The question I ask you today, Lango, “Who is dividing us?”
By Ishaa Otto Amiza
Oyam – February 25, 2022: Greetings to Lango. I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for the love, commitment and solidarity exhibited during this struggle to have the Lira-Kamdini road tarmacked.
As an architect behind the loud call, I can testify to the importance of unity we have had lately.
As you all know, since 2012 when the Lango Conference was held in Lira to define our agenda popularly known as “LANGO AGENDA”, Lango has become more divided than ever before.
The Lango Parliamentary Group (LPG) that was the “agreed voice” of Lango during the Dr Okullu Epak and Ben Wacha times became an instrument for bargaining for personal favour and appointment from the State.
LPG under MPs the Okot and lately Amongi became a tool to please President Museveni at the expense of the wider interests of Lango.
Now, under Judith Alyek (the Kole Woman MP) during our call for a peaceful protest against the establishment over the poor state of Lira-Kamdini road we saw LPG nearly getting together at the beginning. But when the Excom met President Museveni, they split into three groups.
Nonetheless, because of pressure back home, they are trying to come together for fear of humiliation and shame from their people.
The Lango Cultural Institution under Apap Yosam Odur Ebii became another hell. When the very instrument of the State caused a sharp divide between Mzee Yosam’s loyalists and Eng. Odongo Okune loyalists, many Lango clan members are now opposed to all these groups.
Whereas Mzee Yosam Odur continues to enjoy the legitimacy from Lango clans and government, Eng. Odongo with a defiant attitude has maintained his minority group in the full knowledge and facilitation of the State.
The Amongi’s state arm (Ministry of Gender) is made to pretend in the public eye defending the Mzee’s Foundation, meanwhile, the other arm (Nabanja’s OPM) is also promoting Eng. Odongo’s rebellious group.
The Head of State is busy and openly consoling both sides: the uncle Mzee Odur and son Eng. Okune.
The question I ask you today, Lango, “Who is dividing us?” For six decades, Lango was united around the politics of the UPC of Dr Apollo Milton Obote (RIP). When the enemy learnt about our unity through politics, an expert “Delilah” was deployed to tear UPC into pieces.
The unity around UPC would collapse. Today, UPC is a subset of another political group.
Traditionally, before the coming of UPC politics in the early sixties, Lango was very united around any aggression against them. The clans would unite, elect amongst themselves an Awitong from all the clans to command war and every clan and their subjects would oblige to one leadership to fight and win a war.
We were united and strong. Our neighbours: Bunyoro, Buganda, etc relied on our strength, we were united, respected and relied on by various tribes of Uganda.
Nonetheless, during this struggle for the reconstruction of Lira-Kamdini road, I witnessed two rare and unique attributes of unity uncommon of Lango in the recent past, typical of the character of our totem, “AMUKA” and these Included:
Unity in Diversity
It was the first time in decades that I saw Lango from all socio-economic and political divides come together to speak a common language in supporting a cause after the neglect of Lango on road infrastructure (particularly Lira-Kamdini road).
Whereas I initiated this campaign nearly alone, everyone joined in the struggle without any deliberate drive.
The solidarity exhibited among Lango of different political, social and economic divides remains excellent beside a small minority of individuals who are known and well defined for the mission of the dividing force.
The few instruments of divide and rule got perplexed and exposed. They know themselves and Lango now knows them but in the interest of the common good of Lango, the machinery of divide watched without any attack on them.
As the vision bearer for the campaigns for the reconstruction of Lira-Kamdini road, I am personally erwhelmed by the words of encouragement and appreciation from across the political divide (those in NRM and outside NRM).
The business community that was exploited in the past kept quiet and watched but never allowed themselves to be used to suppress the loud cry of Lango. The Lango children in security forces fully backed the campaigns except some few individuals excited by appointments.
The religious groupings that had become tools for exploitation by the divide and rule master deliberately kept quiet and watched, but without antagonizing.
The Lango in the diaspora spoke one language: “we support the campaigns for the reconstruction of Lira-Kamdini road.” The academicians alike never spoke out to antagonize the campaigns. The local media that had become an accomplice came together as a united force for the campaigns except for one individual (the usual suspect) who attempted to divert Lango away but the forces of unity defeated him.
Rejection of the instruments of divide and rule
I overheard Lango boldly rejecting lies, pretence and gossiping by agents of division publicly in the media and sitting places.
I overheard Lango openly castigating the prophets of doom and the usual conspirators to the downfall of Lango.
It’s this time that I realized that Lango is willing and ready to follow and support any leadership that puts their interests (Lango) at the forefront.
This time round I show the unconditional generosity and selfless commitment that Lango exhibited towards the struggle.
Scramble for leadership and a direction to follow.
It was also vivid to realize that there is a leadership crisis in Lango. The LPG that was supposed to steer the suppressed voice of Lango panicked, crumbled and fell victims to the emotional reactions.
Some members walked away at first, some targeted campaigners for persecution and some folded their hands to watch what happened but the beauty is that the majority supported the loud cry although without the stamina with which the Okullo Epak’s LPG could have.
In conclusion, it’s now clear that we can unite and speak loud for the World to come to our rescue.
We show President Museveni flying up to Alidi in Loro to respond to the protests and our concerns. This was least expected but the solidarity and openness to demand for our share of the national cake became loud and clear to catch the attention of the President, Minister, Uganda National Roads Authority and Members of Parliament.
I now believe we can, together push for Lira-Kamdini road and get it done.
We can put our differences aside, come together to speak the language of unity in diversity.
I pray we maintain this focus and drive our people to prosperity. Together we can.
For God and My Country
The writer is former MP, Oyam South and Lead Campaigner for the speedy reconstruction of Lira-Kamdini road.