By Leonard Mukooli
MBALE
Parents in the Bugisu sub region have been urged to remain vigilant and protect their children, especially the youths, from the dangers associated with some harmful practices linked to the Imbalu (circumcision) season that begins this year.
This call comes at a time when recently, Umukuka III Jude Mike Mudoma officially launched the Imbalu at the Mutoto cultural grounds in the Industrial Division of Mbale City. Where thousands of people from the Bugisu region and beyond gathered to celebrate this great culture, which has been passed down through generations.
The Imbalu cultural ritual is a significant event where boys are initiated from boyhood to manhood through circumcision. Charles Walimbwa Peke, the Prime Minister of Inzu ya Masaba, noted that after the launch, the activities would cascade down into the community, following the three royal clans of Wanale, Mubuya, and Mwambu in the northern part of Bugisu.
Risks and Vulnerabilities During Festivities
During this season, the festivities are marked by a flurry of activities. The soon-to-be circumcised boys, known as candidates, dance for several days, dressed in the cultural costume of Basinde, accompanied by moral boosters who sing folk songs, drink, and dance kadodi as they visit relatives and receive gifts.
Benard Wasike, the Executive Director of the Holistic Organization to Promote Equality (HOPE MBALE), noted that these processions often put young people at great risk, making them vulnerable to individuals with bad intentions.
“Kadodi is so enticing that it often attracts many youths to dance until dark, drinking all kinds of alcohol in the guise of boosting morale for the candidates over three days. This process leaves them intoxicated and vulnerable, and in some cases, girls are raped and defiled by either their peers or older men,” Wasike explained.
He added that this behaviour leads to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancies among young girls, posing a significant health risk.
Diana Nandudu, a risk communication expert from the Mbale Region Emergency Coordination Centre, affirmed that youths during this season become unruly and experimental, often wanting to try out things they haven’t done before.
“The girls and boys in their teenage years are always experimental, and when there is kadodi here and there, they feel a sense of freedom away from home. This makes them want to try things like drinking and using drugs, which are often used openly during Imbalu. At the end of the day, they are trapped and fall victim to wrong elements who rape them,” said Nandudu.
Zainab Namuyindi, the Elgon Region Police Community Liaison Officer, expressed concern that many young girls become vulnerable during these processions. When it gets dark, they fall prey to older men who rape and defile them. Namuyindi revealed that 783 cases were reported to the police in 2023, and 736 cases in 2022.
She further noted, “Not all these cases are reported to the police. Some are settled within the community through marriage arrangements, and in cases where girls are raped during Kadodi processions and the culprit is not identified, these girls end up having children without knowing who their fathers are.”
Addressing Myths and Misconceptions
Rio Creasent Arroyo, one of the youths, pointed out that several misconceptions in Bamasaba culture hinder young people from receiving accurate and appropriate sexuality education.
“Our parents find it shameful to talk about body changes and what they mean to the youths,” Arroyo explained. This situation forces children to rely on their peers for information, which is often incorrect and leads to poor decisions that impact their health.
Arroyo emphasized the need for parents to debunk these cultural myths to protect their children from avoidable dangers.
Moses Kutoyi, the Minister of Culture and Heritage at Inzu ya Masaba Cultural Institution, acknowledged the knowledge gap created by myths in Bamasaba culture surrounding Imbalu.
He explained that existing myths, such as “a boy who has just been circumcised is required to have sex after healing to cleanse himself,” promote sexual immorality among the youth.
Kutoyi also mentioned another outdated myth that “boys who have just been circumcised are entitled to have sex with any woman of their choice, except their mother and sister.” He clarified that these were not originally myths, but advice given to boys after circumcision by local surgeons to encourage them to marry. However, these are no longer applicable in today’s changing world.
“With all the STDs, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases prevalent today, you cannot give such advice to a child. We did so in the old days because the boys circumcised were 18 to 26 years old, mature, and ready for marriage. But today, where boys being circumcised are just teenagers, still in school, and under the guidance of their parents, this advice is not suitable,” said Kutoyi.
He added, “We know how important local surgeons are in our culture, so we have asked them to use more developmental and encouraging words while performing the last rite (Khusabisa) after circumcising the boys, so they can remain law-abiding citizens and be cautious about their health.”
Efforts to Promote Healthy Practices
Leah Nanduga, Project Coordinator of the Right Here Right Now project at HOPE MBALE, noted that they have embarked on community mobilization and sensitization aimed at demystifying myths surrounding Imbalu and its rituals. This negatively affects the sexual reproductive health of the youth.
Nanduga stated that they have engaged leaders of various stakeholders in the Bugisu community and are now focused on delivering accurate and appropriate sexual reproductive health information directly to the youth, supported by youth champions through peer-to-peer interaction.
“There are a lot of myths in the community that influence the youth, and as a result, they end up with incorrect sexual reproductive health information, leading to poor life decisions that greatly alter their future,” said Nanduga.
Kutoyi further encouraged the youth to abandon the old myths and misconceptions of Imbalu. He noted that the institution was considering debunking some of these misconceptions to protect young boys from indulging in sex and instead encourage them to stay in school and remain healthy.
Moses Bukuwa, a local surgeon, emphasized that every surgeon wishes to see their candidates succeed in life and give birth to more boys to maintain their heritage. However, he agreed there is a need to change how they conduct their practices.
“This kind of job we do is not studied for; rather, it’s the spirits of our ancestors that appoint and bless us with the skills, meaning that whatever we do is spiritually led. Thus, the words that come out of our tongues are very important, especially when we perform the last rites with the boys,” Bukuwa noted.
He added, “We have all agreed through our leadership that our language should be strong, positive, and encouraging, so that our boys become hard-working members of the community, stay in school, and live a healthy life, which is key to a brighter future.”
Bukuwa further stated, “If we give the wrong advice that was applied in the old days and end up misleading our boys, who then die quickly, we will be out of business as there will be no more boys to circumcise because they didn’t live long enough.”
Call to Action
The Mbale City Resident City Commissioner, Asumin Nasike, also cautioned young people to be vigilant about their health, as they have a bright future.
“Culture is here to stay, so you have to consider your life as precious. If you decide to have sex with everyone who approaches you, you will contract diseases and die, and this life you claim to be enjoying will be no more. So, I urge the youths, if you cannot be patient, please use condoms,” Nasike advised.
As the Imbalu festivities continue until December 31st this year, various stakeholders in health, security, cultural leaders, and parents are being called to action to ensure that the youth remain safe and healthy as they celebrate their culture responsibly.
