Government Commends Ikumbania for His Peace and Unity Initiatives
By Mariam Namakula
Minister of State for Gender and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo has eulogized the deceased Cultural leader of the Bagwere, his Royal Highness Dr. John Chrysostom Wayabire who succumbed to COVID-19 last week.
Mutuzo said that the deceased took bold steps in uniting and advancing developments among the people of Bugwere.
The Ikumbania enshrined a spirit of unity and coexistence among his people through host of peace initiatives that sought to diffuse tribal disputes over wet lands boarding Bugisu and Bunyole.
″His efforts have paid off as there has been a strong reduction on conflicts among the neighbors since his enthronement as Ikumbania, ‶ said the minister
Minister, while addressing journalists at the media center, passed on government condolences and sympathy to the family and subjects of the Bagwere cultural institution following the dormancy of their cultural leader.
His Royal Highness Dr. John Wayabire passed away on the 07, February this year at the platinum hospital in Kampala where he was undergoing treatment for Covid 19.
He was enthroned as the cultural leader of the Bugwere on the 6th of July 2013.
Minister added, the Ikumbania will be remembered for championing a concerted development agenda that placed the clan leaders at the fore front as agents of change at the grass root.
″he reclaimed the revenue of the Bagwere cultural institution and today the Bagwere are proud of their heritage like never before, said the minster.
Ikumbania created revenue streams for the 86 clans through which different development economic ventures like providing boda bodas for clan leaders were developed.
At that time Ikumbania was the National Chairman of the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leader’s Forum and an Interim Chairperson of African Kings and Cultural Forum and a Head Bishop of The Rival of Salvation Apostle Ministries Churches.
Government has also been supporting cultural leaders as part of the obligation and responsibly.
‶Cultural leaders don’t have to toil, they have an obligation to oversee and support the other members of the community.″ said minister.
So we are making concessions to support them were we can, of course the budget has been constrained but at least we will provide the basis, minister added.
Cultural leader have tremendously worked with government as development partners to ensure success of government programs.
Minister said, the main purpose of government support is to economically motivate support cultural leaders to handle their cultural institutions with all the demands placed on them as leaders without compromising because we consider them.
″The government is discussing a frame work in which start up projects will be funded to ensure that cultural institutions grow and economically finance themselves and their interests and they will be released after the budget has been passed, ‶ she added.
Cultural leaders have been at the fore front of fighting Hiv/Aids, supported Operation Wealth Creation and therefore its incumbent of government to support the cultural institutions because the government installed them to inspire people’s development, she added
When asked about government compromise in making cultural leaders interfere in political issues minister said wherever government has placed money it has not compelled people to support them politically.
We have all these roads that support everybody to move including the people opposing the government, so they will be independent, she said
Minister added, where we are going to place a development program it will be unique for that institution and will be independently run.
Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Development together with the Ministry of Health is making arrangements to accord the deceased leader an official send off as per 2005 public service circular standing instruction 3.
His burial is scheduled to take place on the 20, February 2021 at Kenkebu, village, Kenkebu Parish in Kibuku District in accordance to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
″We have had three meeting with the national and local task force to ensure that that SOPS are put in place, the ministry of health is in charge of all procedures, ‶ Said minister.
Ikumbania had a vision which he dedicated to educate his people and to merge with the greater world.
His dream of initiating an Agricultural and Engineering University in the area is one of the things that his successor will have to see through.
