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Tekwaro Lango
The Official Website of Lango Cultural Institution, Uganda
Misplaced Excitement!
By Tekwaro Lango Information Desk, 20 May 2020
Some
ill-informed persons in the usually rancorous Lango social media groups have
been excited that President Yoweri Museveni’s pronouncement of ‘His Highness’
before Yosam Odur‘s name in the recent COVID-19 address recognised Odur
as Won Nyaci (Paramount Chief) of Lango!
Ex-Paramount Chief of Lango Yocam Odur Ebii (right) with President Museveni during Lango Conference 2012 in Lira.
However, Yosam Odur was Won Nyaci of Lango until 12 April 2018 when the High Court threw him out along with his entire contraption i.e. Lango Cultural Foundation; it’s council, it’s cabinet, it’s constitution of 2017. Odur ceased to reign as Won Nyaci from then.
No amount of Museveni pronouncements can overturn that High Court ruling except another court ruling if Odur was wise to appeal his case which he did not.
Yosam Odur retains the use of the title of Won Nyaci just like his predecessors Ben Otim Etura and Yokosafsti Engur who up to now are referred to as Won Nyaci even after their demise because they occupied that position at one time.
Retired Chief Justices and judges, Archbishops and Bishops, headmasters, MPs, Professors etc are usually addressed with titles they had at the time of their retirement. Doesn’t imply that they are still reigning/ruling/working.
Teso and Bugisu currently have retired Paramount Chiefs (Papanderous Emodot in Teso and Wilson Wamimbi in Bugisu). They retain His Highness titles albeit no longer reigning. Yosam Odur is in similar straights.
Tellingly Teso and Bugisu cultural institutions are currently stable because they underwent peaceful changes in leadership. No incumbent resisted like Odur is doing in Lango.
President Museveni knows Odur’s situation very well as being pretentious hold out in a position from which he was constitutionally removed from by the rightful organ (Council) and even confirmed by court of law.
President Museveni has said severally and publicly that it is a matter he will solve. Still, one thing he can not do is resurrect Yosam Odur’s defunct reign against the decision of Council of Tekwaro Lango clan leaders and against High Court judgement of 2018.
Possible options for Museveni’s intervention remain financial settlement of Yosam Odur’s Court debt amounting to UGX715m.
President Museveni could also provide a comfortable retirement package (money, car, bodyguards, medical care, house etc.) to Yosam Odur personally so that he does not continue embarrassingly hankering for a lost throne.
It’s is typical of some of us Langi to excitedly jump unto issues with shallow reasoning and in the process, lose the big picture. We consequently fail to discern our interest as a community and end up with huge loses.
Other smart communities like Baganda, Busoga, Toro, Acholi,Teso Bugisu and others have reorganized and strengthened their cultural institutions to play a central role of community voice.
Leaders disagree over Museveni's intervention in Lango wrangles
BILL OKETCH & PATRICK EBONG - The Monitor
Political and clan leaders in Lango are divided over President Museveni’s move to intervene in Lango cultural leadership wrangles.
The conflict, which has now lasted eight years, saw the election of Michael Moses Odongo Okune as the new paramount chief (Won Nyaci) of Lango on February 12, 2017.
The ceremony saw Odongo anointed with shea butter oil on April 12, 2018, at Lango Cultural Centre.
The sitting paramount chief, Yosam Odur Ebii, denied his nephew opportunity to take on the mantle of won nyaci, the most respected office of Lango traditional leadership.
The two rival parties have since been engaged in series of court battles, with each claiming to be the legitimate paramount chief.
Religious leaders and parliamentarians from Lango have attempted to resolve the fights in vain. As the situation deteriorated more, President Museveni offered himself as a peace-broker to defuse the tensions.
Mr Museveni first pronounced his peace moves in May 2019 when he made it public while addressing the media in Lira District after his wealth creation rally in Lango Sub-region.
Mr Frederick Odongo, the Dokolo District chairperson, said government cannot come attempt a resolution now when the two parties have not accepted dialogue.
Mr Vincent Ayo, a youth leader of Okarowok Omwono clan in Apac District, said it is not right for President Museveni to get involved in cultural issues. “Let Lango solve their problems. Should President Museveni enter into the fray, he will lose votes from one of the fraction,” he said.
Mr Daudi Okot, a representative of persons with disabilities in Apac, said: “The Lango cultural leadership is on its death bed if they are calling President Museveni to intervene.”
Mr Alex Okello, the speaker in the office of Adok Oyengo Owoo clan chief, said Lango should not wait for the President to clear their mess.
“They went to court, let the ruling of that court be respected and the resolution of the Karuma Agreement also be implemented to end the confusion in Lango,” he said.he said.
In concession
But Kole North MP Bonny Desales Okello said Lango has become the laughing stock because of failure to end its cultural leadership wrangles.
Mr Okello said this has affected the tribal group, and has made their work as people’s representatives in Parliament extremely difficult.
“We want the government to intervene so that this matter can be handled once-and-for all,” he said in a telephone interview on Monday.
Kole South MP Peter Ocen instead advised Mzee Yosam Odur to hand over the mantle to Dr Odongo Okune.
The MP said Mzee Yosam Odur can no longer offer meaningful leadership since he has already clocked 86 years and give the leadership to Dr Odongo Okune or someone of his choice.
Wer me pak ikom Won Nyaci me Lango medo kede Tekwaro Lango alutu. Awer: King Blood Mon All Lango Artist
Won Nyaci me Lango Dr. Eng M.M. Odongo Okune tye alok ikom ideke me Corona.
0:00/4:48
Gin Obanga oyiko pira, akadi rii pwod tunu bota. Awer: Galimaka
Tekwaro a Lango by LASA - MUK