Through participation in various radio programs and online petitions, it has emerged that over 90% of the Bamasaaba community want the Institution of Traditional and Cultural Leaders Act, 2011, translated into Lumasaba. Such a translation would make it easier for clan leaders and ordinary citizens to understand and implement the law.
The Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC) has been commended for successfully reforming laws and translating key statutes into local languages. Examples include the Constitution of Uganda, the Local Governments Act (Cap 243) for selected districts, and the Local Council Courts Act, 2006. However, the Cultural Leaders Act, which governs the recognition and management of cultural institutions across Uganda, has yet to be translated or widely disseminated.
The absence of a translation has caused confusion in communities, with some creating internal rules that occasionally contradict national legislation. A notable instance is the controversies surrounding the so-called Inzu Ya Masaba Constitution, which has sparked divisions among the Bamasaaba. Translating the law into Lumasaba would enable communities to understand the procedures for recognizing and guiding cultural leaders according to their customs.
While the Act provides a legal framework for cultural leadership, most clan chairpersons remain unaware of its provisions. Sensitization workshops organized by the ULRC across Uganda’s traditional institutions would ensure that this knowledge reaches the grassroots. Such initiatives would promote respect for cultural governance, encourage lawful practices, and strengthen community cohesion in areas including Busiu, Bulucheke, Bududa, Busoba, Mufumbo, Bubwaya, Tandiga, Muyobo, Wagogo, Mubutu, Mushika, Kigai, Wanale, and Halasi.
