MBALE, Uganda (IP)
Two security teams led by Col. Hebert Edward Tahunga on Sunday inspected the historic Mutoto Cultural Grounds as preparations gather pace for the 2026 Imbalu circumcision festival in eastern Uganda.
Tahunga, who heads security for traditional and cultural leaders, toured the grounds alongside royal guards of the Bugisu Cultural Institution to assess readiness, security arrangements and preservation of key heritage sites expected to host thousands during the August launch.
Earlier, the delegation had paid a courtesy call on Jude Mike Mudoma, the Umukuka III and cultural leader of the Bamasaaba people, at the institution’s headquarters in Mbale.
Officials said the inspection marks the start of coordinated planning between cultural authorities and security agencies to ensure a smooth and secure ceremony.
The Mutoto grounds, regarded as the ancestral cradle of the Bamasaaba initiation rite, serve as the main venue for the opening of Imbalu, a public rite of passage symbolizing the transition from boyhood to manhood.
The ceremony, held every even-numbered year, draws participants, cultural enthusiasts and political leaders from across Uganda ,Western Kenya and beyond.
Organizers expect increased attendance in 2026 as efforts intensify to promote the festival as both a cultural celebration and a tourism attraction for the Bugisu sub-region.
