Imbalu

Imbalu is a public circumcision ceremony practiced by the Bamasaba people of Uganda. It takes place at the Mutoto cultural site (also called Mutoto cultural ground) near Mbale in eastern Uganda. It is mostly active in the 8th month of every even year. The ground is believed to be the place where the first Mugishu (Mumasaba) was circumcised. This community affair is characterized by dance and food. The ceremony has been heavily promoted as a tourist attraction, and tens of thousands of people attend. Imbalu marks the initiation of boys into manhood and every year, hundreds of boys aged 16 and above qualify for the Imbalu. In 2022, about 6,000 boys were initiated into manhood during the cultural ceremony that happens every year. This is because the ceremony had not happened ever since 2020 when Uganda was locked down due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The age old tradition defines and unites the people in Bugisu sub-region including the Bamasaba people of Mbale, Manafwa, Bulambuli, Sironko and Bududa districts. This is because they are believed to be descendants of Masaba.