agreed that all the pending High Court cases be withdrawn.
The seat of Umukuuka was created in 2007 by a group of eminent Bagisu elders under an organisation known as Inzu Ya Masaba. According to Darlington Sakwa, one of the elders, the aim of creating the institution was to unify the Bagisu who occupy the six districts of Mbale, Manafwa, Sironko, Bulambuli, Bududa and Sironko.
Under the constitution, the Umukuuka was supposed to serve for a five-year term.
The institution’s first Umukuuka was Wilson Wamimbi, who was elected in 2010. He was succeeded by Bob Mushikori, who died on January 4, 2020, days after leaving office. A succession dispute erupted after Mushikori's tenure.
After several disagreements in the institution, Mudoma was elected on October 6, 2020 and gazetted in 2023. In 2026, his rivals asked him to step down, claiming that his term had expired.
Mudoma disagreed, saying his term of office started when he was gazetted in 2023 and not 2020 when he was elected. Mudoma was also accused of making drastic changes, including renaming the cultural institution from Inzu Ya Masaba to Bugisu Cultural Institution.
After years of litigation and disputes, the Attorney General (AG) issued an advisory last month, indicating that Mudoma’s term commenced after his election in 2020.
Armed with the AG’s advisory, Mudoma’s opponents put him under pressure to step down.
On Tuesday, all parties agreed that he stays in office until July 25, 2028.
After several disagreements in the institution, Mudoma was elected on October 6, 2020 and gazetted in 2023. In 2026, his rivals asked him to step down, claiming that his term had expired.
Mudoma disagreed, saying his term of office started when he was gazetted in 2023 and not 2020 when he was elected. Mudoma was also accused of making drastic changes, including renaming the cultural institution from Inzu Ya Masaba to Bugisu Cultural Institution.
After years of litigation and disputes, the Attorney General (AG) issued an advisory last month, indicating that Mudoma’s term commenced after his election in 2020.
Armed with the AG’s advisory, Mudoma’s opponents put him under pressure to step down.
On Tuesday, all parties agreed that he stays in office until July 25, 2028.