Sabiny cultural institution revives male circumcision festival after 55 years

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The Sabiny cultural institution, in collaboration with the government and various partners, has launched male circumcision festivals after a break of about 55 years.

The cultural tradition serves as an initiation ritual and a rite of transformation into manhood for young boys in the Sebei sub-region.

On December 2, the rituals to revive the festival were held at Bukwo Boma Grounds officiated by the current Sapiiny Cultural leader, Peter Swilikei Kissa. The event was last held in 1969.

The Sapiiny cultural leader, Peter Swilikei Kissa, addressing his people during the launch of the safe Sapiiny male circumcision festival at Bukwo Boma Grounds. (Photo by Jeff Andrew Lule)

The Sebei sub-region is composed of Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo districts.

The event was supported by ActionAid International Uganda, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and local governments from the Sebei sub-region, among others. 

“These groups of candidates are very lucky because this is the first time they are getting initiated by the cultural leader of Sapiiny cultural institutions after decades,” he noted.

Guests including local clan and religious leaders, political figures, and government representatives attended yesterday's event.

Kissa expressed appreciation for the support received, particularly from AAIU, UNFPA, the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), and Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), among others.

New ARP for FGM

At the same event, he expressed concern over the secretive practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), in various communities, emphasizing that this must stop in efforts to save the young women.

He took the opportunity to introduce the newly developed Alternative Rites Passage (ARP) for girls, which is designed to serve as a substitute for FGM and other detrimental practices. He called upon local political and cultural leaders to leverage the male circumcision festival to promote the ARP for girls within their communities.

He highlighted the urgent need to raise awareness about FGM, its impact on the rights of girls, and its broader implications for community development.

He clarified that the ARP initiative seeks to uphold traditional values while safeguarding the health, rights and dignity of young women.

The ARP for girls was developed by the Sebei cultural institution in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, with support from AAIU and UNFPA.

Though the Government introduced the Anti-FGM Act of 2010 to combat the harmful practice; it continues widely Sebei sub-region as well as among the Pokot community in the Karamoja sub-region.

Due to the existing legislation, the practice is now primarily carried out in secluded areas such as bushes, forests, and caves, and often extends across the border into Kenya, where enforcement is notably weak.

Data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) indicates that Uganda has one of the lowest rates of FGM in East Africa, with a prevalence of just 0.3% among women aged 15-49.

Statistics from Reproductive Health Uganda indicate that Bukwo has the highest prevalence at 18%, followed by Kween at 15% and Kapchorwa at 12%.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that FGM can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences. These include trauma, complications during childbirth, and a heightened risk of HIV/AIDS, among various other concerns.

The ARP features a comprehensive curriculum upon which girls will be mentored and trained under the program, climaxing with a grand cultural pass-out that celebrates their transition into womanhood.

Over 1000 to face the knife

Some of the circumcision candidates waiting for initiation. (Photo by Jeff Andrew Lule)

More than 1,000 young boys are set to participate in the Sapiiny Safe Male Circumcision Rotweet 2024 cultural ceremony.

Moris Kiplangat, the Bukwo Principal Community Development Officer, noted that the festival, which used to take place every year, was interrupted in 1969 due to security issues that compelled many cultural leaders to seek refuge in Kenya.

Organisers have also organized health camps during the festival to conduct free testing for HIV and other illnesses in communities.