Lira-Kamdini killer road: Inside Lango utmost unity ever in decades

Lira-Kamdini road saga has brought Lango together and all seem to speak the same language. There are those against any planned demonstration.

Lira – January 20, 2022: Lango culturally has a Rhinoceros as its totem, and those conversant with the history of this land says it dates back to the colonial days.

The Europeans studied Lango people and realized they are calm and peaceful beings, yet erratically lethal when provoked, paradoxically also a much-divided community, and that is the true character of the animal named Rhinoceros.

But the dilapidated state of the Lira-Kamdini road, a stretch on the Great North Road has awakened the sleeping gigantic Rhinoceros from its slumber and sowed a seed of unity across all spheres of the divide.

For some who could be behind the news, the media: local and national are overstocked with stories of the awful state of Lira-Kamdini road that could have easily sparked a protest and demonstration early this week save for the swift preventive action executed by security who soon intercepted the top leader, Isaah Otoo Amiza.

After losing his MP seat two decades ago, now an activist and former Oyam South Legislator, Otto became activated and outspoken on issues affecting Lango natives.

How it all started

Since 2018 the Lango sub-region exerted pressure on the government to undertake major repairs on the potholed-Lira-Kamdini road, so little was done (until now) save for empty promises.

It is also true that the World Bank disbursed a grant to the Uganda government who would later be expected to co-fund 30% of the works on the dilapidated road, Mota-Engil, a Portuguese construction firm was also sourced but nothing tangible to show.

A multi-pronged approach was sought to salvage the situation as many would recall that about nearly four months ago, a joint meeting was held at Lira City Council Hall comprising of officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), and the contractor among others and a promise were made to expeditiously repair the damaged road that has caused severe road crashes with many lives lost.

All the promises from the government representatives to Lango are all otiose.

In the wake of frustration, the locals put up a spirited demand to the government to have the road worked on, some heaping huge piles of blames on their local leaders and national legislators for being lukewarm on this crucial infrastructural collapse.

Isaah Otoo Amiza was an understudy but would find himself the ‘chief architect of the chorus voice conveyor’ of the Lango people, but at a cost.

The 21st Century is full of digital literacy, social media platforms are a colossal tool of a social movement to reckon with and it’s an avenue that Isaah Otoo Amiza strategically exploited to his advantage.

Using his social media influence, the seasoned and astute politician declared that “enough was enough” and that Lango had gotten a raw deal from the government regarding road, and rallied Lango across the political divide to stand up in one accord and demand that the government repairs the road with immediate effect.

He didn’t stop there, he would later announce a planned demonstration in protest of delays on the side of the government to have the road worked on.

Otto further threatened to mobilize the community to fill the potholes on the Lira-Kamdini road by themselves since the government had deliberately failed to have it fixed.

But did he live to see his aspirations for the day or week come into fruition? A big NO. The police swiftly swung into action and intercepted him from his country home in Loro, Oyam district.

Like a chicken thief, he was bundled up into the Uganda Police (UP) truck and whisked away to Erute, the Police Regional Headquarters of North Kioga. While there he was charged with inciting violence. He was released but his phone was confiscated.

Lango rises in unison

‘A go-getter, cantankerous, elusive, and outspoken’ could not be enough to describe the personality of Isaah Amiza, especially when conversing on social media platforms and, of course, there are those he has hurt with his scathing dossiers, but all these were buried in the dustbin of history and unanimity by Lango within and those in the diaspora.

All now seem to agree with the issues raised by Otto and urged for more pressure on the government.

While in the cells, he was visited by Lango from all walks of life, but notably former Lands Minister and human rights Lawyer Daniel Omara Atubo as well as Bosco Aryono Ongom, a veteran journalist, politician, and activist in Lira city.

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Prominent NRM supporter and Lira City Workers’ Representative Sarah Awor Angweri, activist Jennifer Alwoc, and many others in the government stood with Otto and all was to show solidarity with a man soldiering Lango agenda.

After Otto was arrested and after his release, an NRM supporter Patrick Odongo also threatened a nude demonstration at the World Bank head offices in Uganda’s Capital Kampala to show his grievances on the same road.

Another indicator that Lango for once got united over Lira-Kamdini road is now evident with the fact!

After Lango sons and daughters were told the police had confiscated Isaah’s smartphone, swift fundraising for another handset was launched.

Lango in academia, holy service, and politicians including Members of Parliament both in the NRM and opposition generously raised money through a popular WhatsApp group – Lango Ateni (True Lango).

As of Wednesday, Otto was welcomed back from Police custody with a new smartphone, a gumboot and sincerest affection.

LPG pushed against the wall

Quite often, the Lango Parliamentary Group has been rubbed the wrong way by critics, most of the voters who say the loose coalition that brings together all the legislators from the Lango sub-region is a toothless dog. They are usually accused of being mute on critical development issues that directly affect the sub-region.

But this latest wave of the Lira-Kamdini road “pandemic” seems so contagious that LPG caught it this time and the symptoms are glaring.

On Wednesday morning, the Lango Parliamentary Group called a press conference in Kampala and later addressed the media on the issue at hand.

In what appears to be solid solidarity with the people of Lango and activist Amiza, LPG made a clarion call to the government with a tough tone and issued a 24 hours ultimatum, less of that a demonstration would be staged on Saturday.

All these point to one thing, for once in decades, Lango is speaking with a united voice.