Lira, Uganda | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for unity and decisive action in Lango Subregion, following the election of Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune as the Won Nyaci of Lango.
The President congratulated Odongo Okune on his appointment, describing him as a son and expressing regret over past divisions within the cultural institution.
He assured that his predecessor, Mzee Yosam Odur, would be recognized for his contributions to the region.
Museveni highlighted his personal ties with the Okune family, noting that he studied with Mr. Odongo Okune’s father at Ntare School and later appointed him as a minister after taking office in 1986.
He said he was pleased that the longstanding conflict in the Lango Cultural Institution had been resolved.
Odongo Okune, the new Won Nyaci, urged the government to acknowledge Mzee Yosam Odur for his role in mobilizing the Lango people to join the Amuka militia, which played a critical part in defeating the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
He also emphasized the need to support the Owitong SACCO as a driver of economic growth and community empowerment in Lango.
On infrastructure and development pledges, Museveni directed his State House Comptroller to ensure fulfillment of commitments made to the region, including providing a bus for the Lango football team and a mini-bus for journalists, with funding routed through their SACCO.
He stressed that delivering these assets is important to maintain goodwill among the people.
Minister of Health and Lira City Woman Member of Parliament Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng reminded the president of these earlier pledges and urged timely implementation.
The President expressed satisfaction with ongoing infrastructure projects, including work on the Kamdini–Lira highway, and confirmed plans to develop the Corner Ayer–Bobbi road as part of the 20,000 seater Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium project.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving regional infrastructure as a foundation for economic development and improved living standards.
Deputy Attorney General Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi presented data on war loss compensation, stating that 24,509 claimants across Acholi, Lango, and Teso subregions have been approved, with a total requirement of UGX 506 billion.
Lango alone accounts for 8,284 claimants at UGX 119 billion.
Payments to date include UGX 48.7 billion to 12,389 claimants in Lango.
Concerns over irregularities in the compensation process were raised by Kole North Member of Parliament Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, who noted that of over 98,000 registered claimants in Lango, only 18,000 had received payments, often below documented losses.
He called for all claimants to be compensated in at least three instalments without discrimination and for administrative costs to be provided to districts.
Museveni acknowledged concerns about irregularities in the compensation process and asked Lango leaders to select up to 20 trusted representatives to meet him at State House, Kampala, to discuss strategies for addressing compensation anomalies.
He requested that lawyers who had been advocating for claimants step aside temporarily to allow constructive dialogue.
He emphasized that a new compensation strategy was necessary, noting that similar grievances had been raised during his recent visit to Soroti.
Reflecting on Uganda’s political history, Museveni noted that in the 1962 elections he was underage and could not vote, while his late brother Eriya Kategaya, a year older, had voted multiple times under the then ruling party’s manipulative practices.
He explained that such actions had weakened institutions and political parties, undermining public trust.
Today, Sunday, 17 August 2025, Lango Subregion leaders convened at Lango College Play Grounds for an urgent meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on cattle compensation.
The gathering brought together all Lango ministers, MPs, RDCs, LCV chairpersons, district and city NRM executive committees, district councillors, LCIII chairpersons, three opinion leaders per county, and chairpersons of the Youth, Women, and Older Person Councils, alongside Chief Administrative Officers.
Religious leaders, including the bishops of the Catholic Church Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, Church of Uganda, Pentecostal Church, and the Regional Khadi of Lango, were also in attendance, as were key security officials such as the 5th Division Commander, Regional Police Commander, Regional Internal Security Officer, District Internal Security Officers, Lango Cultural leaders and the 5th Division IO.
Convened following a notice issued by Obua Denis Hamson, Government Chief Whip, on behalf of the Vice President, the meeting focused on resolving long-standing challenges in cattle compensation and strengthening collaboration between government authorities and local leadership in the region.
