Museveni cautions cultural leaders
Oct 31, 2010
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his call to cultural institutions to play their cardinal role of spearheading the preservation of culture for the future generation.
By Ayiga Ondoga and Ben Okethwengu
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his call to cultural institutions to play their cardinal role of spearheading the preservation of culture for the future generation.
Museveni made the call on Saturday at the coronation of the Alur king, Phillip Olarker Rauni III.
Olarker was enthroned in a ceremony at Lei Cultural Centre, 2km outside Nebbi town.
Olarker, 30, becomes the 33rd king of Alur after he succeeded his grandfather, Rwoth Jalcebo Keroyomotho II, who died in 2000.
The ceremony attracted cultural leaders from Acholi and Lango, the Tieng Adhola from Tororo, a Kenyan Luo delegation, as well as guests from Sudan and the DR Congo.
Also present was the Queen Mother of the Alur, Rossette Keronga, cabinet ministers and MPs from the districts of the West Nile sub-region, religious leaders and clan chiefs from Alur.
According to a State House press statement, Museveni said he supported the restoration of traditional institutions to preserve culture and languages.
He added that cultural institutions could be useful if used properly to fill gaps that are not addressed by structures of modern democracy.
Museveni congratulated the new Alur king on his coronation.
He also commended the kingdom’s minister of culture, John Orochi, for tracing in his transcript the history of the Luo speakers from Sudan, promising to assist him to publish a book.
The President also commended Alur chiefs for donning him the traditional attire of antelope skin, but advised them to start using textiles, whose “cultural style shows our heritage and preserves natureâ€.
Reacting to the concern of former combatants from the area, the President reassured them of the Government’s commitment to pay their emoluments, adding that Gen. Salim Saleh would oversee the exercise.
“We have put aside sh34b for you. I have also directed that Gen. Salim Saleh comes to West Nile to ensure that all ex-combatants get paid. I want you to know that this money we are giving you is not the end. Later, when the economy has improved, we shall give you more,†he said.
Earlier, Museveni laid a foundation stone for the construction of the Alur king’s palace at the cultural grounds.
The kingdom prime minister, Dr. Edwin Wathum Jal-Kwiyo, gave the President an Alur royal name of Jal-Kunga, which means “custodian of peace and cultural valuesâ€.
This was in recognition of Museveni’s contribution to restore monarchies in Uganda.
Addressing his subjects, Olarker said his focus would be on the issues that continue to plague the kingdom.
“Today I start with a few simple but key messages in our pursuit of bettering ourselves as Alur people and Uganda in general. We shall have to address issues like basic healthcare, protection of our environment and our commitment to ensuring that children and the youth attain better education,†he said.
Olarker said the kingdom would also focus on promoting gender balance and stop abuse of human rights, child abuse and neglect, corruption and laziness.
He urged the people of Alur to value share the importance of culture in shaping history and forget the past mistakes
The king asked the President to support the Alur kingdom to deliver peace, unity and development.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his call to cultural institutions to play their cardinal role of spearheading the preservation of culture for the future generation.
Museveni made the call on Saturday at the coronation of the Alur king, Phillip Olarker Rauni III.
Olarker was enthroned in a ceremony at Lei Cultural Centre, 2km outside Nebbi town.
Olarker, 30, becomes the 33rd king of Alur after he succeeded his grandfather, Rwoth Jalcebo Keroyomotho II, who died in 2000.
The ceremony attracted cultural leaders from Acholi and Lango, the Tieng Adhola from Tororo, a Kenyan Luo delegation, as well as guests from Sudan and the DR Congo.
Also present was the Queen Mother of the Alur, Rossette Keronga, cabinet ministers and MPs from the districts of the West Nile sub-region, religious leaders and clan chiefs from Alur.
According to a State House press statement, Museveni said he supported the restoration of traditional institutions to preserve culture and languages.
He added that cultural institutions could be useful if used properly to fill gaps that are not addressed by structures of modern democracy.
Museveni congratulated the new Alur king on his coronation.
He also commended the kingdom’s minister of culture, John Orochi, for tracing in his transcript the history of the Luo speakers from Sudan, promising to assist him to publish a book.
The President also commended Alur chiefs for donning him the traditional attire of antelope skin, but advised them to start using textiles, whose “cultural style shows our heritage and preserves natureâ€.
Reacting to the concern of former combatants from the area, the President reassured them of the Government’s commitment to pay their emoluments, adding that Gen. Salim Saleh would oversee the exercise.
“We have put aside sh34b for you. I have also directed that Gen. Salim Saleh comes to West Nile to ensure that all ex-combatants get paid. I want you to know that this money we are giving you is not the end. Later, when the economy has improved, we shall give you more,†he said.
Earlier, Museveni laid a foundation stone for the construction of the Alur king’s palace at the cultural grounds.
The kingdom prime minister, Dr. Edwin Wathum Jal-Kwiyo, gave the President an Alur royal name of Jal-Kunga, which means “custodian of peace and cultural valuesâ€.
This was in recognition of Museveni’s contribution to restore monarchies in Uganda.
Addressing his subjects, Olarker said his focus would be on the issues that continue to plague the kingdom.
“Today I start with a few simple but key messages in our pursuit of bettering ourselves as Alur people and Uganda in general. We shall have to address issues like basic healthcare, protection of our environment and our commitment to ensuring that children and the youth attain better education,†he said.
Olarker said the kingdom would also focus on promoting gender balance and stop abuse of human rights, child abuse and neglect, corruption and laziness.
He urged the people of Alur to value share the importance of culture in shaping history and forget the past mistakes
The king asked the President to support the Alur kingdom to deliver peace, unity and development.