The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi, has said that Yosam Odur Ebii is the legitimate paramount chief of Lango.
Amongi made the statement after meeting 118 out of the 149 gazetted clan heads of Lango from the two cultural factions. The factions include the Lango Cultural Foundation under Yosam Odur Ebii, and Tekwaro Lango under Eng. Moses Michael Odongo Okune.
The two factions have been embroiled in a power row for more than four years after a section of clan leaders elected Dr Odongo Okune as the paramount chief of Lango.
In 2017, Odur and his former Prime Minister Dr Richard Nam, filed an application seeking the court to declare Okune, the former Executive Director of Uganda Road Fund, as the illegally elected Paramount Chief and that court should declare his election null and void.
However, the case was later dismissed with costs by then Lira Resident Judge, Lady Justice Winifred Nabisinde.
Meeting the clan heads on Wednesday in Lira city, Amongi confirmed Yosam Odur Ebii as the legitimate paramount Chief of Lango after being gazetted by the government. She also says that Okune will be informed of the decisions of the meeting.
Amongi explained that the conflict between the two factions stalled development in Lango because government did not know who exactly the leader is until Odur was gazetted.
However, George Ojwang Opota, the Prime Minister under Tekwaro Lango, rubbished Amongi’s confirmation describing it as null and void. He claims that the minister is a supporter of the Odur faction.
Daniel Omara Atubo, the clan chief of Otengoro Olang said the conflict must be resolved now to avoid disunity in the clans.
Similarly, Sam Atul, the Lira city mayor emphasized the need for unity among the people of Lango to spur development in the entire sub-region.
“Our thoughts and vision as the elected leaders of Lango for the next five years is to see the Lango who used to share the same voice and notion for understanding and development so that we develop Lango sub-region as a whole,” he said.
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