Elders Postpone Installation of Agago Clan Chief

The central organizing for the installation of Kasimiro Ongom, the Chief of Kotongo in Agago district has postponed the event to the 6th-9th of November 2024. In August, the elders in Agago scheduled the 11th-14th of September 2024 for the official installation of Rwot Kasimiro Ongom.

But on Monday, the central organization committee members in a meeting postponed the exercise, at the request of some members of the clan who are living abroad. Quinto Labeja, the chairperson of the central organizing committee, said they agreed to set another date for the installation of the chief following the request, given that the current heavy rains in the district could ruin the event.

//Cue in: “Wan utye ki…   

Cue out: …mukene kakare bor.”//

Labeja explained that they have also not acquired all the paraphernalia required to install the chief, so they will use the grace period to source them. He said regalia such as a royal stick and royal chair are not available within the locality.  David Okello Obina, the Prime Minister of Otongo clan, says that after the installation of the chief, the chiefdom will strive to revive cultures such as regular chats around the bonfire, to enlighten the young ones about living morally and productively.   

//Cue in: “Ker eni bene…

Cue out: … onyo ki pacowa.”//

Obina said the chiefdom will also endeavor to revive the culture and heritage of the Acholi through cultural galas, which would involve cooking and dancing to preserve the Acholi culture. Additionally, the chiefdom will continue striving to fight against gender-based violence, food insecurity, and deforestation. 

//Cue in: “ker eni bene…

Cue out: …ki dog dinigi.”//

The chiefs from Lango, Karamojong, and Madi have promised to attend the event. Rwot Kasimiro Ongom, pledged to work with other clan leaders and the community to implement all by-laws to revive the dying culture of the Acholi, which he says is one of the root causes of several crimes in the sub-region. 

Rwot Ongom cited the rampant wrangles to ignorance of the law that governed the use of communal land.  Rwot Ongom claimed that he has successfully mediated in 89 out of 93 cases that were referred to the chiefdom by courts, adding that this year alone, he has mediated in more than 400 cases of land wrangles, domestic violence, and inter-clan conflicts.  

//Cue in: “Riyo tal ma…

Cue out: …matye kacito katum.”//

He also pledged to work towards reducing rampant domestic violence, which to him is one of the reasons many government programs are failing in the sub-region.  

//Cu in: “Wabiweko alokaloka bedo…  

Cue out: …mon nyomme ki mon.”//

Rwot Ongom has been acting as the chief of the two clans since 2014, when the then Rwot, Quinto Okidi of the Kotongo clan died.