Police in Lira has summoned Eng Michael Odongo Okune, one of the clan heads in Lango for organizing, funding and holding an illegal assembly that elected him a parallel cultural chief of the Lango chiefdom.
Odongo, the clan head of Okar-Omwono is also the executive director of Uganda Road Fund (URF). He was elected the new cultural chief of Lango by more than 120 clan chiefs constituting the council of Owitong under Lango Cultural Foundation during meetings held in Lira town on Thursday. Lango Cultural Foundation also known as Tekwaro Lango has 158 clans.
Odongo reportedly secured 111 votes against his only challenger Stephen Ajal who got 14 votes in the elections that took place at Palm Gardens Guest House and CHOGM Gardens.
But North Kyoga Regional Police Commander (RPC) John Peter Ematu says the meetings contravened police guidelines. He says that the group had been advised to halt its activities and engage the incumbent paramount chief, Yosam Odur Ebii to resolve their differences, before moving to replace him. However, they disregarded the agreement.
So far, six people, all members of the electoral commission of Lango Cultural Foundation have been arrested and questioned for being part of an illegal gathering contrary to the Public Order Management Act (POMA).
They include Vincent I. Oling, the chairman of the cultural foundations’ electoral commission, his deputy Joan Pacuto and Tom Odur Anang, a member of the commission. Others are Martin Odongo, Hamza Okello and Lucy Awino. Ematu says the suspects who are being held at Lira central police station since Friday are expected to appear in court today.
He however says police is still looking for several other suspects who are at still at large. He cited Odongo Okune who he said is wanted for allegedly funding the activities. Odongo was sacked last year by Lango paramount chief Yosam Odur Ebii for openly opposing his administration. He had served as the minister in charge of Lango in Kampala and the diaspora.
His group particularly accused Yosam Odur of dragging the central government in the cultural affairs of Lango. They also accused him of using heavily armed police personnel, failing to implement resolutions by clan heads’ council, and operating without a constitution. Odur has been heading the cultural institution since 2003.
However, according to Ematu, developments in Lango could spiral into clashes if not carefully handled.