The Bamasaba are mourning the passing on of their outgoing Umukuka (Chief Elder Of Clans) Sir Bob Mushikori.

As Sir Bob Mushikori lays lifeless, the fallen leader’s subjects have demanded for a serious investigation into his death considering the battles he has been facing of late.

The outgoing leader of the Inzu Ya Masaaba was pronounced dead yesterday at his residence in senior quarters in Mbale City.

Emma Bwayo, the State Minister for Cooperatives, Production and Marketing in Inzu Ya Masaba confirmed Mushikori’s death, as he was the first official to arrive there.

A relative, and also close friend friend to the late explained that Mr. Mushikori had a terrible accident a few years ago where his car over turned along Jinja road and since then, he has never recovered.

He further argued that however true it might be that Mushikori had many enemies around him as a cultural leader, there’s no reason that his purported enemy would want to cause him harm after handing over office.

He said, “The last time I met him mid-December, he was frail, he has been open about his sickness to those that cared to listen to him. Remember he had just left Mulago.”

Mr. Mushikori’s death comes after plans to enthrone his successor, John Amram Wagabyalire who was only waiting for the official coronation on the 30th, January 2021 when he is expected to officially start his work as the Umukuka III.

Sir Bob Mushikori late last month said that he is happy to be retiring and officially handing over power to the leader who has been voted by the people.

Mid this year, Mr. Mushikori was rushed to Nakasero hospital in Kampala for further treatment as his state of health deteriorated after he was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Masaba wing by his health team.

At the time, Mr. Mushikori presented severe diabetes symptoms that weakened him to the extent of failing to stand on his own.

Unlike the misconception of many, the Bagisu (Bamasaba) have no king but elect a chief elder from each one of the clans from the grand “House of Masaba” to lead for five years.

The Umukuka is the custodian of culture and other communal assets . He oversees over  both Bugisu here in Uganda and in Kenya.

Bob Mushikori is the former Chief Elder whose term ended last year as Umukuka.

Mr. Mushikori who was elected leader of “Inzu Ya Masaaba” in 2015 replaced Mr. Wilson Wamimbi, who was the first cultural head in 2010. Mushikori’s term expired and was supposed to hand over power before November 28, but he disdained numerous calls to relinquish the Bamasaba Cultural Institution (Inzu Ya Masaba) throne, aascertaining that he would hold on to the throne for as long as there were in-fights within the institution.

“They are giving me more time to stay on as Umukuka,” Mr. Mushikori said in an interview last year, as his backers reportedly advised him not to hand over power to a one Mr. Mike Jude Mudoma, as he had allegedly been elected in what they termed as “kangaroo style”.

“They are imposing on us the Bamasaba a new Umukuka, who was elected in the bush despite a court order restraining the same,” one of the ministers, who preferred anonymity, said last year.

The late had plans to go back to President Museveni to appoint him somewhere else to serve, adding that as he retires, he would be going to Canada from where he came before becoming the leader of the Bamasaba.

By Baron Kironde