Lira, Uganda | The Paramount Chief of the Lango Cultural Institution, Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, has appealed to commercial banks in Uganda to programme their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to include the Lango language in order to ease access to banking services for local users.
Dr Eng Odongo Okune made the appeal during a Lango leaders’ meeting held on February 28, 2026, which attracted elected Members of Parliament, outgoing legislators, security leadership, and religious leaders from across the sub-region.
Addressing the gathering, the Won Nyaci noted that many people, especially elderly residents and rural bank customers, face difficulties using ATM services due to language barriers, as most machines operate primarily in English.
He said integrating the Lango language into ATM systems would promote financial inclusion by enabling non-English speakers to independently access banking services such as withdrawals, balance inquiries, and money transfers.
Dr Eng Odongo Okune emphasized that language accessibility remains a critical component of service delivery, adding that financial institutions should align their technologies with local realities to ensure no citizen is excluded from modern banking services.
Leaders at the meeting also discussed broader development issues affecting the Lango sub-region, including economic empowerment, service delivery, and strengthening collaboration between cultural institutions, government leaders, and development stakeholders.
The cultural leader urged banks to work closely with local leaders and technology partners to implement language-friendly systems that reflect Uganda’s cultural diversity and support inclusive economic participation.
