Kampala, Uganda – The legal team representing HRH Dr. Eng. Moses Michael Odongo Okune has asked the Court of Appeal to order a forensic fingerprint examination on key documents submitted by Denis Obia Acila and Benjamin Okii, as the legal battle over the Lango Paramount Chieftaincy takes another turn.
The request was made today during a pre-hearing conferencing session convened by the Registrar of the Court of Appeal to examine whether all documents and audio recordings necessary for the hearing had been submitted.
The case stems from an appeal filed by Dr. Eng. Odongo Okune, who is challenging the October 29, 2024 ruling by Justice Phillip Odoki of the Lira High Court that nullified his election as the Paramount Chief of Lango.
Although the Court of Appeal has already granted Dr. Eng. Odongo Okune a stay of execution on the High Court decision, his legal team is seeking to overturn the ruling entirely.
They are pressing for the court to scrutinize the authenticity of a document filed by Obia Acila and Okii, who are both clan leaders (Owitong) in Lango, through a forensic fingerprint investigation.
Patrick Okwir, one of the lawyers representing Dr. Eng. Odongo Okune and also his spokesperson, said the verification process was necessary to ensure the credibility of the evidence presented by the respondents.
“We have asked court to allow a forensic fingerprint examination on a key document submitted by the applicants [Obia and Okii]. This is to ensure that the evidence brought before court is credible and authentic,” he said.
Okwir clarified that today’s session was not the beginning of the appeal hearing but rather a procedural requirement to assess the readiness of the case.
He explained that once all the required materials are verified, the case file will be submitted to a panel of five justices for hearing.
He also dismissed circulating reports that the Court of Appeal had begun hearing the case, saying such claims were false.
“It’s false information. The court was only verifying the documents. The hearing will be scheduled after the review is complete,” he noted.
Okwir urged the Lango community to remain patient, saying the Court of Appeal is overwhelmed with a heavy backlog of pending cases.
“There are over 5,900 cases still pending at the Court of Appeal. People should remain calm as this process takes its course,” he added.
Today’s session saw the presence of lawyers Dr. Adams Makmot Kibwanga, Ingrid Katabazi and Mugarura Joseph on Dr. Eng. Odongo Okune’s team, while Obia Acila and Benjamin Okii were represented by Emmanuel Egaru Omiat and Ben Ikilai.
Efforts to get a comment from Obia Acila and Benjamin Okii’s legal team on the forensic investigation request were unsuccessful by press time.
Dr. Eng. Odongo Okune’s appeal continues to draw widespread public interest, especially across the Lango sub-region, where traditional leadership carries both cultural and political weight.
