Alur kingdom official resigns

By Benedict Okethwengu

THE Alur kingdom’s longest serving envoy to Acholi and Lango sub-region has resigned, three months after his suspension from the kingdom cabinet.

Emilio Odongo handed in his resignation to Phillip Olarker Rauni III, the king of Alur.  Odongo was suspended in February 2015, with four other kingdom officials to pave way for investigations on allegations of fraud and misappropriation of funds.

The other four official suspended included Pascal Wod’Okoro, the Minister for Education, Moses Okwonga, the minster for Gender, Labour and social development Bob Okech Opio, the Attorney general and Yonio Oryema, the kingdom’s land board chairman.

Dr Edwin Wathum, the Alur kingdom prime Minster, said Odongo was under investigations by the kingdom, adding that probe into their allegations was nearly complete.

“We had suspended him temporarily and was under investigation, the report was supposed to be tabled to the kingdom cabinet for discussion in August this year,” he said.

Wathum said Odongo was also accused of undermining the person of the king.

Wathum, however, vowed to go on with the probe against Odongo.

“The king has received the letter, but has not replied and that means he is still with us, and we shall go on with our investigations.

“Since being appointed into the office of Royal Envoy to Acholi/Lango in 2009, I have tried to the best of my abilities to support the activities of the kingdom as required of me. However, time has come that I wish to concentrate on personal business, which requires a lot of my attention,” the letter reads in part.

When contacted about the alleged letter, Odongo admitted to New Vision having authored the letter.

“The leadership of the kingdom does not want to accept advice of the rightful thinking members of the kingdom, and I cannot accept to work with such people” he said.