LIRA CITY, UGANDA –– The Lango Paramount Chief, Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, has issued an appeal to his subjects to halt the rampant and reckless sale of ancestral land, citing grave cultural and social consequences.
The Chief made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing hundreds of mourners gathered at the Lango Cultural Centre to pay their last respects to the late Okello Wakili (MHSRIP).
In his address, the Paramount Chief, Eng. Dr. Michael Okune, focused on the escalating land crisis within the sub-region, especially in Otuke and other areas. He directed junior chiefs and the ‘Owitong’ cabinets (clan leadership committees), urging them to be strict and vigilant.
He expressed deep concern over reports that certain clan committees are authorizing land sales recklessly, a practice he said is eroding the heritage of the Lango people.
“The ‘Owitong’ cabinet of particular clans must be strict on the issue of reckless authorization of land sales by some committees in a few clans in Lango,” the Lango Paramount Chief stated.
To underscore the severity of the problem, Eng. Okune presented a harrowing example from Otuke District. “In some places in Otuke, even bodies that have already been laid to rest are being relocated by intruders on the land,” he revealed, painting a stark picture of the disrespect and displacement caused by illegal and errant land sellers who lack vision for future generations.
In response to the crisis, the Paramount Chief announced his intention to tour the most affected areas. He urged clan leaders residing in Otuke and Agago districts to organize a formal visit, enabling him to witness firsthand the challenges they are facing.
“As Paramount Chief, I need to visit these areas to see and confirm what is taking place as far as land issues are concerned,” he declared.
Eng. Okune also commended the Ugandan government for its initiative on land demarcation, specifically the use of mark stones. However, he called for more robust intervention, urging the government to “demarcate land with fences and mark stones so that no land disputes are experienced in the near future.”
Shifting his address to the youth, the cultural leader cautioned against the misuse of social media that tarnishes the image of the Lango community. He called upon them to avoid posting videos and audio content that “expose Lango negatively to audiences outside the sub-region.”
Emphasizing the need for digital responsibility, Eng. Dr. Okune stated, “All youth using social media should focus on posting productive and positive content instead of immoral material.”
The Lango Paramount Chief’s address at the Lango Cultural Centre highlighted the interconnected challenges of land disputes, cultural preservation, and modern technology facing the Lango community, setting a clear agenda for collective action.
