A delegation of ministers of Inzu Ya Masaaba from Uganda on Sunday visited Bamasaaba of Kenya to sensitize them about the begining of the circumcision season that will be held at Bududa on August 3rd 2012 at Emitoto of Bududa County, Uganda.

(L) The Bududa County Chairman Nambeshe John Baptist and David tsolobi the Bududa District Community Development officer.

The delegation comprised of the Bududa County Chairman Mr. Nambeshe John Baptist, David Tsolobi a Bududa District Community Development Officer; Minister for Bamasaaba in Diaspora for Inzu Ya Masaaba Mr. Bob Mushikoli and Mr. Omar Njofu the assistant Security Minister of Inzu.

On arrival at West Fm, the guests were received by Mr. Situma wa Manyasi who is the assistant Minister for Information of Inzu Ya Masaaba and Ms. Florence Nabwala Lukoosi who is the Bungoma County Director of Culture and at the same time the Minister for Gender In the Inzu Ya Masaaba.

Mr. Bob Mushikoli is based in Canada whose main role is to mobilize Bamasaaba in Diaspora to ensure they fully support culture.

Mushikoli said that he visited Kenya to see the progress of Bamasaaba of Kenya and their preparedness as far as the launching of this year’s circumcision is concerned and take the feedback to the Bamasaaba in Diaspora.

Mr. Nambeshe said that since Bududa District is hosting the launching of embalu, he is working with other partners in Inzu, especially the ones in Kenya to ensure the event is a success. He emphasized that its culture which unites and brings them close.

On Saturday, chief circumcisers in Bungoma county Enos Misiko and Sinino owomukolongolo on their visit to west FM discussed matters of preparing for circumcision and the launch.

Speaking at the West Fm studios, the two advised circumcisers to adopt the new regulations that have been put in place in order to ensure the circumcision exercise is a success. They also had a message to the parents to ensure they also prepare accordingly and do the necessary as they celebrate the circumcision of their male children.

According to Sinino Owomukolongolo, the circumcision knife (lukembe) is a blessed knife that has blessed many people. He said that their circumcision knives are blessed as they are made in a special manner pointing out that, a handle of such a surgeon knife is made from a root of kumukimila tree that crosses a path.

This year’s traditional circumcision in Masaaba/Luhyia land will be unique as each circumciser will be required to be registered and issued with a badge for identification. The area chiefs, parents of children who want to be circumcised and other local leaders will ensure only recognized and qualified circumcisers do the job.

Misiko who is one of the chief senior circumcisers in Bungoma County urged parents whose children are preparing for the cultural practice to be more alert and ensure circumcision songs sung make the initiate brave.

 He added that no one should encourage vulgar and abusive language to be used in circumcision songs saying that if not controlled can lead to moral decay in the youth.

At the same time Sinino commented that the mothers to children who are preparing for the circumcision should inform her clan members on time for them to prepare for the necessary requirements for the circumcision.

About the same issue of circumcision, Mr. Manyasi Situma Omulako urged parents of the children who are preparing to be circumcised to ensure they have undergone all rites of passage for them to initiate their children. For instance he said that a mother is supposed to have undergone all dowry payment procedures, including sitekho, chinyinja and sitiso for her to be allowed to cook and nurse the initiates.