'Acholi is bigger': Elders urge divided clan chiefs on dialogue

The Acholi elders have urged clan chiefs to settle their differences, preferably through dialogue, for the good of the institution.

Under their umbrella, Wang Oo Heritage Limited, the elders said the internal conflicts have turned Acholi cultural institution into a laughingstock.

Led by their chairperson John Livingstone Okello-Okello, the elders told a press conference at the Northern Uganda Media Club in Gulu City on Friday that the rivaling chiefs need to instead focus on protecting and promoting the people of Acholi.

At the centre of the tension amongst the chiefs is the paramount chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II.

On June 20 this year, a section of clan chiefs called for a meeting to discuss matters affecting the Acholi sub-region.

The paramount chief decided to call it off, saying he had not been informed about the planned gathering.

What followed was the dramatic dismissal of the chiefs from Ker Kwaro, the Acholi cultural institution. The 'rebel' chiefs later assembled at Sports View Hotel in Gulu City, during which they denounced Rwot Acana as the head of the chiefdom.

The disgruntled group then appointed Atiak clan chief, Richard Santo Apire, as their chairperson for the following three months.

'Masqueraders'

Meanwhile, the paramount chief wrote a letter calling all the chiefs to a July 8 meeting at the seat of the cultural institution to resolve their issues.

But Atiak clan chief Apire was defiant and rejected any calls for negotiations, insisting that the paramount chief vacates the chiefdom palace.

Acana's deputy, Rwot Otinga Otto Yai II of the Lamogi clan, hit back, claiming that most of the 'rebel' chiefs are not truly chiefs.

“There is no need to have the cleansing ceremony because most of them are not chiefs but masqueraders in their clans," he said.

'Acholi is bigger'

On Friday, the elders told reporters that they had held meetings with the two factions in the hope of bringing to an end the divisions within the chiefdom.

They said denouncing Rwot Acana as the paramount chief has greatly impacted on the entire Acholi community in Uganda and abroad, and that the factions should dialogue.

“We call on the Acholi chiefs to put the Acholi people first and that they should know that Acholi is bigger than all of them. Therefore, they should seek dialogue," said chairperson Okello-Okello.

“We strongly implore that you should never think of court because it divides the Acholi people permanently and, therefore, we encourage Acholi chiefs to consider mediation."

'Legal framework'

Retired Justice Galdino Moro Okello is the chairperson of the board of directors of the Wang Oo Heritage Limited.

He recommended that in order to avoid such a crisis in the future, a legal framework should be enacted to manage the Acholi chiefdom for the benefit of the Acholi people.

“Ker Kwaro Acholi should have a legal framework that oversees how the institution functions just like any other organization."

In the meantime, the disgruntled chiefs maintain they do not want negotiations and instead want Rwot Acana out and only remain the chief of Payira clan.

John Peko Lugai II, the chief of Palwo in Pader district, said they are not interested in sitting down for negotiations.

Rwot Apire claimed that Acana wants to be the permanent paramount chief of the 54 clans of Acholi, yet, according to him, the role should be rotational.

Some of the chiefs claimed that Rwot Acana was invited for a meeting with other chiefs on three occasions, but that he declined to attend.