Browsing by Author "Galiwango, Miiro Zubairi"

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A history of Inzu ya Masaba cultural institution in eastern Uganda, 1902-2020
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-04) Galiwango, Miiro Zubairi
This study focuses on the history of Inzu ya Masaba, a cultural institution that is found in the Bugisu sub-region in Eastern Uganda. The researcher was motivated by the current influx of cultural institutions in various parts of Uganda. Unlike the previous generations where very few ethnic groups such as the Baganda, Batooro, and Banyoro were organised under cultural institutions, other ethnic groups in Uganda, especially the non-centralised ones have also embarked on establishing cultural institutions. These include the Bamasaba, Bagwere, and Banyole, to mention but a few. This is a trending issue that motivated the study of the history of Inzu ya Masaba. The main objective of this study was to document the history of Inzu ya Masaba and the specific objectives were to trace its origin, examine its significance to the Bamasaba, and to analyse the controversies which emerged within it from the time of its establishment in 2010 up to 2020 when the reign of Umukuuka Bob Mushikori ended. The study was purely qualitative in nature. Historical materials were analysed and interviews were conducted by meeting the respondents face-to-face and at times over the phone. The respondents were identified by the researcher through purposive sampling and snowball method. The findings of this study are covered in a total of six chapters and they unveil the fact that Bugisu has never been a kingdom or chiefdom. It was a non-centralised society that was composed of twenty-six clans and each of them administered itself independently. Inzu ya Masaba was established in 2010 as a result of the amalgamation of the twenty-six clans of the Bamasaba. The study also unveils the significance of Inzu ya Masaba to the Bamasaba especially through the promotion of unity and co-operation between the Bagisu of Uganda and the Babukusu of Kenya. The institution is also significant in the preservation of the Masaba culture and identity among the Bamasaba, most of whom had adopted the Kiganda culture which was introduced by Semei Kakungulu. The study further uncovers a multitude of controversies that emerged within Inzu ya Masaba over time. The biggest controversy of all was the attempted secession of Bududa from Inzu ya Masaba in order to establish a parallel cultural institution led by Joseph Wash Kanyanya. It caused a lot of divisions among the Bamasaba and weakened the cultural institution. The different non-centralised cultural institutions which are emerging in the various parts of Uganda all have a story to tell. On top of that, they are being established for various reasons which need to be investigated by future scholars. The study therefore bridges the knowledge gap in non-centralised societies in Uganda which have been understudied by previous scholarships with the major focus being on Inzu ya Masaba. In its conclusion, the study indicates the need for further investigations into the cultural institution and how important it is to the Bamasaba. It also calls for further dialogue between the cultural institutions of Uganda and the central government in order to foster unity, transparency, and effective administration of the general population of Uganda.