Huge budget: Who is leading Lango delegates to Ateker?

The Ateker cultural festival will take place in Soroti City from November 26 to 29.

The festival, which is expected to attract cultural leaders from across “Africa,” will also be attended by various political leaders, including President Museveni Yoweri Kaguta.

Last week, on Wednesday, Gender, Labour, and Social Development Minister Betty Amongi told media in Kampala that the festival will bring together Ateker-speaking communities from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda.

Amongi also stated that kings and chiefs of cultural institutions from the aforementioned countries would attend.

With arrivals already taking place, one major question remains: who will represent Lango? While this question has been answered, let us now look at the budget.

On November 19, 2024, Otuke RDC and chairperson regional whip for RDCs in Lango, George Abdul, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.

Under the subject “Requisition for funding towards the Ateker Reunion Festival”, Abdul requested funding for at least seven items to support the delegation from Lango.

In a letter dated November 22, 2024, signed by Naumo Juliana Akoryo for Permanent Secretary, Abdul was asked to:

Provide the Ministry with the account details and contacts of the people who will receive the funds for the following items:

1 Publicity, shs14,140,000

2 Costumes and Artifacts, shs30,000,000

3 Stationary and Printing, shs5,000,000

4 Dialogues Team, shs6,600,000

5 Travelling expenses, shs52,260,000

6 Accomodation and campfire, shs60,000,000;

7 First Aid and Evaluation Meeting, shs3,000,000.

“For Regalia with a total of Ugx10m, indicate the qualities, types, unit cost and share the account details and contacts of the person to receive the money,” Akoryo advised.

For accomodation, Abdul was requested to forward the names, titles, clan and telephone contacts of the 200 delegates and account details of recipients.

“For Security and Protocols of Ugx10m, is provided for under National Organising Committee of security forces,” the Otuke RDC was told.

For travelling expenses, RDC Abdul was requested to issue invoice and account details of the company providing the buses.

Abdul agreed to the letters and their contents during a Monday afternoon interview with tndNews.

“According to the allocation from the National Organising Committee, each district of Lango is supposed to send 60 delegates. Now, the priority that constitutes this 60 delegates, number one are the Owitong (clan leaders), then number two is the dance troupe; the particular group which is to showcase Lango dances and in this case Lango has six different dances according to what the elders highlighted.

Otule, myelrut, abuda and okeme are some of the performances Lango will showcase. Abdul added that the third priority from Lango are the exhibitors showcasing the “Lango artifacts and different foods Lango used to have and so many things”.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in line with the cultural settings, Abdul said will be part of the delegation. “A few of the business community, some opinion leaders, those in the civil society organisations.”

The delegates, he told tndNews, will be leaving for Soroti City tomorrow (November 26).

“In our own design that we have agreed with the team, we are supposed to flag them off tomorrow between 4 to 5pm. This is to enable them reach early, refresh and then in the morning as the President comes to officially open the function and other foreign guests, they are checked in as early as possible to catch up with time avoid the long queue that may arise.”

When asked about the current situation in Lango, where there is partly and legally no Won Nyaci, and who is the head of the delegation, he responded;

“That is why the letter was written to me; I am the head of delegation for Lango. If you look at the letter, the letter is being written to each head of delegation from the communities that form part of the Ateker.

“So, the National Organising Committee in its wisdom to wave off the conflict that we have in Lango, to avoid either communicating to either Lango Cultural Institution or Lango Cultural Foundation, they chose me to be (you know someone who…to lead the delegation) because first, you know for us we head security and the head of security can take up the mantle.”

So, you are going to represent Lango as Won Nyaci of sort…? tndNews asked him. “No, no, no. I don’t want the title of Won Nyaci to be brought in this, I have only come to bridge the gap.

“I am not Won Nyaci, I am not a cultural leader but a government representative who is coming to bridge the gap to lead the team of Lango, to take Lango to represent the interest of our people.”

Funds’ recipients

He mentioned Okello Oyo (but was not sure of his real name) as recipient of shs14m for publicity.

Under this allocation, radio announcements and transport for the dancing troupe are to be catered for.

Take a listen to tndNews interview with RDC Abdul. Click on the image.