The five-member commission will be chaired by the deputy Awitong of the Inomo clan Col. Rt. Dan Opito Odwe
Yosam
Odur Ebii, the paramount chief (Won- Nyaci) of Lango under Lango Cultural
Foundation has appointed new members of the Electoral Commission. The members will spearhead
the election of a new Won-Nyaci in November.
The five-member commission will be chaired by the deputy Awitong of the Inomo Clan Col. Rt.
Dan Opito Odwe and will be deputized by Patrick Denis Okwir Jaramogi. Other members are Tony Omar who has been
appointed the secretary, and Molly Akello and Charles Ojok as members.
“Following
the recent notice of my abdication published in the Uganda Gazette dated 19th
April 2024 Vol. CXVII No. 28, General Notice No. 724 of 2024 and in compliance
with the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011 I have this
17th day of June 2024 made the following appointments of LCF Electoral
Commissioners.” the letter reads.
The letter
further notified the Speaker of Lango Cultural Foundation “to convene a General
Assembly of LCF to confirm and have the appointees sworn in, in reasonable time
to enable them to commence their duties immediately."
Jacob
Ocen, the foundation Spokesperson said the institution is undergoing
transition, confirming that Mzee Yosam Odur is still the sitting Won- Nyaci until November. He added that every Lango from 18 years and above
will be allowed to participate in the election to avoid confusion and the feeling
of exclusion.
He
described the March 2024 election during which Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo
Okune was elected as null and void saying it was organized by Lango Cultural
Institution, a parallel faction.
Luo bite:
//Cue in: “Lango
Cultural Foundation…
Cue out:
...Wonyaci ame oyero.”//
Dr.
Richard Nam, the former prime Minister at Lango Cultural Foundation who is
among the Owitong who drafted the 2017 constitution of Lango Cultural
Foundation explained that the March 2024 election which brought in Odongo Okune
is illegal because it did not follow the constitution.
Luo bite:
//Cue in: “Cik
me 2017…
Cue out:
... mw konyo Wonyaci.”//
Dr. Laury Lawrence Ocen, the Awitong Okarowok Wibye-acel clan believes that the
conflict between the two factions is an attack on the moral sovereignty of Lango
yet culture is very important in organizing the society.
//Cue in: “A
strong culture…
Cue out:
...a big joke.”//
He wants
the Owitong subscribing to Lango Cultural Institution to think about the future
of the people of Lango, especially the children.
//Cue in: “We
cannot go…
Cue out:
... over these issues.”//
In
December, Odur suspended the activities of the then-commission for
failure to appear before and follow the law governing elections in Lango
Cultural Foundation.
The
seven-member commission that was chaired by Tom Otim, a retired head teacher
was named during a cultural council meeting held on Tuesday, November 7th,
2023. They were tasked with the responsibility of foreseeing the election and
swearing in Odur's successor as per the guidelines issued.
On 1st
March 2024, the disbanded members of the EC conducted an election in which
Odongo Okune garnered 1,692 votes against his only opponent Dan Okello who got
139 votes. Odongo was then declared
Won Nyaci- elect
and preparations are underway to have him enthroned in November.
