LIRA CITY – The Lango Cultural Foundation has dismissed as false the social media claims that its interim Wonyaci, Mr. Fredrick Ogwal Oyee, has stepped down from office due to his public role in Lira City.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the foundation’s offices in Lira, foundation spokesman Mr. Jacob Ocen described the circulating information as malicious propaganda orchestrated by rival groups seeking to derail Lango’s development.
“The information is not true. Lango Cultural Foundation is strong under the leadership of Federick Ogwal Oyee,” Mr. Ocen said, adding that the rumours were spread by “those who have a bad heart to see Lango developing.”
He accused unnamed rivals of attempting to tarnish and blackmail Mr. Oyee.
Beyond the leadership dispute, Mr. Ocen raised fresh allegations of corruption within the rival Tekwaro Lango institution, which is led by Dr. Eng. Moses Micheal Odongo Okune.
According to Mr. Ocen, funds from the Office of the Gender Minister are being used to pay allowances to selected clan heads, a practice he termed irregular.
“Each Awitong (clan head) is getting 200,000 shillings being paid by Odongo, calling it salaries,” Mr. Ocen said. He argued that if government intended to pay clan heads, it should pay all equally, “not the way Odongo Okune is doing using money from the ministry of gender.”
He called upon the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate the matter, noting that some clan heads are complaining because the money was supposed to go to every Owitonge, not only those aligned with Dr. Odongo’s leadership.
On the ongoing legal dispute between Lango Cultural Foundation and Tekwaro Lango, Mr. Ocen stated that the foundation secured a favourable first ruling from Justice Philip Odoki.
However, he accused Gender Minister Betty Amongi Akena of bias, claiming she facilitated Dr. Odongo’s unlawful gazettement. “Odongo Okune and his team got favour from the office of the Ministry of Gender under the leadership of Betty Amongi Akena, who helped him to be gazetted unlawfully,” Mr. Ocen charged.
He added that Dr. Odongo’s team later went to the Court of Appeal seeking a stay of execution, even as the foundation awaits being formally served with appeal documents.
Supporting the foundation’s position, Mr. Denish Obia Acila, clan head of Atek Onote clan, recalled that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had summoned both factions for round-table talks, but the effort failed because “Odongo Okune and his team refused.”
Mr. Acila noted that after all avenues failed, the matter went to court. He described Dr. Odongo’s subsequent actions—including reorganising cultural rituals—as the behaviour of someone “masquerading” as a legitimate leader.
“He is not the legitimate leader,” Mr. Acila said, urging the Lango community not to pay attention to the rival group.
Another clan head, Mr. Benjamin Okii of Okii Bura clan, went further, accusing Dr. Odongo of “blindfolding” the community with forged legal documents.
“Odongo Okune is not any Wonyaci; he is only forging ways,” Mr. Okii said. He disclosed that after hearings began at the Court of Appeal, Dr. Odongo’s legal team, led by lawyer Makmot Kibwanga, began dodging court sessions.
Mr. Okii called for speedy disposal of the case so that Lango can finally settle its leadership questions.
Despite the tensions, Mr. Ocen called for calm, announcing that fresh elections will be conducted according to the Lango Cultural Foundation constitution.
“If anyone wants to bring politics into Lango cultural leadership, they should forget. Lango will be ruled according to the constitution,” he said.
He urged interested candidates to prepare as they await the announcement of election dates.
