Circumcision ceremony of the Imbalu carried out despite skirmish

01/12

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Uganda's former High Commissioner to Canada, Chief of the Bamasaba Wilson Wamimbi Weasa seated, initiates youth during the ceremony.

02/12

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.Red Cross workers carry an injured Imbalu candidate for treatment. The youth was injured during skirmish with Police as they forced their way into a reserved arena for cultural performance. .The youth later overpowered the police and entered.

03/12

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Bamasaba dressed in banana leaves and carrying local brewed beer, the consumption of which is a part of the ceremony.

04/12

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Bamasaba youths dance during the official launch of Imbalu, the Bamasaba cultural circumcision ceremony at Mutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale, east of the country. The ceremony is held after every two years and attract thousands of youth.

05/12

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Uganda Policeman hit youth with club during skirmish at Mutoto Cultural Grounds. The youth forced their way into reserved arena for cultural performance during the official launch of the Imbalu, the Bamasaba cultural circumcision ceremony.

06/12

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An Imbalu candidate is pulled away from clashes with police. There was a skirmish at Mutoto Cultural Grounds when youth forced their way into reserved arena for the cultural performance.

07/12

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A Bamasaba due to be circumcised is carried shoulder high during the Imbalu ceremony at Mutoto Cultural Grounds. The participant is smeared with flour and decorated with traditional beads.

08/12

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There was commotion as police tried to stop thousands of youth from entering the arena. The youths overpowered police and entered the venue after clashing with the police. Few people were injured during the short skirmish during launch of Imbalu.

09/12

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A chinese national taking the Bamasaba local brew during the launch of Imbalu, the cultural circumcision ceremony in Mbale August 3.

10/12

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Imbalu candidates dancing the Kadoodi dance at Mutoto Cultural Grounds outside Mbale town on Friday August 3.Smeared with flour and decorated with traditional beads and bungles, the circumcision candidates dance in preparation for circumcision.

11/12

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Imbalu candidates dance the Kadoodi dance at Mutoto Cultural Grounds outside Mbale town. Smeared with flour and decorated with traditional beads and bungles, the circumcision candidates dance in preparation for circumcision.

12/12

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Cross section of the crowd that turned up for launch of Imbalu at Mutoto Cultural Grounds in Mbale.

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The Bamasaba, an ethnic group in Uganda and Kenya, hold the Imbalu, which is a cultural circumcision ceremony. The ceremony marks the transition of the participants from being youth to being men.