Odongo Okune was not duly elected

Lira | Lango has been rocked by celebrations and anxiety as a result of a court ruling on Thursday, October 31, 2024, that not only nullified Eng. Dr. Michael Odongo Okune and Amb Ogwang Okul’s elections as Won Nyaci of Lango, but also sent them home.

Judge Odoki Philip ordered Betty Amongi, Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, to regazzette Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii as Lango’s Won Nyaci.

This decision stems from Civil Suit No. 10 of 2024 in the High Court of Lira, which pitted Obia Denis Acila and Benjamin Okii as plaintiffs against Eng. Odongo Okune, Ojwang Opota, Willie Omodo Omodo, Otim Tom, Okello Hamza, and Vincent Oling as defendants.

Eng. Odongo Okune, Ojwang Opota, and Willie Omodo Omodo are the other counter-claimants in the suit, while Obia Denis Acila, Benjamin Okii, Dickson Ogwang Okul, Dr. Dan Okello, Prof. Richard Nam, Dan Opito Odwee, and Okwir Jaramogi Denis are the counter-defendants.

The plaintiffs sued the defendants, challenging Eng. Odongo Okune’s election as Lango’s Paramount Chief, on the grounds that it was illegal, null, and void.

The defendants, on the other hand, denied the plaintiffs’ claims, with Odongo, Opota, and Omodo filing a counterclaim against counter-defendants, challenging Dickson Ogwang Okul’s election as Lango’s paramount chief.

They (the defendants) contended that the election was not conducted in conformity with the protocol for choosing the Lango Paramount Chief.

Both requested several remedies from the Court.

Lango already had two Won Nyaci under the Lango Cultural Foundation and Lango Cultural Institution when this case went to court. All of them “had succeeded” Yosam Odur Ebii.

However, as cited in the 62-page ruling, Chapter 3 Article 8 of the Lango Cultural Foundation’s Constitution, 2017, states that the Paramount Chief shall hold office until death. The provisions make it begin with the current Won Nyaci.

“In the event of the position of the Paramount Chief falling vacant, the Prime Minister becomes the head of the institution for a period not exceeding one year while the Electoral Commission of Lango Cultural Foundation organises the election of the new Paramount Chief of Lango.”

Even though Odur announced his resignation in November, the constitution of the institution he leads allows him to rule until his death.

This decision enabled Minister Amongi to de-gazette Won Nyaci Odur and gazette Okune as the Paramount Chief.

Orders

Justice Philip Odoki made the following orders.

‘Is Odongo Okune an ordinary man?’

In the hopes that the Court would rule in his favor and allow the ongoing preparations for his coronation on November 2, Eng. Odongo Okune was also replaced by Moses Odongo Aber.

The Thursday event saw Odongo Aber installed as the new awitong of Okar Omwono clan in the presence of Eng. Odongo.

Odongo is culturally unemployed as a result of the court ruling and his previous role as clan head now with Aber.