The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Soroti, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi Ongom will on Wednesday meet the different Iteso Cultural Union – ICU warring parties.
In the letter dated October 17, 2022, the Minister invited Paul Sande Emolot and Nicholas Dokoria Ocilakol for mediation in Kampala. Both Emolot and Dokoria have been named as next Emorimor by their respective followers, which has sparked sharp division in the ICU leadership.
While Dokoria is said to have been installed already by his followers, Emolot’s coronation is due for Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Soroti Sports Ground. The coronation ceremony is preceded by several activities meant to raise funds and mobilize communities for the day.
However, the preparations contravene court orders that bar Emolot and his agents from performing any ICU-related activities until the main application is disposed of. The application by William Alloch and six others seeks to determine the authenticity of the ICU Council constituted in 2019.
The applicants contend that ICU Council had been suspended by the former Emorimor, Augustine Osuban Lemukol before his demise in February 2022 over the alleged election irregularities in the election of council members in November 2019. The applicants ran to court when Emolot was declared by some of the council members as caretaker Emorimor in April 2022.
In the letter, Amongi said that her decision to meet the two parties follows guidance from the court to settle the matter outside the court.
Amongi noted in the letter that the meeting will inform the next course of action for ICU leadership since she will report back to the Court on the resolutions reached by both parties during mediation. The meeting will also be attended by the lawyers and five representatives from each of the factions.
There has been a standoff in the ICU leadership on succession following a split between council members and the elders under the ICU Founder Members. ICU Council supports Emolot while the founder members are fronting Dokoria.
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