IMBALU DRAMA: Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth Rushed Away from Imbalu Ceremony as Spirits Abandon Kadodi Dancers Making Them Raid VIP Tent

MBALE — What was meant to be a colourful launch of the 2026 Imbalu circumcision season descended into scenes of confusion and panic on Saturday after Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth was hurried away from Mutoto Cultural Grounds when hundreds of Kadodi revellers surged toward the VIP section in the middle of his address.

The dramatic interruption unfolded just moments after the Speaker, who was representing President Yoweri Museveni as guest of honour, began reading the President’s speech before thousands gathered to witness the sacred launch of the centuries-old Bamasaba circumcision ritual.

Within seconds, the festive atmosphere gave way to chaos.

Traditional Kadodi dancers escorting Imbalu candidates suddenly broke through security lines and charged toward the VIP tent where the Speaker, district leaders, Members of Parliament, diplomats and other invited guests were seated. Security personnel rushed into action, shielding the Speaker before escorting him away from the venue as officers struggled to contain the surging crowd.

Witnesses said the commotion erupted so quickly that organisers and security teams were briefly overwhelmed as the dancers and revellers pushed toward the platform.

Although no injuries were immediately reported, the incident abruptly halted the official programme and forced dignitaries to abandon the proceedings.

Sacred ritual interrupted

Beyond the security scare, many participants believe the disruption was rooted in the spiritual traditions surrounding Imbalu.

According to reports from the ceremony, the group escorting traditional circumcision candidates is believed to have lost the sacred spiritual pathway leading to Khuwakha Litosi, the ritual in which candidates are smeared with mud from a nearby swamp before facing circumcision.

Among the Bagisu, Khuwakha Litosi is far more than a ceremonial stop. The mudding ritual symbolises cleansing, courage and unity with ancestral spirits before a boy crosses into manhood.

Some participants believe that interrupting or obstructing that spiritual route can create confusion among both dancers and candidates.

Local beliefs surrounding the ceremony also hold that the presence of certain government officials who are allegedly not circumcised may anger ancestral spirits, although these beliefs form part of traditional cultural interpretations and have not been independently verified.

Organisers blame delays

Emma Bwayo, Secretary of the organising committee and Chairperson of Namisindwa District, was quoted as telling Daily Monitor that the incident was caused by delays in the official programme.

According to Bwayo, the chief guest arrived later than expected, causing the official speeches to overlap with the scheduled movement of circumcision candidates to the swamp for the Khuwakha Litosi ritual.

By the time the Speaker was addressing the gathering, the candidates were already expected to be proceeding for mudding, creating a clash between the official state programme and the traditional cultural timetable.

Despite the dramatic interruption, organisers insisted that the overall launch of the Imbalu season was successful.

Leadership wrangles cast shadow over ceremony

This year’s ceremony was already unfolding under unusual circumstances.

Unlike previous editions organised under the recognised Bamasaba cultural institution, the 2026 launch was spearheaded by district chairpersons following persistent disputes between rival cultural leaders over who rightfully holds the kingship and authority to preside over the sacred event.

The ceremony nevertheless attracted senior political leaders from across Bugisu, all district chairpersons from the sub-region, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as the Kenyan Ambassador to Uganda.

History repeats itself at Mutoto

Saturday’s dramatic scenes were strikingly similar to events witnessed at Mutoto Cultural Grounds in 2022.

During that ceremony, Kadodi dancers also stormed the VIP area after a tent had reportedly been placed along the sacred spiritual pathway used by Imbalu candidates returning from Khuwakha Litosi.

The recurring disruptions continue to highlight the delicate balance between state protocol, modern event organisation and deeply rooted cultural traditions that have shaped Imbalu for generations.

A tradition older than modern Uganda

Held every even year, Imbalu remains one of East Africa’s most celebrated initiation ceremonies.

Observed by the Bamasaba communities living on the slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda and neighbouring parts of western Kenya, the ritual marks the transition of boys—typically aged 16 years and above—into manhood.

This year’s launch saw 11 candidates from the BaMutoto clan, one of the 26 recognised clans in Bugisu, become the first to undergo circumcision before the ritual spreads throughout the region.

Historical records trace Imbalu in Bugisu to at least 1804, although cultural historians believe the tradition predates that date by many centuries.

Organisers expect more than 10,000 boys to undergo circumcision during this year’s season, a significant increase from the approximately 6,024 candidates initiated across Bugisu during the 2024 Imbalu season.