The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has directed the State Minister of Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuzo to make a statement before the House on a proposal to ban a traditional Bugisu circumcision ceremony Imbalu.
This followed complaints from members of the Bugisu Parliamentary Forum who expressed concerns on the floor of the House through Sironko Woman MP, Florence Namboozo Wamala over the proposed ban.
While addressing the media last week at the Uganda Media Center, the Minister was quoted stating that Imbalu is an old fashion practice, which dehumanizes the practice of circumcision and also encourages sexual activity among adolescents.
Mutuuzo claimed that instead of using crude methods of circumcision where traditional surgeons use one instrument to cut the boys, it would be advisable for them to instead do it at hospitals where safe male circumcision services are provided.
This incensed some member of the public including lawmakers, who demanded that the minister rescinds the decision.
“Just last week, another crime against humanity was committed when the whole Minister insulted the Bamasaba culture; our institution was abused, insulted, demeaned with very hypothetical utterances from uninformed Minister,” noted Namboozo.
“We the Bamasaba are wondering how a Minister would go into the media without consulting us. We implore the Minister that she does a locus study on our culture,” Namboozo said.
Earlier in the day while addressing the press, the Bugisu Parliamentary Group rebuked the minister and vowed to fight against her planned move to have the Imbalu banned.
In response, Kadaga informed the House that she had heard about the media reports but was not sure that they were from the Minister hence directing her to provide a statement for clarity before the house.