By: Micah Sali.
The first King of Bamasaaba, the late his highness Ambassador Wilson Waesa Wamimbi will be laid to rest on Saturday April 20 2024 at Busano Mbale district in Uganda.
Wamimbi died at Kiruddu Refferal hospital,Kampala, Uganda on Friday April 12 2024 after a short illness.
He was the first Umukuuka we Bamasaaba of Kenya, Uganda and the diaspora.
The Bamasaaba(children of Masava) include the Bukusu,Kisii,Maragoli,Suba and Bagishu communities living currently in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda .
The deceased king was born on July 1 1938 and was circumcised in 1962.
He went to Walanga Primary school in the current Manafwa district and joined Masaba S.S. school and Nabumali high school in Uganda.
Wamimbi trained as a teacher at Kyambogo College .
He also obtained a diploma in Business Administration at the Institute of Public Administration ( now renamed UMI).
He later on graduated with a degree in marketing from Makerere University.
Wamimbi taught in several schools including his former school Nabumali high school.
He was employed by the giant Bugishu cooperative Union as a marketing officer .
In 1987 He ventured into politics and became the LCV chairman for Mbale district.
Wamimbi also served as a board director of the Sheraton hotels for many years.
He was appointed by Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the Uganda High Commissioner to Canada in the 1990’s.
In 2010,Bamasaaba clans in Uganda and Kenya elected him as the first cultural King for a period of 5 years.
He retired in 2015 before the late Sir Bob Mushikori was elected as the second king of Bamasaaba.
He was part of the vetting committee that approved Uganda opposition leader Hon Nandala Mafabi,Budadiri West MP as the chairman of the giant Bugishu cooperative Union.
The late Umukuuka was instrumental in conflict resolution after retirement especially solving leadership wrangles that paralysed the appointment of the third King after the death of Sir Bob Mushikori .
Mushikori died before handing over the mantle on January 3 2021.
He was appointed by the Ugandan minister for Gender to head an ad hoc committee to resolve the leadership impasse.
After 3 years supremacy battles to replace Mushikori between Amran Wagabialire and Jude Mike Mudoma that ended up in court,His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma was declared the third King of Bamasaaba.
The reigning King was sworn in at Malukhu in Mbale on August 3 2023 and coronated on October 14 the same year.
Following the death of the first cultural leader the Prime Minister for Inzu ye Bamasaaba Ambassador Walimbwa Peke has announced in a statement to the media that the late king will be buried at Busano in Mbale district on Saturday April 20,2024.
” He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, “said Peke.
The Ambassador of Inzu ye Bamasaaba ,Kenyan chapter ,Philip Wekesa Wanyonyi has called on Bamasaaba in Kenya , Uganda and the diaspora to emulate his dedication to unite warring factions in the community.
” Bamasaaba of Kenya,Uganda and diaspora should emulate his passion for unity of the community to achieve a political federation in future,” said Wanyonyi.
Wanyonyi,the late pioneer king of Bamasaaba will be honoured posthumously if Bamasaaba leaders in Kenya and Uganda unite for the sake of developed.
“Bamasaaba can honour the late Umukuuka by burying their political differences and empowering the community for posterity,” he added.
A delegation from Kenya led by Inzu ye Bamasaaba deputy Prime Minister and former Bumula MP Dr Sylvester Wakoli is expected to join Umukuuka Jude Mike Mudoma this week at Mbale to finalize on funeral arrangements of the late king.
The burial ceremony at Busano in Uganda will be graced by Eminent persons from Kenya,Uganda and the diaspora.
Kenyan leaders led by the National Assembly Speaker Dr. Moses Wetang’ula,DAP Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa,Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka,Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya,Busia Governor Paul Otwoma,Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa,Vihiga Governor Dr Otichilo and Kisii Governor Simba Arat,MPs,dignitaries ,council of elders from Western Kenya among others are expected to attend the funeral service.
Ends.
