A tale of two Uganda kings who hold big sway in Kenya

By Stephen Makabila    

Sometimes towards the March 4 elections, a Ugandan cultural king was implored to intervene and strike a truce between two senior political leaders who were at loggerheads in Western Kenya.

Then ministers Moses Wetang’ula (Trade) and Eugene Wamalwa (Justice and Constitutional Affairs), both from the Bukusu community, were key pillars for Cord and Jubilee coalition campaigns in the region.

“I was approached by some leaders from Kenya to reconcile the two politicians, but because the elections were too close, I could not manage. My appeal to them now is to preach peace and calm because they are in opposing camps for the December 19 senatorial by-election. Violence should be avoided at all cost,” Bamasaba King  Wilson Wamimbi (Omukuka)  told The Standard on Sunday in an interview at his Busano home near Mbale town, Eastern Uganda.

But how is it that a Ugandan cultural king has the power to arbitrate in a political dispute pitting senior politicians in Kenya?

Cultural kings are recognised in the Ugandan Constitution — not in Kenya — but traditional powers bestowed upon two kings in Eastern Uganda spill over to Kenya.

The first King of the Bamasaba (bringing together the Bagisu of Uganda and Bukusu of Kenya who have a common ancestry), King Wamimbi and the first king of the Itesos of Kenya and Uganda, His Highness Papa Emormor (Augustine Lemokol Osubang), both have commanding respect among their subjects both inside Uganda and Kenya.

Two countries

Despite the constitutional boundary separating the two countries, the modus operandi of the two cultural kings, could be a perfect case study for the technocrats working behind the scenes to hammer out a political federation for the East African Community (EAC) member states.

Wamimbi, who was installed on November 13, 2010, at Mutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale, has his base in Mbale town. The installation saw hundreds of Bukusu cross over to Uganda in hired buses numbering more than 10, led by political leaders, among them former nominated MP Musikari Kombo (now being supported by Wamalwa in the by-election against Wetang’ula), Wamalwa who is now the New Ford-Kenya leader and former assistant minister Wakoli Bifwoli.

On the other hand, Emormor whose installation in Soroti town’s Arabai grounds in 2000 was witnessed by hundreds of members of the Teso community from Kenya.

Within Uganda, Wamimbi who is a former Uganda’s High Commissioner to Canada, rules over five districts split from the former larger Mbale district occupied by the Bagisu, while in Kenya, his cultural powers spread over the Bukusu concentrated in Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties. Emormor rules over the Teso in Soroti district of Uganda and those in Teso North and Teso South constituencies in Busia county of Kenya.

But a question emerging now is why should Kenyan communities be culturally administered from across the border when they do not benefit from the budgetary allocations the Ugandan government gives to these cultural units annually.

Electoral college

“We supported the idea of being under Omukuka and even organised more than 10 buses that ferried people to attend his installation in Uganda, but we have not seen much benefit. Bukusu are more populous than Bugisu and we feel we can have our own cultural king,” says Geoffrey Musungu from Bumula constituency in Bungoma county, who represents the youth in the Bukusu Council of Elders.

Musungu argues that despite the unreserved support they have given the Omukuka, Bagisu look down upon them whenever they visit Mbale for cultural events.

“Its like the Omukuka enjoys more support among us than his own Bagisu who are fighting him, but we do not command respect from him. We feel we should have our own cultural King like the Wanga of Mumias,” adds Musungu.

But Wamimbi,  who was elected  for a single five-year term which ends in 2015, notes that there may be problems that are normal to any society but the over 5 million Bamasaba from both Kenya and Uganda are united.

“Masaba had three sons namely Mwambu, Mubuya and Wanale. We in Uganda are loosening ties with the Bagisu in order to strengthen Bamasaba who derive their name from Mt Masaba (Elgon),” noted Wamimbi.

For the Tesos however, all seems well, with Emormor enjoying un-wavering loyalty amongst his subjects.

One interesting thing is that Kenyans from the Bukusu and Teso communities participate in the election of these Ugandan kings. There are also ministers and deputy ministers from Kenya serving in both Wamimbi and Emormor cabinets.

In an interview with The Standard on Sunday, Emormor’s minister for Culture, Research and Documentation, Elizabeth   Laini Asegu, who hails from Amagoro in Kenya, said they have good representation in the king’s  cultural government.

Emormor runs a cabinet that comprises a prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, 16 cabinet ministers and 40 deputy ministers.

“We have the deputy Prime minister  Gabriel Itela, two ministers and three deputy ministers from Kenya.  Our cabinet meets once every month in Soroti, while the Council which has one person representation from each locations   meets after every three months,” explains Elizabeth.

Among the deputy ministers is  former Amagoro MP Pancres Otwani, who serves as deputy minister for Education.

Elizabeth says among some of the cultural benefits they derive from the union under Emormor is sustained unity of their people and embracing and sustaining cultural practices and customs for the current and future generations.

“Our cross border unity also makes us have one cultural voice as a people and makes us have direction. Its our prayer that in the coming years, Kenya’s constitution should also recognise traditional kings and fund their activities,” adds Elizabeth.

Elizabeth further asserts, “We do not recognise artificial boundaries. On December 9, we will cross to Uganda in our hundreds to mark the Heritage Day in Soroti and on December 26, we will host Emormor at Kakapel in Kenya for our cultural fete.”

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong (a Teso),  has been attending all cultural fetes presided over by Emormor, since his days as the MP for the Amagoro constituency.

Wamimbi on his part has his deputy Chief Minister from Kenya, Dr George Masafu, who is a chief executive of a Bungoma based FM radio station. Other Kenyan ministers serving in his 18-member cabinet include Bungoma County Cultural Officer Florence Nabwala, who serves as minister for Gender and Charles Kisembe from Trans-Nzoia who serves as minister for agriculture. Deputy ministers include Omar Njofu, Dominic Wetang’ula and Sella Wanyonyi, among others.

Nabwala in an interview with The Standard on Sunday, noted the Kenyan Bukusu are benefiting from Wamimbi’s cultural government.

“We have hosted him twice in Kenya. In 2011 he graced the Bukusu Cultural Festival at Sang’alo. We also participated in his election by providing seven out of the 31 elders who made the Electoral College and he is therefore our leader,” says Nabwala.

She says although funds from the Ugandan government benefits   activities inside Uganda, the King has been seeking funding from foreign donors which can assist his people in both countries.

“In May, I was part of the delegation to the United Kingdom to seek funding for priority areas such as maternal health. Our visit was also meant to seek funds to construct a cultural centre in Mutoto for the benefit of all of us,” adds Nabwala.