The installation of Otaya, 66, comes after several futile attempts since 2021. Otaya, an educationist now sets autonomy of the Kumam community from the Iteso Cultural Union- ICU under Emorimor as paramount chief.
His coronation on Wednesday attracted thousands of people from within and outside the Teso sub-region including delegations from Buganda Kingdom and Won Nyachi of Lango.
George William Omuge, the Chairperson of the Kumam General Assembly, the body steering the election process and installation of Won Ateker Papa Kumam says that there was delay in the submission of resolutions from some sub counties in Amolatar and Dokolo districts which make part of the Kumam Cultural Heritage.
Egunyu served as Soroti district LC V Chairperson for two terms before crossing to contest as City Mayor in 2021 where he lost to the FDC’s Joshua Edogu. Before becoming the district chairperson, Egunyu was the mayor of the then Soroti Municipality, a position he held for 10 years.
In Soroti City, the water crisis climaxed over the weekend following a power outage on Friday evening. Piped water was completely cut off leaving several businesses struggling.
Those arrested include the son to the deceased, Joseph Angai, 24 and his neighbour, Christopher Epasu, 27. The duo, with another still at large, Robert Opige, 25 allegedly beat to comma, Norah Alapo after she was reportedly found in sexual act with a neigbour, John Ademu, 52, by the roadside.
The most affected roads are located in low lying areas near the shores of Lake Kyoga. They have been submerged with water for close to two years now. In the Serere district, more than ten roads have completely been cut off, making transport to areas like Atiira, Kagwara, Odapakol, Kateta and others very difficult.
The council meeting was pushed to Wednesday, next week after it emerged that Rogers Ejotu, the Clerk to Council in Kaberamaido didn't do his job of preparing documents and reports for councilors to deliberate on during the meeting. Ejotu is reported to have travelled to Soroti for a workshop, according his boss, John Stephen Kasada, the Chief Administrative Officer- CAO of Kaberamaido.
Asio’s body was discovered in a septic tank on September 9, 2021 at her matrimonial home in Muyenga, Kampala. She went missing on January 6, 2021 and the search for her whereabouts continued by the police and relatives until September.
Esep who is a fisherman had reported that his son, Ivan Oluka, had been attacked by the crocodile on Sunday night when they went fishing in Lake Kyoga. But after the body was retrieved from the water on Tuesday evening, there wasn't even scratch on the teenager’s body except a broken neck.
The chairperson of the boda boda operators William Owae indicated in his letter that the police have created a very hard situation for public transport to the extent of turning every police check point into a money making point regardless of the traffic offences committed.
Paul Ewoyu, the Aperikira sub-county LC III chairperson, says that the deceased made one alarm after the attack before the crocodile dragged him into the water. He says that some residents are forced into such risky fishing methods due to the biting hunger that has already hit several families resulting from the prolonged dry spell.
Reports from Asana Village indicate that Okello, who was in the company of his two peers, went into the lake to cast nets in the evening. However, as they were casting the nets, a crocodile snatched Okello and dived with him into the waters.
According to Charles Ebayu Ocen, the chairperson of Kumam Cultural Heritage, the Kumam elders started seeking recognition in 1989 under the leadership of Mzee Joseph Ekemu, the former Kaberamaido County Member of Parliament who also served as Attorney General between 1997/1998 before his arrest over the allegations of corruption.
The boy and his family had travelled from Olelai Village to Acongwen Village, all in Aperikila Sub County for the introduction ceremony. According to area residents, the boy’s family had already paid 300,000 Shillings as the brideprice. They were preparing to handover a goat to the girls parents by the time the police stormed the home.
Harriet Aulo, the wife to Omolo, said they conduct routine prayers in the homes of their members, adding that it was their turn to do so this weekend.
“Jesus never went to school and he has never fallen sick. That is why we don't take our children to school or hospital for immunisation. We also don’t take part in earthly programs because our lord does everything for us”, she said.
The deceased include a retired teacher, Moses Kafeero Amooti and his nephew Benson Bogere who were hacked by assailants in Kobulubulu sub-county, where they had gone to collect payment of 4.5 million Shillings from the sale of land in Murem Landing Site in Kobulubulu.
NFA started demarcating the land last week, which angered the community. The forest reserve has been a key area for grazing cattle for more than 3,000 people in Alwa Sub County.
