The price of relocating Budhagali’s spirits

By Ibrahim Kasita

BUSOGA’S ancestral spirits have been relocated from Bujagali Falls without the consent of the spiritual leader.

Nabumba Budhagali, who is believed to be the powerful wichdoctor who heads the spirits, did not participate in the rituals to relocate the spirits from Bujagali to Namizzi East Village, downstream the River Nile. Namizzi is eight kilometers
away from the Bujagali Falls.

According to Nfuudu, one of the traditional healers, the relocation was a success. Nfuudu placed a spear wrapped in barkcloth in the roaring Bujagali Falls.

He took it out and later took it to the new site at Namizi. This marked the final relocation of the spirits, according to the healers.

Mauta Lukoye Naigaga, who participated in the ceremony, said to prove that the spirits had relocated to Namizzi, there was instant rain when the rituals were performed, The rain stopped immediately after the ceremony.”

“This is a clear testimony that the spirits have blessed the project and if they were not appeased, they could get angry and do harm during the construction.”
A new power dam is to be constructed at Bujagali Falls. The falls have been a traditional worship site and home of Budhagali spirits.

Feasting, singing and dancing marked the climax of celebrations to relocate the spirits on August 21, to pave way for the construction of a multi-million dollar power project in Jinja.

Sh25m was spent to complete the rituals, which were conducted by traditional herbalists. The herbalists dressed in barkcloth with beads around their necks, wrists and ankles and some were squatting around a bonfire.

Elderly men and women sat separately under a make-shift tent smoking tobacco in long brightly decorated pipes.
They muttered to themselves and seemed to be under the control of unknown supernatural powers – possessed!

“Shifting the spirits requires blood ritual for their appeasement. For the last three days, we have feasted on meat, matooke and drank tonto (local brew) as part of the rituals to appease the spirits to relocate to the new place,” said Naigaga

Three cows, 20 goats and lots of chicken were slaughtered at the new site to welcome the spirits.
Naigaga disclosed that blood sacrifice lured the spirits to relocate and “for us we are sure the spirits have accepted the new site because they are happy with the rituals.”

As the celebrations continued, three circular permanent shines were under construction , each facing the west, towards the sunset.

Naigaga said the ‘Budhagali’ spirits protected the local community against dangers, calamity and enemies of the Busoga Kingdom.

“The Bujagali Falls means a lot to us because it is the dwelling place of Budhagali spirits. It means our history, culture, heritage, religion and tradition,” she said.

James Christopher Mutyaba, the chairman of Busoga’s 11 tribal chiefdoms, said they accepted to relocate their spirits because they supported the 250 megawatt project.

“We support the hydropower project because it will provide the badly-needed electricity that will boost our economy,” he said.

“We agreed with the developers that our spirits and traditions be relocated to a suitable place and perform rituals to that effect, which has been done.”

The spirits, explains Mutyaba, were first relocated to Kimaka in a private home “but they have never been happy.”

“The celebrations signal the final relocation of the spirits and to prove the true reincarnation of the spirits, we have to wear bark cloth, smoke tobacco and perform blood sacrifice to appease them,” he asserts.

John Kadoko, the minister of culture in the Kyabazinga’s office, said the new site would act as a new tourist attraction bringing in the much-needed revenue to Busoga kingdom.

“We appeal to the Government to help us to develop this historical, cultural and religious site into a national prestige,” he said.

“We have strongly supported the development of this power project and we appeal to the authorities and the developers to promote our culture by providing technical and economic support.”

Badru Kapompo, a Kampala-based traditionalist said the spirits relocated because “the rains cleansed the new shrines at Namizzi.”

“Spirits have a leader. They instruct and give orders to the person they have chosen. It is possible for the spirits to relocate from water to land as long as you have fulfilled their demands,” he explains.

Pastor Simeon Kayiwa of Namirembe Christian Fellowship Church, confirms spirits exists and people associate with them as angels. He says they can be relocated.

“Until a person anointed with the Holy Spirit prays for that project, the Budhagali spirits will not relocate but remain problematic,” says Kayiwa.

Kayiwa, who holds a doctorate in theology from Latin University California and has written a thesis The Supernatural Unfolded, said it is only the Holy Spirit that can relocate and drive the Budhagali spirits.

“But they should not impose or dictate decision on people. As Christians, we do not listen to their wishes,” he explains.
Kayiwa explained that the belief that spirits lived in waters, rivers, falls, mountains, the moon and the sun originated from ancient Egypt many years ago.

“The Egyptian empire was estranged in witchcraft which they used against the people of God. During the time the pharaoh’s gods clashed with the Holy Spirit,” he added.

“The influence of the Egyptian empire instilled their culture on the African culture. Remember the European and Roman culture also began penetrating Africa.”