Yosam Odur Ebii, the Paramount Chief of the Lango Cultural Foundation (LCF), has declared his intention to retire and transfer leadership to a new chief by December 2024. Muzee Odur, aged 94, has led the Lango Cultural Foundation for two decades after being elected uncontested by the council of Clan heads (Owitong) in 2003 in Apac district.
In a letter dated October 10th, 2023, the paramount chief released a transition roadmap with various frameworks aimed at ensuring a smooth transfer of power. In the letter, he expressed his gratitude to all those he worked with during his service in government and cultural leadership. Jacob Ocen, the Spokesperson of Lango Cultural Foundation, attributed Odur’s retirement decision to his old age.
The one-year-long roadmap outlines the election of the new paramount chief by the electoral body, with the swearing-in and inauguration planned for October. The official handover is scheduled for December. Additionally, the roadmap includes tours to all the districts in Lango, which will occur from February to June 2024. During this time, there will also be visits by the Kabaka of Buganda and Omukama of Bunyoro to the site where Kabaka Mwanga and Kabalega were hidden by the people of Lango during colonial incursions on their respective kingdoms. These visits are expected to take place between April and May 2024. Before handing over his powers to his successor, Wonyaci plans to make a final visit to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House Entebbe.
Muzee Odur’s leadership has been marked by confusion and cultural turmoil, leading to the formation of a parallel cultural faction known as Tekwaro Lango, under the leadership of Eng. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, the former Executive Director of Uganda National Road Fund.
Responding to the news of Odur’s retirement plans, Moses Okello, a resident of Oyam district, expressed optimism that the parallel faction should use this opportunity to reunite the people of Lango. He stated, “This is good news for Lango. I think this time round, the people of Lango should unite because some people used to think that this Wonyaci is about Mzee Yosam, but now interested persons can follow up so that they get blessings from the Mzee to lead Lango.”
