Masaka RCC given two hours to apologize to Umukuka

Masaka: The Bamasaaba Cultural Institution has issued a stern ultimatum to Masaka City Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Washaki Ahamada, demanding an apology within two hours over alleged derogatory remarks made against the Umukuka of the Bamasaaba, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma.

The demand was made on Sunday by Mr. Steven Masiga, the official spokesperson of the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, following an audio recording that surfaced from a public event on Saturday in Busano Sub-County, where RDC Washaki reportedly criticized the Umukuka during the first anniversary commemoration of the late Wamimbi.

“In the said audio, Mr. Washaki made very negative and disrespectful remarks about the person of our cultural leader, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma,” Masiga said. “As Bamasaaba people, we have given him two hours to apologize for such uncultured behavior and for undermining a constitutionally recognized cultural institution.”

According to Masiga, the animosity from the RDC is linked to his removal from duties within the Bamasaaba territory in December 2024 due to alleged underperformance. He emphasized that deployment decisions by cultural leadership are discretionary and guided by tradition and governance needs.

“The Umukuka and his cabinet have a constitutional duty to mobilize our people to participate in government programs. Attempts to sabotage our efforts will not be taken lightly,” Masiga added. “An RDC should not be the source of hatred and division within communities.”

He further stressed that RDCs and RCCs have a constitutional responsibility to support and respect cultural institutions, referring to Article 3 of the Constitution, which tasks all citizens and especially government officials with defending the Constitution and upholding national values.

“The Umukuka was gazetted in accordance with Article 246 of the Constitution, the Cultural Leaders Act, and our customs as Bamasaaba people. An attack on him is an attack on the entire Masaabaland,” Masiga warned.

Masiga questioned why the RDC would interfere in matters relating to cultural jurisdiction  an area legally overseen by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.

“Why would an RDC want to stop the Minister of Gender from making necessary corrections concerning the jurisdiction of cultural leaders across Uganda?” he asked.

He concluded by urging authorities to rein in RDC Washaki’s conduct, warning that failure to do so might prompt the Bamasaaba leadership to escalate the matter to the Ministry of the Presidency.

“We expect an RDC to conduct himself with the wisdom of an elder, not behave like a juvenile. If he can attack our Umukuka today, what stops him from insulting other cultural leaders in Uganda?”

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