Lango rival cultural leader to be enthroned Saturday

By Hudson Apunyo

A group of Owitong (clan leaders) loyal to rival paramount chief (Won Nyaci), Charles Olet have announced that he will be crowned and enthroned on Saturday in a simple ceremony at Lango cultural centre.

Faustino Olwit Engol, Awitong of Okarowok Okabo clan also minister of culture, peace and reconciliation said they sat in cabinet and discussed a number of issues and resolved to enthrone Olet on Saturday.

He said Olet was only sworn in at the magistrate’s court of Lira and never enthroned.

“Time has ripened to enthrone Olet and this should be done immediately,” he said.

He said this will be a ceremonial function and the grand party will be held in September when new foods is harvested

Olet said he has been entrusted by council of Owitong which is the supreme cultural body of Tekwaro Lango and he accepted to serve and will do everything possible to ensure that the organization fulfill the purpose for which it was established.

This will make two parallel Won Nyaci in Lango including Yocam Odur who was enthroned on December 10, 2005.

Odur was chosen to lead Lango cultural foundation, a non- governmental organisation during a cultural sensitization workshop organized by Action Aid in Apac in 2001.

The conflict in the institution started in 2012 when the speaker, Wakili Okello was sidelined during a tour by Won Nyaci Yocam Odur Ebii and his delegation to Europe and America.
People not in the hierarchy of the institution were instead sponsored for he tour by the state.

Odur’s legitimacy was challenged in 2012 when a draft new constitution was written that changed the name of the institution to Tekwaro Lango (Lango cultural institution),

The Owitong led by Speaker of Lango cultural foundation (Tekwaro
Lango) Okello Wakili on April 22, 2013 adapted the draft constitution.

The new law stipulates that the Won Nyaci should be between 65 –80 years of age and with at least a diploma.

When contacted, Dr. Richard Nam, the prime minister of Odur led group said they wanted unity under Yocam Odur.

He said Owitong agreed during a reconciliatory meeting in Karuma to unite under leadership of Yocam Odur.

“We don’t want to comment on this matter if they want to go ahead and enthrone Olet,” Nam said on phone Thursday morning.

Several mediation meetings have been held to resolve the conflict in the cultural institution in vain.

A mediation meeting is currently going on being arbitrated by one Colonel Lawrence Johnson Ochola, a US citizen who is overseeing development projects at Karuma.

Olet’s group walked out of the mediation citing cohesion and intimidation.

Col. Ochola could not be reached for comments.