Minister asked to apologize over Imbalu Comments

Legislators from Bugisu under their Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus are calling for an apology and withdrawal of the state minister for gender and culture, Peace Mutuuzo's statement against the Imbalu cultural practice.

Minister asked to apologize over Imbalu Comments
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Legislators from Bugisu under their Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus are calling for an apology and withdrawal of the state minister for gender and culture, Peace Mutuuzo's statement against the Imbalu cultural practice.

This prompted the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to direct the minister to present a statement on the alleged proposal to ban Imbalu - a traditional circumcision ritual among the Bagisu.  

Minister Mutuuzo recently at a press conference described the Imbalu culture as an old fashioned practice which dehumanizes circumcision and also encourages sexual activity among adolescents.

“I would wish to caution the people of Mbale to stop or reduce dehumanizing habits of circumcision, which are invoking the spirit of sexuality at an early age. The Imbalu culture is really a backward one” said Mutuuzo.

Led by the Sironko Woman MP Florence Namboozo, the furious MPs said that the minister's statement that the culture encourages young people to engage in early sex had caused damage to the Bamasaaba community.

She described the minister's comments as an insult to the Bamasaaba culture which they cherish a lot.

According to John Baptist Nambeshe, the Manjiya County MP if the minister does not retract her statement and apologize, she will not be allowed to step foot in their area ever again.

Kadaga in response, informed parliament that she had accessed media reports concerning the state minister's statement but was not sure that they were from the Minister hence directing her to provide a statement for clarity.

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