By Eumu Emmanuel
Lango cultural leaders from the Lango Cultural Foundation have accused Gender Minister and Oyam South MP, Betty Amongi, of bias and interference in the institution’s affairs, calling for her resignation from her ministerial position. The leaders, who support Lango Paramount Chief, Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii, claim that Amongi has been threatening them and obstructing the scheduled transition of power.
Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii, who has served as the Paramount Chief for over two decades, expressed his intent to step down in November due to old age. Loyal clan leaders have been preparing to elect his successor, with the election initially scheduled for October 11. However, Minister Amongi, along with some regional security officers, opposed the election, requesting in a letter dated October 1 to Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Jeje Odongo, that no elections be held for the position of Lango Paramount Chief.
On October 10, SP Okema, the Public Relations Officer for the North Kyoga Region Police, issued a statement prohibiting the planned elections, though the statement was mistakenly dated “10th, 2022.” During a press conference at Lira Palm Gardens on Thursday, Rtd Col. Dan Opito Odwe, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for the Lango Cultural Foundation, accused Amongi of collaborating with a faction led by Eng. Michael Odongo Okune to thwart the legitimate election process. Okune’s group, which allegedly held an illegal election in March, is said to be working to disrupt the transition.
Odwe emphasized that there was no need for Okune and his group to rush into conducting their own election, as Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii had already signaled his willingness to step down, paving the way for a smooth and lawful transition.
