Tom Anang Odur explains the Lango cultural center’s Sunday wilderness

Summary:

• On Sunday, confusion and violence broke out at the Lango Cultural Centre after LCI-aligned clan leaders allegedly attacked Dickson Ogwang Okul.
• Ogwang Okul, an Awitong, is an LCF subscriber.
• The clash occurred in front of security leaders (RDCs) and some MPs.

By Tom Anang Odur, Awitong.

I have read a lot of materials on this subject spread across many platforms for the express purpose of maligning and soiling the character of Ambassador Dickson Ogwang Okul.

I have seen on UBC-tv and many platforms the Chairperson of the meeting, Mr Abdul, the RDC of Otuke and other apologists of this unwarranted barbaric acts shamelessly proffering lies and untruths to cover up what seems to have been planned and deliberately executed.

In the first place, Abdul himself placed an announcement on radio on Saturday 16/11/2024 invited all clan leaders to Lango Cultural Center to be briefed on the trip to Soroti to attend the forthcoming Ateker Reunion Festival.

On that Saturday l and a friend were present when Ambassador Dickson Ogwang Okul called him to get more information on the matter. He did, and invited the Ambassador to come for the meeting.

I arrived for the meeting at about 11: 30am and found the Chairperson, Mr Abdul briefing the meeting. The atmosphere was cordial and peaceful. However, from the position l sat, l quickly noticed that the meeting was in reality a meeting of Eng Dr Odongo Okune’s faction.

Mr. Benson Taiwoo, one of the leading clan leaders in that faction sat with the Chairperson at the table and was in-charge of registration of attendance in the meeting. Mr Okello Oyo, the newly appointed chairperson of Lango Cultural Institution of Eng Dr Odongo Okune and Mr James Onapa, their clerk-to-council who was taking minutes, were coordinating the meeting.

Mr Okello Oyo kept writing and passing notes to the Chairperson, Abdul. I noticed that of about 120 or so clan leaders who were present, less than ten were from won Nyaci Yosam Odur’s side.

Meanwhile, in the meeting l saw Mr Otim Tom, Chairperson of Eng Dr Odongo Okune’s Electoral Commission and his members who included Oling Vincent, Okello Hamza and Mrs Caroline Edonga.

I also saw members of the Council of Elders of the Engineer’s side(Itogo Adwong) led by their Chairperson, Eton Rashid; others members were Joan Pacoto, Mrs. Joyce Otiti and Mrs. Lucy Owino. There were other people who were in the meeting but who were not clan leaders.

Eng Dr Odongo Okune’s side was evidently heavily mobilized. I called some clan leaders in Apac, Kwania and Dokolo district only to find that they were not aware of the meeting.

Ambassador Ogwang Okul arrived about 1:00pm. His assistant brought him a plastic chair and placed it a few meters before me.

As soon as he sat down, Mr Ojwang Opota, Eng Dr Odongo Okune’s Prime minister who was sitting in the front row rose up and started shouting that ambassador Ogwang Okul was not Awitong and should go out of the meeting.

He started inciting people in the meeting against the ambassador. Soon Mr Okello Oyo, Ocen Abia and others joined in the chorus that the ambassador should leave the meeting.

It soon became clear that all this had been planned.

1. The ministry of Gender which is the chair for the Festival deliberately refused to recognize the prevailing court order declaring that Mze Yosam Odur Ebii is the current Won Nyaci of Lango. This was designed to deny the Cultural government of the reigning Won Nyaci the opportunity to be in charge of the program which they viewed could give it more legitimacy.

2. It was designed that Odongo Okune’s side be in-charge of budgeting for the money to give them legitimacy in the eyes of the clan leaders and other people of Lango. It is also to cement relations between the clan leaders in the faction and stop defection to the side of the reigning Won Nyaci in order to prolong the rebellion in spite of the court ruling.

3. The accusation of not being a clan leader labled against ambassador Ogwang Okul is false as he never resigned his clan leadership. The accusers were aware of this fact, and that is why they quickly descended into mob action without asking him to prove whether or not he was a leader of his clan.

4. Although the ambassador sat quietly and respectfully, Ojwang Opota and team worked on exciting the mob. They charged towards him. The ambassador moved to the Chairperson’s table for protection but he didn’t do much to protect him.

5. The mob was directed by Opota, Okello oyo and Ocen Abia and they charged on. As the ambassador tried to leave the meeting area they cornered him and at that point he was in mortal danger.

6. All the while the police did little to control the mob and protect him. It was at this point that he drew his pistol, raised it up in warning to the mob. Then hell broke loose. The mob descended on him and the police action was half-hearted. It was God’s mercy that saved him.

False accusations issued on the TV and the many platforms by Mr Abdul, Okello oyo, Ocen Abia and group were designed to save face and pile all blames on Dickson Ogwang Okul. It unfortunate and disingenuous.

My Note: It is sad to say this: but let the security apparatus in Lango and in Uganda take note that Eng Dr Odongo Okune’s faction is fast metamorphosizing into a gang. Of recent they have been intimidating and threatening people and smashing their perceived opponents’vehicles. Judging by the characters of some of their members, it will not be of any surprise if they move on to start eliminating their opponents.

The gangsterism they are now involved in will soon develop into fully fledged mafia operation.

There is a clique amidst this gangerism which wants to grab the leadership of Lango cultural institution for their own benefit. Lango and government should stand warned. That is how it started in Latin America.

Editorial note: This explainer has been run verbatim.