Bagisu Set for Grand 2026 Imbalu Kickoff as Thousands Prepare for Circumcision Rite

Bagisu are gearing up for the grand launch of the 2026 Imbalu circumcision season this weekend at Mutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale City, where the first group of candidates will officially face the knife.

Held every even year, Imbalu is a traditional male circumcision ceremony observed by the Bamasaba living on the slopes of Mount Elgon and parts of western Kenya. The ritual, passed down through generations, marks the transition of boys aged 16 years and above into manhood.

The official launch is scheduled for August 1, with candidates from the BaMutoto clan, one of the 26 clans in Bugisu, selected to begin the season before it spreads to other clans across the region.

One of the cultural elders, Moses Kutoyi, said the traditional ritual involving a sacred bird confirmed the timing of this year’s launch.

“The August date was determined through a ritual involving a bird performed in July, which confirmed the timing of the launch of circumcision,” he said.

Kutoyi explained that during the Imbalu season, families are expected to uphold peace and harmony, avoiding actions believed to anger the gods.

“During this time, cultural norms require families to observe peace—no divorce, no wife beating, and minimal quarrels,” he said.

Preparations for circumcision begin when a boy reaches about 16 years of age. Parents notify relatives from both the paternal and maternal sides before making cultural preparations, including storing enough millet to support the ceremonies.

This year’s Imbalu season is expected to attract more than 10,000 candidates, compared to the 6,024 boys circumcised across the Bugisu region in 2024.

Unlike previous editions organised by the cultural institution led by the gazetted Umukuuka, Mike Jude Mudoma, this year’s ceremony will be coordinated by district chairpersons following ongoing leadership wrangles among rival cultural factions over who should preside over the event.

The arrangement was agreed upon during a meeting chaired by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, about two weeks ago.

The organising committee is seeking Shs1.2 billion from organisations operating in the Bugisu sub-region, development partners and well-wishers to facilitate the opening ceremony.

Speaking during the unveiling of the committee last week, Manafwa District LCV Chairperson and Chairperson of the Bugisu LCV Chairpersons’ Forum, Hosea Kigai Kimono, said the arrangement was intended to ensure a peaceful ceremony despite the leadership dispute.

“We are fully in charge of organising this year’s Imbalu ceremony, and we call upon all Bamasaba to cooperate with us and make this cultural event colourful, peaceful and successful,” Kimono said.

The General Secretary of the Imbalu Organising Committee and Namisindwa District LCV Chairperson, Emma Bwayo, said placing the ceremony under the district leaders was aimed at promoting accountability, transparency and smooth coordination.

Bwayo also assured the public that Mutoto Cultural Site remains secure and confirmed that the ceremony would proceed without disruption.

James Muboolo, a cultural elder from Makudui Village, said that in the past, newly circumcised young men aged between 18 and 22 were expected to marry immediately after the ritual.

“They were instructed to find a wife regardless of her age because epidemic diseases were believed to be rare at the time. Today, however, this has changed, especially for boys who are still in school, where the emphasis is on completing their education before marriage,” he said.

He added that several traditional practices carried out after circumcision have also evolved. In the past, initiates underwent rituals meant to test their manhood, including practices that are no longer encouraged today.

Majidu Mudebo, chairperson of the local traditional surgeons in Bugisu, said herbal medicine is now used for cleansing instead of outdated practices, helping reduce the risk of disease while preserving cultural values.

Joseph Weyusa, an elder from Mbale City, noted that healing methods have also improved over time.

“Initially, only traditional herbs were used to heal circumcision wounds, a process that was painful and took a long time. With the introduction of modern medicine, healing has become faster and less painful. These changes reflect a positive evolution of the culture while preserving its core values,” he said.

Historical records indicate that the Imbalu ceremony in Bugisu dates back to 1804, although historians believe the practice began many centuries earlier.