Police halts activities of cultural factions embroiled in Lango leadership wrangles

By Bonny Otim Ogwal (bonny.otim@vol.co.ug)

The police in the North Kyoga region have suspended all activities related to two factions of Lango cultural institutions that are currently in conflict over the position of the Lango paramount chief.

In a press statement issued last night, North Kyoga police spokesperson, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema announced that both factions must cease all activities until a court ruling is made.

 As a result, the scheduled election of a paramount chief under the Lango Cultural Foundation, which was set for today, along with a fundraising event for the coronation of the newly elected Lango paramount chief, Eng. Dr. Michael Odongo Okune, will not proceed.

Okema indicated that this decision was made by the leadership of North Kyoga police, urging both factions to comply with the police directive.

Attempts to reach Patrick Okwir, spokesperson for the Lango Cultural Institution, and Jacob Ocen of the Lango Cultural Foundation for comments on the situation were unsuccessful by press time.

On October 2, 2024, Minister of Gender, Labor, and Social Development Betty Amongi communicated with Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Kahinda Otafire, requesting the cancellation of the planned election for a new paramount chief under Lango Cultural Foundation.

This request followed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s recent advice to Lango clan heads, suggesting that the two factions should pursue either mediation or legal recourse rather than conducting a new election.

This week, Justice Phillips Odoki commenced hearings in a case where Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, along with the electoral commission of the Lango cultural institution led by Tom Otim,  were dragged to court by several clan heads of the Lango Cultural Foundation, who were seeking to prevent the election of a new paramount chief.

Justice Odoki, threw out some plaintiffs from Lango Cultural Foundation, who include; Robert James Ajal, Robert Tile, and Benson Walter Dila Oyuku, from the case. The matter is scheduled to return to court next Monday.