Bugweri clan leaders apologise to Speaker Among over Mufumbiro remarks

Bugweri clan heads disown Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro's message, beseech Speaker Among's forgiveness and audience

POLITICS | A group of clan leaders from Bugweri have apologised to Speaker Anita Among over the "uncivilised unruly statement" National Unity Platform deputy spokesperson Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro made about her.

The clan leaders, led by Mr Mwamadi Mugwisa, third Katukiro and special envoy to Bugweri's hereditary chief, also prayed for an audience to extend the apologies face-to-face.

"We the ministers, abamagombolola (sub-county chiefs) and clan leaders of Bugweri Chiefdom we take our sincere apology on the statement made by Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro during the burial of counsel Waiswa Ramathan," the April 5 statement signed by Mr Mwamadi reads in part.

Wits got the better of Mufumbiro last Thursday and he told Ms Among to to her face back off her predecessor Rebecca Kadaga.

“Instead of eating the loot she gets from government, she has decided to make frequent attacks on an innocent person like Kadaga,” he said as a bemused Ms Among followed from a tent.

Mr Mufumbiro was addressing mourners at the burial of the late Ramathan Waiswa in Butende Village in Bugweri.

The late Waiswa, a younger brother of Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu, was killed in an accident on his way from a court session in Soroti.

Describing Ms Kadaga, as the mother of Busoga whom the Basoga have much pride in, Mufumbiro called on the Speaker to stop speaking ill of her.

His remarks follow at least two recent incidents at which Speaker Among made veiled references that many have interpreted as aimed at Busoga political lynchpin Kadaga.

In her native Bukedea District in Teso, Ms Among alleged that some individuals were fighting to reclaim their seat in the Speaker's Chambers.

She doubled up on the diatribe a day later on March 17 in Buyende in Busoga, claiming that there were some "old women from Kamuli" who wanted her husband Moses Magogo's home district to remain poor.

But politics is a typical pick-and-play game of tarot and the current queen in the pack, the Abagweri see, is Speaker Among.

They extolled Ms Among, addressing her as Nabirye - a name given to mother of twins in Busoga - and 'Mama'.

Mama Busoga is a mark of respect Ms Among has craved for a while. On December 22, 2021, while still a deputy speaker, Among declared herself Mama Busoga while addressing the people of Kigulu South in Iganga District.

And now in a letter reeking of adulation, the Bugweri clan leaders appeared to dole out just what Ms Among wants to hear, calling her Mama - and sending Mufumbiro to the bottom of the pond.

"We would like to condemn it [Mufumbiro's remarks] with the strongest terms possible as Obwa Menhya we respect and embrace all leaders irrespective of their tribes, sex, age, among others," they said.

It is not clear if Menhya wa Bugweri, Samuel Nkuutu, approved of the apologies that not only appeared to cook Mufumbiro's goose but also throw Ms Kadaga under the bus.

Bugweri is one of the 11 chiefdoms of Busoga Kingdom.

Others are Kigulu, Luuka, Busiki, Bukono, Bulamogi, Butembe, Bunhya, Bugabula, Bukooli , and Bunhyoli.

Speaker Among, who was the 'chief mourner' at the burial in Butende, contributed Shs100 million toward the construction the Bugweri Muslim headquarters.

With the scents of the fresh bank notes still wafting in the air, the Bugweri clan leaders made no secret of their intention to follow that 'offensively addictive' smell of money to its source.

"As ministers, Abamagombolola, clan leaders we are therefore seeking an appointment and a visit to you so that we relay our apology before your face to face as a delegation from Obwa Menhya wa Bugweri with over 30 people, including ministers."

Mr Mufumbiro was contacted for this story. He said he would get back to later.