Gov’t moves to gazette Madi Cultural leader, Institution

Adjumani, (UG):- The Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development(GL&SD) has directed the LC5 chairpersons for Moyo and Adjumani districts to submit council resolutions confirming His Highness Lopirigo Suru Simon Baru as the duly elected leader of the Madi Cultural Institution.

In a letter dated March 17, 2025, signed by Kyalimpa Evaristo on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the ministry emphasized the need for both districts and lower local government councils—sub-counties and town councils—to provide resolutions explicitly endorsing the Madi Cultural leader by name and title.

“In fulfilment of legal and administrative procedures of gazetting a leader of a cultural institution after being elected or chosen, the respective sub-counties and district councils must make a resolution confirming the leader of the proposed cultural institution,” the letter stated.

The ministry acknowledged an earlier request, dated November 14, 2024, for the gazettement of His Royal Highness Suru Simon Baru XI. However, it noted that the submitted resolutions primarily recognized the heads of clans and chiefs rather than directly confirming Suru Simon Baru as the Lopirigo of the Madi Cultural Institution.

To finalize the process, the PS instructed the Moyo and Adjumani district chairpersons to include original registration forms of council meetings, an approved list of Madi clan leaders, and a copy of the Madi Cultural Institution’s constitution in their submissions.

West Nile Development Association (WENDA) Chairman who is also the Moyo District Chairperson, Mr Anyama William, commended the ministry for its timely response. He noted that while both district councils had done a commendable job, they had lacked proper guidance on procedural matters.

“The leaders in Madi sub-region are supportive of revitalizing the Madi Cultural Institution, which ceased to exist after the 1966 Buganda crisis,” he observed.

Anyama further revealed that he had already engaged most sub-county chairpersons in Moyo and Adjumani districts, briefing them on the next steps.

“I expect them to present the matter before their respective speakers so that it is tabled in the next council meetings. We aim to submit the required resolutions within March, ensuring that the gazettement is completed before the end of this financial year. This will allow the Madi Cultural Institution to be considered in the 2025-2026 national budget,” he added.

The election of the Lopirigo of Madi Cultural Institution was held in Moyo Town Council in the district council gardens on August 23, 2024. The elections were conducted by a seven-man Inaugural Electoral Commission that was chaired by the former Chairman of the District Service Commission Moyo Dr Seraphine Adibabku and deputized by Mr. Kibrai Moses current chairman of District Service Commission Adjumani.

The winner Opi Suru Simon Baru was immediately sworn in by the Grade One Magistrate Moyo pending gazzettement and Coronation. According to the constitution of Madi Cultural Institution the leader of Madi Cultural Institution is called” Lopirigo” and Madi Cultural Institution is referred to as “Opi Madi Dri I”

The Elections as agreed by the 7 candidates were held in an atmosphere which was free of manipulations as Lopirigo Suru Simon Baru was declared a winner beating his closest opponent Opi Akuti Moses Chokiri by one vote in a re-run after they tied on 10 votes.

The result of the August Election of the leader of Madi Cultural Institution has never been challenged by any candidate or aggrieved party according to the chairman of the defunct Inngural Electoral Commission Dr. Adibabku Seraphine.

Lopirigo Suru Simon Baru is the chief of the Pakele clan in Adjumani, he is among the 20 clan chief chiefs in the Madi community that were approved by the respective sub-counties and town councils in Moyo and Adjumani.