Alur kingdom gears up for the king's seventh coronation anniversary

Alur Kingdom has kicked off preparations for the reigning king's coronation anniversary, with a boost of over sh50m from various sponsors.

Rwoth Phillip Olarker Rauni III will be marking seven years since he was enthroned as the King of Alur on October, 30, 2010.

The installation ceremony took place at the kingdom's coronation site Lei Cultural site, making Olarker the 34th king of Alur.

Olarker is the grandson of the late King Jobo II who passed on around 2000.

While addressing journalists on the preparations of the event, Valente Oyukutu, the kingdom executive secretary, said all activities are underway and in high gear for the coronation slated for Saturday October 28, 2017.

Like in the previous coronations, this year's event will also be held at Lei Cultural site in Nebbi municipality.

Oyukutu noted that they already have sponsors who are giving support towards the preparations.

"We have support from Senator and other organizations like UN women and Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA), and like other coronation this one will be also be great," he said.

Ahead of the event, several activities including sports and traditional dances will be held across the kingdom.

Oyukutu said they are going to have football competitions and other traditional dance at Bar Okoro in Paidha Town Council.

He explained that the winners in the various activities will walk away with prize including a bull from the king. 

Vincent Ochaya , the Alur  Kingdom prime minister said the coronation will be used to unveiled the kingdom strategic plans that seek to transform the kingdom to a modern status.

He added that coronation will offer opportunity to popularise the   first ever Charter and Code of Conduct of the kingdom.

The charter and code of conduct was launched this year to regulate the conduct of chiefs and those holding kingdom portfolio to minimise conflicts in the kingdom.

Alur kingdom has a long standing repute of being a peaceful and civilised cultured society that enabled it to operate even when kingdoms were abolished in Uganda.

He urged the people to turn up in big numbers for the coronation.

According to  Ochaya, President Museveni and host of dignitaries from Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to grace the occasion.

The event is to kick off at 8:30am local time with various rituals as per tradition.

Olarker is expected to arrive at the main venue at about 11:00am local time.

Alur kingdom has a long history dating back to Luo mainstream 970AD in Wau Bahr el Ghazel, in Sudan.

Alur kingdom has 64 chiefdoms with approximately 8.8 million subjects.