'Create parliament seat for cultural leaders'

By Bonney Odongo

The leader of Lango in the diaspora, Eng. Dr. Michael Odongo Okune has urged government to create parliamentary positions for the different cultures in Uganda if the country is to be at peace with cultural institutions.

He said many cultural institutions are not peaceful and some of them have ended up taking laws into their hands because they lack better way of channeling their concerns to government.

“If women, UPDF, youth, people with disabilities and workers have their representatives in parliament, why not create some seat for the representative of cultural institutions so that their concerns reach government in a more civilized manner,” Odongo said.

Citing Britain, America and Japan, Odongo said many developed countries that are seen to be at peace with traditional institutions have parliamentary slots for their cultural representatives.

Odongo, who is also the Executive Director of Uganda Road Funds and head of Okar Omwono clan, however decried cultural institutions that usually pick arms against government as a mean of solving their internal wrangles; saying dialogue is always a better option.

“Instead of wrangling, killing people or fighting government over cultural problems, just welcome government development programs and use peaceful means to solve cultural problems,” he added.

He was addressing fishing community most of whom members of Okar Omwono clan at Namasale landing site in Amolatar district.

He warned his clan members against living reckless life in order to avoid acquiring HIV/AIDS which he noted was rampant among the fishing community. 

Michael Ogwok, a clan chief who is a resident of Kole district said cultural unrest has always made traditional leaders unable to focus on development activities for their clan members.

Also related to this story

Cultural institutions will not be abolished - Govt

Museveni urges cultural leaders to promote unity

NRM neutral on cultural institutions, says Museveni